Re: Depleted uranium

[Muckerheide <muckerheide@mediaone.net>]

Ruth,

> Since U-238 is ubiquitous -- almost every time a building is demolished
> U-238 is released into the air -- I cannot understand the concern about
> exposure to it.

Radon is ubiquitous, no hazard at high vs. low natural doses (not just
demolishing buildings),  but rad pros fabricate hazards, with campaigns to
feed public "concerns" about it.   "Your money or your life." :-)

Regards, Jim
muckerheide@mediaone.net
=======================

> Ruth Weiner
> ruth_weiner@msn.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: E.P. Goldfinch <goldfinch@ntp.org.uk>
> To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
> Date: Friday, January 19, 2001 4:37 AM
> Subject: Depleted uranium
> 
> 
>> 
>> There is another aspect to the inhalation of uranium that I have not seen
>> mentioned, namely the considerations within the IAEA Regulations for the
>> Safe Transport of Radioactive Material. Uranium-238 is one of the nuclides
>> listed in the IAEA regulations with an 'unlimited' A2 value. 'Unlimited'
>> means that there is no limit on the quantity that can be carried in a Type
>> A package. The derivation is based upon the assumption that in a 'median'
>> accident (serious one) no more than 10 mg of dust could physically be
>> inhaled by any individual in the vicinity. Above that sort of quantity
>> physical coughing and spluttering would intervene. In general terms, the
>> 'unlimited' boundary occurs when 10 mg would give rise to an effective dose
>> of 50 mSv and, of course, for DU the dose is much lower. In a combat
>> situation the general dust level would, no doubt, dilute the DU in the air,
>> if there is any at a respirable size. On the other hand, exposure on this
>> basis could be repeated in a combat situation. However, it could be
>> possible to place an upper conjectural limit on the intake for any
>> individual. Since the normal daily intake is about 2 micro g, it is not
>> surprising that U can be found in exposed persons. At the scientific level
>> the current debate is not whether there have been intakes of DU but whether
>> there are any effects. As we all recognise, the media view equates intake
>> with effects!
>> 
>> E.P. Goldfinch
>> 
>> 
>> Nuclear Technology Publishing
>> P.O. Box No 7, Ashford, Kent TN23 1YW, England
>> File reference:
>> Telephone: (+44) (0) 1233 641683
>> Fax: (+44) (0) 1233 610021
>> E-mail: goldfinch@ntp.org.uk
>> Web site:  http://www.ntp.org.uk
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> 
> 
> 
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