Re: radioactivity from fossil fuel power stations

[BERNARD L COHEN <blc+@PITT.EDU>]

	If you have questions after seeing the much more detailed message

I sent an hour ago, please ask then.



Bernard L. Cohen

Physics Dept.

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Tel: (412)624-9245

Fax: (412)624-9163

e-mail: blc+@pitt.edu





On Mon, 6 Aug 2001 RuthWeiner@aol.com wrote:



> In a message dated 8/3/2001 12:59:28 PM Mountain Daylight Time, blc+@PITT.EDU 

> writes:

> 

> << 

>     -- My statement here is a simplification of a much more

>  complicated analysis, given in the paper cited, but I will try.

>     When the carbon in the coal is burned, it disappears from the

>  ground. The volume of the ground that it occupied is then taken by other

>  rock or soil which contains uranium, and therefore eventually serves as a

>  source of radon. The carbon in the coal cannot serve as a source of radon.

>  The uranium impurity in the coal is returned to the ground eventually.

>     In other words, the carbon in the coal takes up a volume in the

>  ground which produces no radon, while the rock that takes up that volume

>  when the coal is removed does produce radon. 

>   >>

> Like Dr. Gawarecki, I am confised about something:  First of all, as you 

> point out, the radon didn't come from the carbon content of th coal in the 

> first place, but from any uranium, thorium, etc. in the ore removed from the 

> ground with the mined coal.  When coal is mined, the volume of material in 

> the remaining unmined ore body is decreased.  To the extent that the unmined 

> material in the ground releases radon, it does so onloy when there is 

> additional disturbance, as when more coal is mined.  In undisturbed rock, 

> radon is apparentlyt not released.  Thus, unless there is additional mining, 

> there is not going to be additional release of radon -- I mean, it's there in 

> the first place because it is trapped in  the rock when it is produced by 

> actinide decay.

> 





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