AW: Nuclear-powered spacecraft plan feared

["Franz Schoenhofer" <franz.schoenhofer@CHELLO.AT>]

 -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----

Von: 	owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

[mailto:owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu]  Im Auftrag von Jerry Cohen

Gesendet:	Donnerstag, 06. Februar 2003 21:43

An:	Grimm, Lawrence; Radsafe (E-mail)

Betreff:	Re: Nuclear-powered spacecraft plan feared



Perhaps another perspective on plutonium hazard might be useful:

During the period of atmospheric testing of nuclear explosives, over 10 tons

of plutonium were released to the atmosphere in fine particulate form. Fine

particles do not readily settle from the atmosphere regardless of their

atomic wt. or density. As a result, these fine plutonium particles were

spread over much of the earth's surface and can be found in detectable

quantities almost everywhere. It is reasonable to assume that during this

period significant amounts were also inhaled by people. In the decades

following, there has been no increase in  lung cancer incidence, other than

can be accounted for due to smoking.

Relatively, any quantity of plutonium that could conceivably have been

released from any space vehicle could be considered inconsequential.



--------------------------------------------------------------

Jerry,



Your comment reminds me of the old times in the late seventies, when there

were discussions in Austria about our nuclear power plant (which was

finished and clear for loading the fuel, when a referendum was held and 63 %

of the Austrian population voted with an "overwhelming majority" of 50.3%

not to start it). In the discussions it was always put forward, how

dangerous plutonium is and it was claimed by the anti's, that plutonium of

the mass of the size of an orange, distributed over our planet would

extinguish any live present on it. In the discussions I always put forward,

how many tons of plutonium had already distributed and that mankind still

existed. Needless to say, that this did not help at all.......



Best regards,



Franz







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