Re: Dirty bombs

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

On Fri, 28 Feb 2003, Jim Hardeman wrote:



> Bernie ¯

>

> Unless you spent many 80+ hour weeks in the RSI decontamination effort as I did, I would caution you from making snide comments about the findings of the decontamination effort. I will attempt to address your comments in a professional manner.



	--My sincere apologies. I did not mean to be disrespectful. I am

sure you know infinitely more about the subject than I.

	I meant my comments as responses to the calculations presented in

the media about how many people will eventually die from the dispersal. I

believe they assume no clean-up, and I was trying to establish that the

bulk of the radioactivity would not remain in place.

	I was trying to gather info that would help me write something on

that subject. I was not questioning anything you said about the matter.



	A few comments on misunderstandings. My suggestion about tasting

by tongue referred to the salt dispersed to melt ice and later splashed

onto soil and buildings. That would be a very sensitive way of testing for

residual salt.

	I know that the original Hanford tanks were not stainless steel,

but when leaks occurred, I believe they used stainless steel either there

or at West Valley for later tanks.



	Again, I have no quarrel with your wisdom on this matter and

apologize if my remarks seemed like I did. But I would still like to know

what fraction of the amount deposited is not removed by prompt efforts at

removal so I can calculate expected effects of a dispersal, correcting the

scare stories.



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