Re: Radioactive nests of Hanford wasps are science fact

[John Jacobus <crispy_bird@YAHOO.COM>]

Just how radioactive was the nest?  What is the risk? 

External exposure?  Is this the result of a slow news

day in Washington state?



--- Susan L Gawarecki <loc@icx.net> wrote:

> Radioactive nests of Hanford wasps are science fact

> Friday, August 15th, 2003

> By John Stang Tri-City Herald staff writer

> 

> Just think of what of the wasp larvae of H Reactor

> could grow up to be.

> 

> Maybe something out of a Japanese monster flick.

> 

> But Bechtel Hanford is tackling the radioactive mud

> dauber wasps nests 

> of Hanford's H Reactor complex, while trying to

> entice the insects to 

> use nonradioactive mud for their homes.

> 

> Bechtel first discovered this menace June 26.

> 

> The company is tearing down the long-abandoned Cold

> War 

> plutonium-production reactor's contaminated

> buildings prior to sealing 

> up the main core chamber. Workers found a slightly

> radioactive mud 

> dauber's nest in a nook in a wall on the south side

> of the complex, said 

> Bechtel spokesman Todd Nelson.

. . .

> 

> Bechtel has trapped many wasps so they can be

> checked for radioactivity. 

> So far, none has shown any signs of contamination,

> Nelson said.

. . .



=====

-- John

John Jacobus, MS

Certified Health Physicist

e-mail:  crispy_bird@yahoo.com



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