[ RadSafe ] " Study Uncovers Bacteria's Worst Enemy "

[James Salsman]

Jerry Cohen wrote:

> For inorganics, bioremediation makes very little sense (the cure 
> seems worse than the problem), and 

That is not true for phytoremediation, which is known to be safe.
But phytoremediation is much slower than the use of genetically
modified bacteria.  The problem is, once one starts changing what
bacteria like to eat, it is very easy to put mammals on the menu.
The problem is compounded by the fact that since the bacteria in
question are going to necessarily be around mutagenic substances,
it takes a very long time to make sure that mammals and other
important parts of the food chain and ecosystem are not likely to
make it on the menu.

>... For radioactivity, it makes no sense at all.
> Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Sequestration of radioactive isotopes into insoluble, non-absorbable
forms is a very good idea.  The dose from something passing through
one's GI tract is orders of magnitude less than if it makes it into
the bloodstream or organ tissues, e.g. bones.

Sincerely,
James Salsman