Re: Skin dose from enriched uranium

["Neil, David M" <NEILDM@inel.gov>]

     The sort of scenario that I think he's aiming for would probably
     require an accidental criticality, but it will be interesting to hear
     other, more experienced, opinions.

     You might also mention to him that it's "been done".  Tom Clancy,
     _The_Sum_of_All_Fears_.  A tough act to follow.

     Dave Neil
     neildm@inel.gov

     "Standard disclaimers apply"


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Skin dose from enriched uranium
Author:  RADSAFE (INELMAIL.RADSAFE) at _EMS
Date:    8/16/97 9:52 PM


Dear Radsafers,                                         August 16, 1997

       A local author is writing a thriller involving terrorists with
atomic bombs available to them. He asked me what mass of enriched uranium,
if handled with bare hands, could cause radiation burns to the skin. Also,
what mass of unshielded enriched uranium would cause sufficient acute whole
body exposure to cause a lethal acute radiation syndrome?

        My background is nuclear medicine and I couldn't answer him, so I
thought to cast the question to those probably in the know. Thanks.

                                Mike Quastel