Risk in perspective

["Reynolds, Harold" <harold.reynolds@rfets.gov>]

Some months ago I posted the contents of a slide I proposed to use in a
lecture on risks in perspective.  This slide lists several naturally
occurring radioisotopes and compares what they share in common with Pu
and Am.  At that time I received several very good comments and revised
the slide as follows.

It compares Pu-239 and Am-241 with Th-232, U-238, U-235, Pa-231, and
Ra-226 in that they all share the following characteristics:

-Chemically toxic to some degree
-Radioactive
-Alpha emitters
-Bone seekers
-Long biological half-lives
-Long radiological half-lives
-Known to be carcinogenic at high doses

The next slide points out that one or more of these isotopes can be
encountered in every day life in the following.

-Rocks, soil, water
-Coal fired power plant emissions
-Welding rods
-Older luminous dials
-Some lantern mantles
-Smoke detectors
-Fiesta ware 
-Nuclear medicine

Any comments or suggestions may be sent directly to me unless you feel
that there is more general interest on this list.  I don't think there's
any thing new here for most subscribers.

Thanks
Harry Reynolds
303.966.2708
Harold.Reynolds@RFETS.gov
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