RE: Pu Toxicity vs DDT

["Minnema, Douglas" <Douglas.Minnema@ns.doe.gov>]

Gus,

I suggest that you look at the dose to the GI tract itself.  It is quite
significant. Although I don't remember the exact number right now, I
seem to recall estimates that 0.5g (Pu-239 equivalent) ingested, if
finely divided, might cause acute lethality.

Obviously, it would be strongly dependent upon the form.  Large chunks
would self-shield more.

Doug Minnema, CHP
Defense Programs, DOE
<Douglas.Minnema@ns.doe.gov>

what few thoughts i have are truly my own.

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Potter, Charles [SMTP:capotte@sandia.gov]
> Sent:	Thursday, January 28, 1999 12:27 PM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	RE: Pu Toxicity vs DDT
> 
> The f1 for Pu is 10^-3 (10^-5 for oxides), so almost all of any
> ingested Pu
> is not absorbed and excreted in the feces.  
> 
> Now if we gave everybody just a little to eat...think of the $$$ we
> could
> save on disposal! :)
> 
> C. A. Gus Potter
> Sandia National Laboratories
> Albuquerque, New Mexico
> (505) 844-2750
> capotte@sandia.gov
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Dempsey [mailto:mdempsey@lanl.gov]
> Sent: Thursday, January 28, 1999 10:08 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: Pu Toxicity vs DDT
> 
> 
> A thread I wish to start is: What is the name of the Nobel Prize
> Winner
> (Chemistry?)  who is making the claim that Pu is NOT the most toxic
> substance on earth, as many would have us believe.   I have read it
> several
> times but his name escapes me.  The story goes that he will put a
> million
> dollars down on the table along with a gram of Pu and a gram of DDT.
> He
> will eat the Pu and you eat the DDT, the winner walks away from the
> table
> alive with the money.  What is his name and does anyone have any
> further
> details?
> 
> Thanks in advance...
> 
> 
> Clearly my own opinion
> 
> Mike Dempsey  dempsey@lanl.gov
> 
> **********************************************************************
> **
> The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
> information can be accessed at
> http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html
> **********************************************************************
> **
> The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
> information can be accessed at
> http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html

************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html