Re[2]: give me your opinion

[Mike Dempsey <mdempsey@lanl.gov>]

Concerning the WIPP drums:  All the drums (even old ones) are vented, so
that build up of gases (including air pressure changes) cannot cause them
to burst.

Mike Dempsey mdempsey@lanl.gov

Only my own thoughts....


At 12:56 PM 1/28/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health.
>
>As for Pu being the "most toxic substance known", I believe that a large
>percentage of pesticides would beat it out.  I few other nasties come to
>mind as well, dimethyl mercury for one.
>
>My answer to original question: I would go in with only a cursory thought
>to the radiological conditions (barring the possibility of a criticality
>accident or extremely high dose rates from some other source) but would
>certainly examine any other physical hazards that may pose an immediate
>risk to myself.  Even knowing what the amount of Pu is in the drum ,what is
>the likelyhood that it will all be of a respirable size, become airborne,
>remain suspended in the air and end up in my lungs?
>
>As a thought to the guys at WIPP, reaction of materials within a drum is
>not the only thing that will make the lid blow off.  Altitude and
>temperature changes can pressurize a drum just as easily.
>
>| | | |    Kim Merritt, RRPT
>| | | |__  Safety Support Officer, Physics & Space Technolgy
>| | \___/  Lawrence Livermore National Labs
>| \___/    merritt9@llnl.gov
>\___/      Voice: (925)423-9668   Fax: (925)422-7160
>	   "When the only tool you have is a hammer,
>	   every problem begins to resemble a nail."
>	   -Abraham Maslow
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