[SAJ]

For those of us who are not engaged in nuclear physics and found the good doctor's commentary very clear and informative, could you please elabourate on any inaccuracies.

Also, what is the half-life of the radioactive isotopes of iodine and cesium to which the doctor refers? These numbers did not appear in the article (or, perhaps I just missed them). These would seem to be somewhat of importance, as radioactive cesium is oftentimes mentioned as the principal nasty agent in a (putative) terrorist dirty-bomb attack.

Thank you for any corrections/information you can add, and FReegards!

[Toddsterpatriot]

Iodine 131 has a half life of about 8 days, so it's very radioactive and absorbed by the thyroid.

Cesium 137 is a lot less radioactive, it has a half life of about 30 years. As far as I know, it doesn't have a special affinity for a specific organ or tissue

[Nuc 1.1]

I thought the doctors commentary very good also. Please don't take what I said as a criticism. I don't know of any graphite pit below a reactor vessel. But I realize design requirements vary state to state and nation to nation. GE MK 1 containment's have a VERY thick concrete slab below the reactor vessel. Mark two and three containment's are different in design but I don't believe they have a pit either. Iodine 131 has a 8-9 day half life. There are other isotopes of iodine but this is predominant. Cesium has a half life of about thirty years (varies isotope to isotope) is predominantly a beta emitter but has a medium energy gamma via barium decay chain. Hope this helps don't know where my chart of the nuclides is. Giraldo is fear mongering with Chernobyl right now and it is sickening to watch.