Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Radioactivity's danger overstated?
shortnews ^ | 11/24/2007 | short news

Posted on 11/24/2007 7:30:58 PM PST by Flavius

A number of studies conducted at the sites of some of the worst radiation incidents in history have concluded that the danger from radiation isn't as great as was previously believed.

Deaths from radiation incidents including the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan in WW2 and Russian nuclear accidents such as Chernobyl were in the hundreds, not tens of thousands. The risk of genetic deformity was also lower than expected.

(Excerpt) Read more at shortnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: nukes; radiation; radioactivity
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last
To: LibFreeOrDie

Yep, I recall the ‘perfect fit’ sizing machine at Sears getting shoes. Used to play with it using my hands when nobody was around. Funny part is I went on to spend 30 years in Radiology.


41 posted on 11/24/2007 9:42:56 PM PST by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Flavius

I agree somewhat, but many of the deaths do take decades to happen. Naval personnel that were stationed at Hawthorne during WW II have had a cancer rate that is more than five times normal.


42 posted on 11/24/2007 9:47:22 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Turning the general election into a second Democrat primary is not a winning strategy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop
"Radioactivity is good. It’s a treatment against cancer."

If you really believe that, I'd like to invite you to one of my realestate seminars...

43 posted on 11/24/2007 9:49:29 PM PST by editor-surveyor (Turning the general election into a second Democrat primary is not a winning strategy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: familyop
Been under a Varian?
44 posted on 11/24/2007 9:55:21 PM PST by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Westlander

No. But it looks like fun! ;-)


45 posted on 11/24/2007 10:04:24 PM PST by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt.)--has-been)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: patton
I'm pretty sure I read that Queen Elizabeth handled a piece of plutonium, to feel the warmth the metal generated on "its own".

She's still living, and that probably occurred over 50 years ago.

46 posted on 11/24/2007 10:04:59 PM PST by Calvin Locke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Flavius

Radioactivity ain’t fun. Just ask the Russian children born with no legs and three arms near Chernobyl.


47 posted on 11/24/2007 10:19:56 PM PST by TheThinker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ASOC; Monkey Face
"OTOH, my wife grew up Central Utah, downwind from the Nevada Test Site and had lost fully half of her graduating classes (of 1972) by 1986 to various cancers (Lung, thyroid, bone, ovarian, etc). As always, YMMV."

Yep. My sister (freeper monkey face) and I are Downwinders, too, and grew up in Central Utah during the entire decade of the Fifties. We all have ovarian and endocrine/thyroid problems, and I am a breast cancer survivor. We were given potassium iodide tablets in school for years, monthly, as I recall. "Chocolate" flavored, 1 tablet for little kids, 2 for older students.

48 posted on 11/24/2007 10:39:53 PM PST by redhead (VICTORY FIRST, THEN PEACE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: familyop

49 posted on 11/24/2007 10:42:11 PM PST by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: redhead

Cool. Did they have almonds in them?


50 posted on 11/24/2007 10:43:24 PM PST by Westlander (Unleash the Neutron Bomb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Westlander

...pretty! ;-)

That doesn’t look like a cratering shot, either, so there was a flash just before what we see in the photo.


51 posted on 11/24/2007 10:46:12 PM PST by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt.)--has-been)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: Flavius

in a DU tank shell,
or any other such projectile,
does the DU material come in contact
with the rifle barrel?


52 posted on 11/25/2007 12:24:40 AM PST by riored
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rembrandt

Polonium and other radioactive materials are more dangerous from their toxicity than their radioactivity.


53 posted on 11/25/2007 12:30:57 AM PST by rottndog (FreeRepublic....not just a website....a way of life!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: riored

“in a DU tank shell,
or any other such projectile,
does the DU material come in contact
with the rifle barrel?”

No, these are “discarding sabot” rounds. The DU penetrator, basically a dart, is surrounded by a lightweight, two piece jacket, the “sabot” (Fr. “shoe”).
The sabot flies off as the projectile leaves the muzzle, leaving the heavy penetrator to fly downrange. This is used because a full-caliber DU projectile would either be much too heavy for effective velocity (or even firing safety), or much too short for usable aerodynamic and ballistic properties.

This was invented during WW2, not for protection from toxicity, but to allow the use of dense, sub-caliber armor-piercing projectiles (orignally tungsten) in high and medium velocity tank and anti-tank guns.

Discarding sabot rounds are available for certain small arms, the idea is to use a lightweight bullet with a large caliber charge for higher velocity.


54 posted on 11/25/2007 12:56:45 AM PST by atomic conspiracy (Rousing the blog-rabble since 9-11-01)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Flavius
Radioactivity’s danger overstated?

It is not a black/white settled issue. Radiation/Radiation poisoning is a matter of degree and exposure. Sort of like the Sun or fire in a way.

The long term effects of residual Radioactive contamination have not borne out to what was originally predicted. Look at Hiroshima and the area around Chernobyl. Apparently the soil will absorb and contain these products.

However it looks as Chernobyl was contaminated to a much greater measure than Hiroshima, so the comparison may not be valid. And I think that since nuclear radiation is just one part of the electro-magnetic spectrum, that biologically we can absorb and recover from its deleterious effects within limits.

55 posted on 11/25/2007 1:17:08 AM PST by valkyry1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop
Radioactivity is good. It’s a treatment against cancer.

And nearly kills you in the process, even with relatively small doses.

56 posted on 11/25/2007 1:19:35 AM PST by Cementjungle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: atomic conspiracy

oK, what is the ‘dust’ hazard?

cleaning up a tank battle?
cleaning up something shot up by an A-10?
other?


57 posted on 11/25/2007 1:23:43 AM PST by riored
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Flavius

This sounds like a news item from the turn of the LAST century.
Obviously someone wishes to instill that radioactive materials are safe, but safe in whose hands?
In 1900 Muslims had no use for radium, now they are crawling over each other for the bombs against Satan(USA).
Absolutely anything can be a weapon in the Islamic world and they teach that to their followers.


58 posted on 11/25/2007 2:05:05 AM PST by Eye of Unk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rellimpank

That could be correct. Most people don’t realize there is radiation exposure associated with flying.


59 posted on 11/25/2007 2:16:31 AM PST by EBH (Loose lips sink ships.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: BipolarBob
Radiation Risk and Ethics

This is a good read

60 posted on 11/25/2007 2:28:31 AM PST by Species8472 (Politically motivated science is meaningless)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson