Surplus contamination question

[k_semler]

bad guys don't have to pilfer old Soviet goods to get stuff to make a dirty bomb.

Dur. A "dirty bomb" involves no nuclear reaction beyond the decay of the natural radioactivity of whatever susbstance you used. It's basically an explosive that pulverizes a radioactive substance to contaminate an area with radiation. No nuclear blast initiates. It is entirely a chemical reaction, (conventional explosives)

A nuclear weapon relies upon nuclear reactions, (splitting or fusing of atoms), to create the mushroom cloud and incredible temperatures. If all you want to do is throw radioactive material into the surrounding environment, but not release the sun's energy on Earth, all you need is access to a hospital BioHazard dumpster, (a pair of bolt cutters will get you that), and look for the international radiation symbol. Then all you need is a medium-strength explosive, (Got deisel?, Ammonium nitrate was first made in 1659 by Johann R. Glauber)

You really don't need that much of radioactive substances. If the gieger counter goes off, the media-induced mass panic will do far more damage then the radiation would ever do. A dirty bomb DOES NOT create a nuclear reaction. If you want a nuke, that's quite complicated, and unless AQ has nuclear engineers and several multi-million dollar facilities, (or buys one from a rouge country), that's a very small risk. Somehow, I highly doubt I'm ever going to see AQ manage to vaporize LA or NY with a 50MT detonation. China, DPRK, Russia, or Iran maybe, but not AQ.

 

[hso]

Depleted mean "depleated" in the uranium isotope U235 in contrast with natural uranium isotope ratios. Depleted uranium is less radioactive than natural or enriched uranium because the U235 has been removed leaving an even greater percentage of U238.

Inert means a practice or non-explosive round or in the case of a DU round one without uranium at all.

Depleted uranium results from the enriching of natural uranium for use in nuclear reactors. Natural uranium is a slightly radioactive metal that is present in most rocks and soils as well as in many rivers and sea water. Natural uranium consists primarily of a mixture of two isotopes (forms) of uranium, Uranium-235 (U235) and Uranium-238 (U238), in the proportion of about 0.7 and 99.3 percent, respectively. Nuclear reactors require U235 to produce energy, therefore, the natural uranium has to be enriched to obtain the isotope U235 by removing a large part of the U238. Uranium-238 becomes DU, which is 0.7 times as radioactive as natural uranium. Since DU has a half-life of 4.5 billion years, there is very little decay of those DU materials.

Materials that are not naturally radioactive (give off radiation) become radioactive when activated by neutrons. Things become contaminated with radioactive material when you "spill" radioactive material on them. Think of tuna fish water from the can. If you spill it on your pants your pants are "contaminated" with tuna fish water that gives off a nasty smell. You didn't turn your pants into tuna fish (regardless of what the cat thinks). Instead you've gotten material that gives off tuna fish stink on them. Wash them (decontaminate) and you remove the tuna fish and the tuna fish stink. Spill radioactive material on your pants and you've contaminated them. The contaminant gives off radiation that may be hazardous, but decon the pants and the material and it's hazardous radiation is gone.

Hope that helps.

 

[atomchaser]

Not a concern at all. Yes, you could test it, but it would not be worth the trouble (it takes more the than a Geiger-Mueller Detector).

As far as the Gau-8 cans go, the 30 mm ammo is all clad in Aluminum so there wouldn't be any DU in the cans. Uranium metal readily oxidizes on contact with air. Even if there was contamination, it is about on par with lead in terms of hazard.

If you are really worried, just send the stuff to me -- I'll protect you!

Atomchaser -- Certified Health Physicist (Radiation Protection Nerd) in real life.

 

[ghost squire]

trans-Uranic

Come on is that even a word

Alternatively: THATS WHAT SHE SAID!

 

[hso]

atomchaser,

Where are you CHPing at? I'm in Oak Ridge.

The ignorance and mythology about radioactives is like that around guns.

 

[Insectguy]

What if I rub a banana on my milsurp rifle?

Now it's contaminated with K40!

 

[NukemJim]

barium milkshake (or something similar)

If it was Barium it was not radioactive. Barium is used in X-ray procedure to absorb ionizing radiation not to generate it. Yes there are Barium isotopes that are radiactive but none are administered to patients.

Most likely a Nuclear Medicine Gastric Emptying study or a NM esophogeal reflux, several other low order probabilities.

Your microwave is radioactive

Uhmmm,,, could I get a reference on that one please? Sure not from any books that I have used.

NukemJim

 

[Insectguy]

BTW...

hso and atomchaser, I work for the NRC.

There are a few of us gun nuts in the agency-- my coworker and I just spent a good day at the range -- a couple of AR's, numerous handguns and a couple of choice Anschutz's.

Good times were had by all....

 

[hso]

Insectguy,

Plenty of gun nuts in DOE.

Microwave radioactive!?! I hope you're joking, but if you aren't, no. No more than your walkie talkie is when it's broadcasting.

Although I have seen some micorwave ovens that have been crapped up (contaminated) after being used by slobs to dry contaminated samples.:banghead:

 

[atomchaser]

I do my "CHPing" in the Air Force. I only dabble in it a bit these days, as I do mostly occupational/environmental health management and oversee the HP Program. I'll be retiring from the AF next year and hope to get back to into Health Physics full time. How is the job market for HPs in Oak Ridge these days? I'm on the East Coast of Fl right now, but I'm sick of hurricanes and retirees.