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Octafish

(55,745 posts)

67. Geiger counters don't measure plutonium or americium...

Tue Jan 14, 2014, 08:33 PM

Jan 2014

They count alpha- and beta- particles, no hot particles. Why that matters:

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

EXCERPT...

4.2.3 Characteristics of Plutonium Contamination

There are few characteristics of plutonium contamination that are unique. Plutonium
contamination may be in many physical and chemical forms. (See Section 2.0 for the many
potential sources of plutonium contamination from combustion products of a plutonium fire
to radiolytic products from long-term storage.) [font color="blue"]The one characteristic that many believe is
unique to plutonium is its ability to migrate with no apparent motive force. Whether from
alpha recoil or some other mechanism, plutonium contamination, if not contained or
removed, will spread relatively rapidly throughout an area. [/font color]

SOURCE (PDF file format): http://www.hss.doe.gov/nuclearsafety/techstds/docs/standard/DOE-STD-1128-2008.pdf

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West Coast radiation from Fukushima disaster poses no risk, experts say. [View all] zappaman Jan 2014 OP

First it doesn't exist, then it's no problem, then nobody could have anticipated. Nt. Warren Stupidity Jan 2014 #1

Well, there's been quite a bit of bullshit out there zappaman Jan 2014 #3

actually... dixiegrrrrl Jan 2014 #8

LOL, yup, here it is, everyone. closeupready Jan 2014 #36

No one really wants to hear that. Unrec. nt Bonobo Jan 2014 #2

Ha! zappaman Jan 2014 #6

I believe time will tell a different story. democratisphere Jan 2014 #4

Global research, eh? zappaman Jan 2014 #9

Oh FFS. You try to counter an article reporting actual science... SidDithers Jan 2014 #12

So...you turned to Gaddafi's fan club for "the truth". (nt) jeff47 Jan 2014 #26

See my link downthread. You can see radiation levels in real time. There is no issue. nt stevenleser Jan 2014 #41

I suspect they'd say that regardless the reality. n/t Skip Intro Jan 2014 #5

Same LA Times that was in favor of Iraq invasion, right? RobertEarl Jan 2014 #10

Just trying to counter total horseshit like this... zappaman Jan 2014 #14

oh burn. you know, what we really need is a tough, whip-smart investigative journalist to get to the dionysus Jan 2014 #50

What about Hawaii? JaneyVee Jan 2014 #7

Currents go clockwise in the N Pacific. jeff47 Jan 2014 #25

See link downthread. On that website, there is a realtime geiger counter in Hawaii. nt stevenleser Jan 2014 #43

Then FUCKING explain this....... Logical Jan 2014 #11

Simple Grilled Calamari zappaman Jan 2014 #15

Hmmmm...not so scary now, but DELICIOUS! n-t Logical Jan 2014 #17

We're gonna need a bigger grill! FSogol Jan 2014 #39

DU rec. BeFree will be here soon to offer the tin-foil perspective... SidDithers Jan 2014 #13

Shame folks dont just blindly believe what they're told, eh? n/t Skip Intro Jan 2014 #18

You mean from geiger counters in real time? nt stevenleser Jan 2014 #42

Geiger counters don't measure plutonium or americium... Octafish Jan 2014 #67

LOL, by all means, direct me to a radioactive material that does not emit gamma, beta or alpha stevenleser Jan 2014 #68

My mistake. Octafish Jan 2014 #72

BTW, plutonium decays by emitting alpha particles. So, yes. geiger counters detect plutonium just stevenleser Jan 2014 #69

That is so. Octafish Jan 2014 #74

Americium decays by emitting beta particles. Once again, that's how geiger counters detect it. nt stevenleser Jan 2014 #70

Thanks again for sharing. Here's a better explanation of Hot Particles... Octafish Jan 2014 #75

You're right, Geiger counters don't measure plutonium or americium. Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #78

Columbia Medical Professor: Inhaling just one radioactive hot particle can cause cancer Octafish Jan 2014 #79

Wildly entertaining...nt SidDithers Jan 2014 #81

Yeah. Three runaway nuclear piles exposed to the environment is hilarious. Octafish Jan 2014 #82

No, it's your expertise via google search that's wildly entertaining...nt SidDithers Jan 2014 #83

Better than siding with TEPCO and the nuclear powers behind them... Octafish Jan 2014 #84

No worries ... Gordon Alf Shumway Jan 2014 #16

Tell that to the sea life Politicalboi Jan 2014 #19

+1 The truth is in the bioaccumulation flamingdem Jan 2014 #22

The problem is no matter what is said by scientists, there are those who will believe otherwise. Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #20

I believe!! RobertEarl Jan 2014 #21

Yeah, you can't quite get over that time traveling radiation, can you? jeff47 Jan 2014 #24

Now, now RobertEarl Jan 2014 #28

Even the marine biologists who are talking about the sea lion death rate think you're wrong. Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #29

Yep RobertEarl Jan 2014 #30

Ah, yes. The God of the gaps. Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #31

Ah yes, time to move the details around since the last theory fell apart. jeff47 Jan 2014 #35

Canary in a coal mine RobertEarl Jan 2014 #46

Doesn't fix the holes in your theory. jeff47 Jan 2014 #47

Interesting RobertEarl Jan 2014 #55

ENEnews is real science? hobbit709 Jan 2014 #48

ENEnews is a better source than you. RobertEarl Jan 2014 #56

You're the one claiming enenews is science. hobbit709 Jan 2014 #57

ENEnews is just a source of news RobertEarl Jan 2014 #58

Me love nukes? That's the funniest thing said about me in months. hobbit709 Jan 2014 #59

What is your problem? RobertEarl Jan 2014 #60

My problem is idiots that go into full blown panic mode when they know nothing hobbit709 Jan 2014 #61

So don't panic RobertEarl Jan 2014 #62

I feel great. How do you feel? hobbit709 Jan 2014 #63

I feel bad for you RobertEarl Jan 2014 #64

Once again you're talking without knowing anything hobbit709 Jan 2014 #65

Nice to know you are reading RobertEarl Jan 2014 #66

Some science about the plume RobertEarl Jan 2014 #77

Did you know that even dolphins in the Atlantic are being affected by Fukushima? zappaman Jan 2014 #76

Yup, too much fear mongering. longship Jan 2014 #23

"experts say." Harumph! The DU "experts" say just the opposite. Common Sense Party Jan 2014 #27

Facts can sometimes help .... with your opinion MindMover Jan 2014 #54

But Geiger counters! Vashta Nerada Jan 2014 #32

But when there are more clicks now than before... seattledo Jan 2014 #33

No, there isn't obviously a problem. jeff47 Jan 2014 #34

Trace levels can still be dangerous Harmony Blue Jan 2014 #37

I'll take Helen Caldicott's word over any nuclear industry lackey. Octafish Jan 2014 #38

They are correct. There is a website that links geiger counters globally. One can see for themselves stevenleser Jan 2014 #40

Well how the hell am I supposed to panic with news like this? Orrex Jan 2014 #44

Yeah, Le Taz Hot Jan 2014 #45

"Never believe anything until it has been officially denied" Thorin_Oakenshield Jan 2014 #49

If we ask someone in authority whether the atmosphere is made of cheese, they will deny it. stevenleser Jan 2014 #51

Experts used to tell us school children in the fifties, during the Cleita Jan 2014 #52

Facts can sometimes help .... MindMover Jan 2014 #53

I have some yummy Humpy in my freezer... countryjake Jan 2014 #71

I'd love to make a West Coast interpretation of J.W. Jackson's Bluefish Pat� Brother Buzz Jan 2014 #73

Otherwise, economies and industries (seafood, e.g.) would collapse, so "NO RISK," people! WinkyDink Jan 2014 #80