Re: Polonium-210 question

In article <ekha7m$8ss_003@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, jmfbahciv@xxxxxxx writes:
In article <ahFah.30$45.166@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
mmeron@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
In article <ekemmm$8qk_003@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
jmfbahciv@xxxxxxx writes:
In article <1164572243.716203.258010@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"tadchem" <tadchem@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

jmfbahciv@xxxxxxx wrote:
In article <kF9ah.19$45.95@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
mmeron@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
In article <1164517609.497990.211090@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
jaga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
ha ha ha,

there was very little lead there, just alpha and X-ray radioactivity
(mainly alpha) killed him.
I am not sure what are chemical properties of polonium, but plutonium
is considered very toxic chemically.

Actually, contrary to any urban legends you might have heard, nobody
really knows whether plutonium is chemically toxic since any chemical
effects it might have are completely swamped by its radioactivity.

What does the substance, that this guy ate, look like? I've
never seen radioactive stuff. Is it like a solid, liquid, gas?
Is it like a metal? Does it have a taste? If it is similar
to a marble, how can anybody be tricked into swallowing it?

I don't understand how shushi bar food could be used. It's all
raw.

A lethal dose of polonium is about 0.12 micrograms:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polonium#Use_as_a_poison

It is far more toxic than ricin. which requires 0.2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricin

Such a small amount is practically invisible.
For comparison it would take about 50,000 micrograms (0.05 grams) of
strychnine to kill a 50 kg adult:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strychnine

With all these alphas zapping things, how could the poisoner
keep it contained until ingestion. Would the poisoner be
contaminated too?

Alphas are very easily shielded against. A small lead container will
do nicely.

A Borgia ring. We don't need Hollywood to get interesting spy
stories.

Aye, exactly. The proper solutions have been worked out long time
ago. The Borgia family were experts, indeed.


I've wondered about those poisons like ricin. Handling it, if
it absorbs easily must be a little tricky.

With this poisoning in the news, why would somebody pick
something so exotic? If Putin(sp?) did order it, a rare
metal isn't exactly the best way to bump the guy off.
There's thousands of other ways that can look like mere accidents.

That's the puzzling thing about the whole affair.

It doesn't make sense to me. He's in London. There are
all kinds of ways to bump him off in just traffic accidents.

As some pointed out (including my coworker) what happened makes little
sense if you just think in terms of getting rid of him, but perfect
sense when you consider sending a warning to other opponents.

I predict that pocket sized radiation detectors are going to become a
hot item in some circles.

Mati Meron | "When you argue with a fool,
meron@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | chances are he is doing just the same"
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Polonium-210 question
    ... there was very little lead there, just alpha and X-ray radioactivity ... effects it might have are completely swamped by its radioactivity. ... With all these alphas zapping things, how could the poisoner ... There's thousands of other ways that can look like mere accidents. ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Polonium-210 question
    ... there was very little lead there, just alpha and X-ray radioactivity ... effects it might have are completely swamped by its radioactivity. ... With all these alphas zapping things, how could the poisoner ... A small lead container will ...
    (sci.physics)
  • Re: Mystery metal
    ... possibly could because as you say a sheet of paper stops them ... The Alpha emitters can cause eye damage. ... radioactivity can't matter by itself can it? ...
    (rec.crafts.metalworking)
  • Re: Polonium-210 question
    ... there was very little lead there, just alpha and X-ray radioactivity ... I am not sure what are chemical properties of polonium, but plutonium ... effects it might have are completely swamped by its radioactivity. ... visible-sized lump. ...
    (sci.physics)