>Mike Hord wrote:
>Spread thinly, it would find its way into groundwater, or rivers.
>Even if it WERE less radioactive, small amounts of radioactive
>materials internally are more dangerous than larger amounts
>externally- remember, our skin stops quite a bit of radiation of
>some types (gamma rays?  I think).

Gamma radiation is the worst from an external point of view.
Gamma particles have no mass and no charge, so they can
penetrate through a human body and ionize all the molecules in
their path.

Beta - and Beta + decay emit electrons & positrons - no mass
but some charge.  They can penetrate skin but not too far.

Alpha decay causes the most damage if you're talking about
a source from inside the body due to the large mass & electrical
charge.  Alpha particles don't travel far on their own, though, so
they're not really a worry from external sources.  If imbibed or
otherwise consumed, however, they'll kill ya quick.

AustinM

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