a reminder of that nuclear energy is no harmless affair
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7496998.stm

Simple math: 36 kg of uranium escaped into the environment, then. If somebody seriously tells me that is harmless for health and environment, I would not believe it, too.

Not so simple maths 30,000*12 =360,000=360 Kg. This does seem to be rather a lot I think I'd like some confirmation on these figures.

I HIGHLY doubt the 360kg figure...

Unless it's U-238, is it?

:D "Medic...! I shot my leg!"

That figure has been mentioned in several media reports now. no doubt that if it is real the officials will try to talk it down.

But what kind of Uranium?

it's unenriched

Thought so

How dangerous is U-238 anyway?, all I ever hear about is the 235...

Didn't Rickover drink reactor coolant? Do not see a problem, just depend on who builds and runs them.:yep:

Still its the safest form of energy in the world. What are the real alternatives? Only one thing in the world can produce more power than a nuke reactor - Grand Coulee dam. And its not much more , and the trade off is the killing of the salmon runs, etc. Take your pick.

I'd say someones in trouble though.

The real problem is, people want their cake and eat it to. Can't have no electric generating plants and still have a computer, or even a phone!

-S

I doubt there's too much danger, sure U-238 is toxic, but It's not nearly as dangerous as U-235 because Alpha radiation is rather harmless (Considering your not actively in touch with the source or something)

Anti-Nuclear Energy fanatics are obviously using this as an excuse to further their goals

Or...I might not know what I'm talking about

The river will dilute it into a harmless substance too.

Uranium is heavy, so I am kind of curious as to why it would be found in an overflow situation anyway? It should sink to the bottom of the tank, and theoretically wouldn't overflow with the liquid unless that liquid was in constant motion.

-S

Well considering that U238 is what is called Natural Uranium, I am not all that concerned. Uranium is about 40 times more abundant than silver.

It does pose a toxicity hazard in what is commonly called "heavy metal poisoning" and needs to be treated with due respect. Respect, but not fear. Caution not panic.

However the referenced article is a great example of how the media can get people spun up with the very mention of that evil element Uranium oohhhh very scary.

What Europe should really be worried about is U-48. I just started a new GWX career :arrgh!:

No, that's not right. There's coal...no, wait - that pollutes too much. We still use it here in Utah. I know: oil! No, wait - we're running out. Wind farms? Not enough space for all the mills it would take to power a city. Solar? Maybe, but the space problem still exists. We have plenty of room for both here in the desert, but we're not a truly major city, and no one is going to allow that kind of uglification.

Gee, Subman, looks like we agree on this one.

I thought Alpha radiation was very potent if you manage to take it into your body, but was blocked by most things? Wasn't that how they killed the spy who died in london a while back?

You are correct. Alpha Radiation is the most toxic per amount and you are correct that it is blocked by pretty much anything as it is a particulate.

We probably agree on much more than you realize! :D

-S

That's what I said, it's harmless as long as you don't actively touch it or something...

Wow, this is a real Jimmy Carter moment!:rotfl: Peace in our time.

reactor collant = red hering
 

SO?

Reactor Coolant is not in contact with the U235 enriched material. It's not comtamianted by radiation. It's the same as drinking tap water or bottled water.

He's not drinking water that's been in DIRECT contact with the Uranium

If you leak U235 atoms into that collant water and Ricter Drank that water he would have died long before he died from old age.

Enriched U235 is only 3% and that's enough to make a bomb.