Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
By Bradley J Roth
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Polonium-210, The Perfect Poison

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


Figure 17.27 in the 5th edition of Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology shows the decay series arising from the radioactive isotope radon-222, which itself is produced by the decay of the long-lived isotope uranium-238. The last step in this long chain of reactions is the alpha decay of polonium-210 to the stable isotope lead-206. The half-life of this decay is 138 days. This is not the only isotope of polonium in radon’s decay series. A heavier isotope polonium-214 has a half-life of 160 microseconds, and polonium-218 has a half-life of 3 minutes.

Polonium was discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie in 1898 when analyzing pitchblende, a uranium containing ore. It was named after Marie’s homeland, Poland. Now 210Po is produced by bombarding bismuth-209 with neutrons, forming bismuth-210, which undergoes beta decay to 210Po.

210Po is infamous for being a deadly poison. For a given mass, 210Po is 250,000 times more toxic than hydrogen cyanide. Its toxicity comes from the 5.3-MeV alpha particle it emits. Because alpha particles are easily stopped by clothing and even skin, 210Po is dangerous primarily when breathed or ingested, so that the alpha particles are emitted inside the body. A nearly pure alpha emitter, 210Po rarely emits a gamma ray, making it difficult to detect this poison unless one measures the alpha particles directly. A lethal dose comes from ingesting about a microgram.

210Po was used in the 2006 assassination of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian spy who was apparently given some polonium-laced tea by Russian agents (the investigation into this complicated murder continues–see here and here–and the details are still debated). Death by 210Po is slow; the 44-year old Litvinenko needed 22 days for the radiation to eventually take his life.

Polonium was also suspected to play a role in the 2004 death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Just this month, a French investigation has concluded that there is not enough evidence for pressing charges. The issue is complicated because 210Po is found in cigarette smoke, and Arafat was a heavy smoker. The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements reports that the annual effective dose equivalent to a smoker from radiation in tobacco is about 13 mSv, which is over four times the average annual dose of 3 mSv we are all exposed to (see Section 16.12 in IPMB), but is still a tiny dose.

The Environmental Protection Agency has published a report titled Occurrence of 210Po and Biological Effects of Low-Level Exposure: The Need for Research. As with all studies of low-level radiation exposure, the results are difficult to assess, and depend on our assumptions about radiation risks at small doses. But Alexander Litvinenko’s death proves that at high doses 210Po is very dangerous indeed; it is perhaps the perfect poison.


Source: http://hobbieroth.blogspot.com/2015/09/polonium-210-perfect-poison.html


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!


Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST

Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST


Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!

HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.

Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.

MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)

Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser!  Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!

Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.

Smart Meter Cover -  Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).

Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.