Difference between revisions of "Plutonium"
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− | Plutonium ''(symbol: Pu)'' is a transuranic chemical element with the atomic number 94<ref name="en_wiki_Pu">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plutonium&oldid=762933031 as at February 22, 2017</ref>. All isotopes are alpha emitters. In nature Plutonium usually can't be found - or only in traces. | + | Plutonium ''(symbol: Pu)'' is a transuranic chemical element with the atomic number 94<ref name="en_wiki_Pu">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plutonium&oldid=762933031 as at February 22, 2017</ref>. All isotopes are alpha emitters. In nature Plutonium usually can't be found - or only in traces.<ref name="ippnw-factsheet">ippnw factsheet: Radioactive Stoffe machen krank. A-Z von radioaktiven Isotopen, die beim Atomunfall freigesetzt werden; March 2011</ref> |
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+ | Plutonium is one of the most toxic substances. So far it was released with the atomic bomb on Nagasaki and by several nuclear accidents like Mayak and Chernobyl. The above-ground nuclear weapons tests spread 4 t of plutonium worldwide. After a release particle of it can be incorporated with dust, water and food.<ref name="ippnw-factsheet" /> | ||
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+ | It accumulates in bone marrow and liver. Inhalation leads to lung cancer. The incorporation of as less as a few thousandth gram causes lethal radiation injuries.<ref name="ippnw-factsheet" /> | ||
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+ | Plutonium also is highly toxic as a heavy metal, and particularly harmful for the kidneys.<ref name="ippnw-factsheet" /> | ||
== Plutonium-238 == | == Plutonium-238 == | ||
− | It has a [[Half-life|half-life]] of 87.7 years.<ref name="ippnw-factsheet" | + | It has a [[Half-life|half-life]] of 87.7 years.<ref name="ippnw-factsheet" /> |
== Plutonium-239 == | == Plutonium-239 == | ||
− | It has a half-life of 24,110 years.<ref name="ippnw-factsheet" /> | + | It has a half-life of 24,110 years, while the biological half-life is 100 years in bones and 40 years in liver. Many people living close to nuclear weapons factories had been contaminated by plutonium-239.<ref name="ippnw-factsheet" /> |
== Plutonium-240 == | == Plutonium-240 == |
Latest revision as of 16:32, 17 May 2017
Plutonium (symbol: Pu) is a transuranic chemical element with the atomic number 94[1]. All isotopes are alpha emitters. In nature Plutonium usually can't be found - or only in traces.[2]
Plutonium is one of the most toxic substances. So far it was released with the atomic bomb on Nagasaki and by several nuclear accidents like Mayak and Chernobyl. The above-ground nuclear weapons tests spread 4 t of plutonium worldwide. After a release particle of it can be incorporated with dust, water and food.[2]
It accumulates in bone marrow and liver. Inhalation leads to lung cancer. The incorporation of as less as a few thousandth gram causes lethal radiation injuries.[2]
Plutonium also is highly toxic as a heavy metal, and particularly harmful for the kidneys.[2]
Plutonium-238
It has a half-life of 87.7 years.[2]
Plutonium-239
It has a half-life of 24,110 years, while the biological half-life is 100 years in bones and 40 years in liver. Many people living close to nuclear weapons factories had been contaminated by plutonium-239.[2]
Plutonium-240
It has a half-life of 6,564 years.[2]