The radiological hazards of plutonium*

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Abstract
About 1,500 tonnes of plutonium, 1,200 tonnes civilian, are now in world stockpiles, of which 200 tonnes have been separated from spent fuel in reprocessing plants. This will rise to 300 tonnes by the year 2000. Such reactor‐grade plutonium contains a higher proportion of isotopes other than Pu‐239, which progressively increases with longer burn‐up. These isotopes have an increased risk of causing cancer, particularly if inhaled. Possible cancer rates from scattering of such plutonium in a city centre (e.g. by terrorist activity) are considered, and the implications of these calculations for the wisdom of continued reprocessing of spent nuclear reactor fuel are discussed.

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