Anyone know how long radioactive particles are still harm-full after nuclear fallout occurs?

Question

Thanks David. I guess that is why under water tests are preformed. I never knew why that was safe.

Answer 1

It's a matter of probabilities, but an extremely chilling one. I tried to find a table or graph of radiation vs time after a nuclear detonation, and came up empty. I sort-of half-way expected that, as no one is really anxious to announce how much they have polluted an environment.

What I DID find was even scarier. The reference below is a book written by a man who was engaged in studies of the effects of low-level radiation due to nuclear testing.

While the bulk of unstable isotopes generated by a nuclear detonation decay in a matter of days to insignificant levels, some of these isotopes, even with "short" half-lives, turn out to be not so insignificant, notably Iodine 131, and Strontium 90.Both of these elements get concentrated in milk, and ingested by humans. The Iodine finds its way to the thyroid, and the strontium finds its way into teeth and bones. Now you are talking years of potential exposure, not just days.

the reference author is much more articulate.

Answer 2

Well if left alone they theoritically would be harmful forever. But luckly when washed with water they are no longer harmful. radioactive particles are particles of an atom that are no longer cought in the spear of other atoms so they crash into stable atoms and makes them unstable. In water there is an atom that collects the unstable particles and makes its own stable atom. I forget the name of it but there is only a small amount of these atoms in water so you have to really flood the radioactive area to get the area cleaned up.


hope this helps
-David-

Answer 3

for about 20 -30 years

Answer 4

I've been to 'Trinity Site' where the first atom bomb was exploded. They claim it is safe there. I've also been to the Nevada Test Site where nuclear weapons were detonated. They say that is safe too.

Answer 5

oh Id say years 20 50 100 years we are doomed