Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Polonium-210 (210 Po, Po-210, historically radium F) is an isotope of polonium. It undergoes alpha decay to stable 206 Pb with a half-life of 138.376 days (about 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 months), the longest half-life of all naturally occurring polonium isotopes ( 210–218 Po). [ 1 ]
The human body dilutes polonium before excreting it in sweat, which results in a reduced radioactivity level. There were also traces of Po-210 found at the Hey Jo/Abracadabra bar, Dar Marrakesh restaurant, and Lambeth-Mercedes taxis. [63]
Polonium can be found in uranium ores at about 0.1 mg per metric ton (1 part in 10 10), [51] [52] which is approximately 0.2% of the abundance of radium. The amounts in the Earth's crust are not harmful. Polonium has been found in tobacco smoke from tobacco leaves grown with phosphate fertilizers. [53] [54] [55]
The powerful alpha emitter polonium-210 (a milligram of 210 Po emits as many alpha particles per second as 4.215 grams of 226 Ra) is suspected of playing a role in lung cancer and bladder cancer related to tobacco smoking. [16] 210 Po was used to kill Russian dissident and ex-FSB officer Alexander V. Litvinenko in 2006. [17]
There are 42 isotopes of polonium (84 Po). They range in size from 186 to 227 nucleons. They are all radioactive. 210 Po with a half-life of 138.376 days has the longest half-life of any naturally-occurring isotope of polonium and is the most common isotope of polonium. It is also the most easily synthesized polonium isotope.
Tests carried out by the Institut de Radiophysique (Institute of Radiation Physics) at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland found traces of polonium, a rare, highly radioactive element, on Arafat's personal belongings, including his toothbrush, hat, surgical bouffant (headgear), and underwear, which suggested that there was a high level of ...
The driver found murdered inside a private ambulette on Monday was a pioneering musician known as P. Fluid. Bronx man found in pool of blood in ambulette was a pioneering musician who once opened ...
Traces of polonium-210 were found in his body. In a farewell letter, Litvinenko accused President Vladimir Putin of being behind the attack on his life. Litvinenko was critical of the Putin regime and accused the FSB of being behind the 1999 attacks in Russia. He died on 23 November 2006. [22]