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As for Nature the article expresses doubts that the polonium came from Russia.

That's not my reading of the Nature "article" which, by the way, is no better than our own Kcurie and Polonium discussion thread.

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. -- Euripides

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 6th, 2006 at 08:49:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I found the point that Polonium contamination of the planes has not been proven important.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Dec 6th, 2006 at 08:53:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Just like this other one:

Metro: Spy poison found at Arsenal's ground (December 6, 2006)

Minute quantities of polonium 210, the radioactive substance which was used to poison former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, have been found at Arsenal's Emirates stadium.

The radiation was found at the north London football ground at "barely detectable levels", the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said.

An HPA spokeswoman once again stressed that there was no public health concern, adding that the levels picked up were lower than natural background activity.

Lower than natural background levels? And all that fuss for this?

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. -- Euripides
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 6th, 2006 at 08:56:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I am guessing, but maybe this is reporters' stupidity: most likely Polonium was identified by spectra, and it is its general radiation level that is below background level. (Methinks the background level of Polonium 210 is pretty much equal to zero.)

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Dec 6th, 2006 at 09:33:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]
An HPA spokeswoman once again stressed that there was no public health concern, adding that the levels picked up were lower than natural background activity.

So we should be worried about a lack of Polonium in the environment there?

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Dec 6th, 2006 at 10:06:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I checked kcurie's thread again, it turns out I somehow lost it and didn't saw the bulk of the discussion! Indeed you uncovered all.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Wed Dec 6th, 2006 at 10:05:31 AM EST
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