Reply #21: Oh lord, DU is the least thing you have to worry about [View All]

[MadHound]

Much more wicked stuff at a Pantex plant than DU. You've got enriched uranium(U238) and plutonium(Pu239) going through those facilities in combination with high explosives. In addition, since the Rocky Flats site has discontinued plutonium processing, Pantex is doing short-midterm storage of plutonium pits.

Your level of worry should be about as much as that of any other reactor in your neighborhood, probably won't adversely effect you, but there is that chace, like TMI showed us. One thing that you don't have to worry about is a radioactive steam release. But if there is a fuckup and some of that explosive goes, move as quick as you can away and upwind from the plant., because the fallout is going to be widespread and thick. And chances are you will pick up a large dose even if you survive. But I wouldn't over-worry about this, procedures are in place, buildings are stout, and security is tight. These places answer to at least four different governmental agencies, and have to meet very tight specs, and are inspected at least once a year. And from ten miles away, you are in no danger of radioactive exposure during the course of normal operations there. Plus, there are multiple, redundant systems in place to keep everything contained. Yes, things can go wrong, but the odds of multiple fail safes and backups all going wrong at once are long. Hope that helps.

But actually you can purchase DU fairly easily if you have a legit use for it.