Radiodactive particle toxicity/exposure

[Arcana]

I know that plutonium and uranium particles already are everywhere in trace amounts, can radiation detectors pick up or estimate the amount of particles in the air that may be ingested or inhaled?

This seems to be a little-known concern, but I know some people bringing this up and saying that the government is covering up the danger of plutonium isotope internal exposure.

[jpak]

1. Yes - there is worldwide system of monitoring stations - part of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

They filter air sample, measure the radiation spectrum of the filters and determine what isotopes are present and their airborne concentrations.

Handheld survey monitors can't do this, though

[wtmusic]

2. Yes

Different isotopes give off gamma radiation at different energies. The EPA has divided the spectrum into 10 bands, and post samples for those online for about 50 cities around the country.

They don't post the specific data about the energies, so it's hard to know exactly which element/isotope you're looking it.

You'll probably be disappointed if you're looking for something incriminating - overall, levels have been declining since the end of atmospheric testing. So it's better now than it was fifty years ago.