[News Story] Radioactive woman evacuates airport

[v8Statesman]

Authorities evacuated the airport terminal in Vladivostok, in Russia's far east, after a flight arriving from Seoul set off a radiation alarm.

Radioactive woman evacuates airport : thewest.com.au

Kind of reminds me the first time I saw thermal camera's in HKG, I assme they are looking for the birs flu symptoms.

 

[Evan]

Nice to know they are checking actually
One may suspect to nab people taking stuff out of the country but good all the same.
E

 

[medhead]

Nice to know they are checking actually
One may suspect to nab people taking stuff out of the country but good all the same.
E

Ok, As someone works in a radiation safety area I just want to make a couple of general comments. Plus to note it sounds like they pick this person up entering the country not leaving the country.

When you say stuff, it might be useful to know what stuff you mean.

The person was injected from radiocactivity material and was 15 times the norm. 15 times the normal radioactivity of the human body is equivalent to about 5 grams of "pure" natural uranium. (Or it is the radioactivity in about 5 tonnes of typical soil). Yes, this (5 g) can be hidden on a person. But anyone who wants uranium is going need a damn side more than 5 grams. (NB "pure" uranium is not exactly a correct technical term, I've just used it as a laymans description)

Now if the stuff is more highly radioactive man made isotopes. Ignoring that these things are many thousands of times more radioactive than 15 times the bodies normal radioactivity. There can be a useful amount of radioactivity in a few grams if removed from the usual 40-100kg of lead shielding. However, these are highly radioactive and have the ability to cause serious physical damage to a person over a few hours.

Basically anyone who is serious about getting out radioactive stuff is not going to fly.

 

[v8Statesman]

Ok, As someone works in a radiation safety area I just want to make a couple of general comments.......

Thank you for that information that is one (of the many!) reasons I love this forum!