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From: ST401385@BROWNVM.BITNET
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Plutonium Burns
Message-ID: <8603090607.AA19267@s1-b.arpa>
Date: Sun, 9-Mar-86 00:59:33 EST
Article-I.D.: s1-b.8603090607.AA19267
Posted: Sun Mar  9 00:59:33 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 10-Mar-86 20:21:37 EST
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Organization: The ARPA Internet
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> Mr. Pournelle is talking about plutonium OXIDE, the normal form it
>is found in. Metallic plutonium is quite a bit more toxic
>(as are all the heavy metals).

Plutonium spontaneously burns when exposed to air.  Any plutonium you'd
be exposed to would be oxide.  (For bombs, they plate it with a thin
layer of gold to keep it from oxidizing).

                    --Geoffrey A. Landis

Random:  God, I am verily weary unto death about all this flaming about
"Why does everybody want to leave this planet".  If you don't have anything
new to say, please say nothing.   Likewise toxicity of plutonium.  The
facts, please, if you have them.  If you don't, shut up.

Note to Bob:  I got your message, but mail sent to your address from
my address is returned as "host unknown".
                                         --GL