More information on Plutonium and PuO2

Excerpt from www.idealist.ws :

 ...Depending on circumstances, NAREL may
also perform any or all of the following laboratory analyses on individual air
filters:

high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry (high-purity germanium) Pu-238 and Pu-239 (alpha-particle spectrometry) U-234, U-235, U-238 (alpha-particle spectrometry) Am-241 (alpha-particle spectrometry) Th-227, Th-228, Th-230, Th-232 (alpha-particle spectrometry) Sr-89 and Sr-90 (gas proportional counting)

...'Of the items on this list of laboratory analyses that the EPA *may* perform depending on circumstances, the
EPA has only moved forward on the first one. The EPA has not conducted the
second analysis - alpha spectroscopy for plutonium-239 in air.  Apparently, the EPA believes that plutonium from Japan's reactor accident somehow disappeared from the Earth and only gamma-emitting radioactive solids
(radioiodines, radiocesiums and radiotelluriums) have arrived in U.S. air masses.  

EPA has also not conducted the sixth
analysis on the list.  Strontium-89 and -90 are pure beta-emitting radioisotopes that
are lighter than
cesium-137.  Assuming also that these radiostrontiums do not mysteriously
vanish with plutonium from the Earth, because they are relatively light in
weight they are likely to be carried across the Pacific Ocean in greater
quantities than radioiodines and radiocesiums.  If radiostroniums are present in U.S.
air, we don't know about it because the EPA has chosen to not test for it.  

The
EPA has placed no priority on performing a full suite of laboratory analyses on the air
that is affecting Americans - and also our friends in U.S. territories. 
There is no excuse for this.  The first detected
levels of non-gaseous fission products from the plumes from Fukushima were found on
filters removed from RADNET stations on March 18 and it appears that if the EPA
wanted to run all analyses on the above list on those filters we would have
that data by now: 'Turnaround
times for alpha-particle spectrometry, and liquid scintillation counting may be
as short as one or two days in an emergency. Strontium-90 analysis requires more
time, because a delay of several days is needed to allow the decay product Y-90
to build up before counting begins.' [p.71]  

Radiostrontiums and plutonium
isotopes are very poisonous substances and pose greater long-term health dangers than
cesium-137.  Strontium-89, a pure beta emitter, is likely be present in dairy
products in Japan and the U.S. If the EPA has already conducted
the various analyses mentioned, why don't they make this data available? Are
they withholding this data?

It should also be noted that the EPA made
the decision to not upgrade its RADNET air monitoring network to include onsite-spectroscopy
for analysis of alpha
and beta radiation or continuous alpha and beta spectrometry.  We are
paying for that poor decision right now.  This capability, which is in use by the CTBTO,
means that monitoring stations can run the isotope analyses (1-6) remotely and
relatively quickly.

[B]Time to get angry[/b]
As unknown quanitities of largely unknown radioactive substances migrate across North America from the Fukushima releases, the EPA is responding by dragging its feet,
downplaying radiation risks, obfuscating beta and alpha particle concerns, and
demonstrating utter lack of concern for public health. 
The EPA is pretending that the contaminated air masses from Japan will simply blow right past the
U.S. and will not harm a thing or incorporate into a single life form. The fact of the matter
is the EPA is alone and sleeping in the air traffic control tower
of America's environment. This is our only environment and our environment is inextricably bound to our livelihoods and our lifestyles. When we are left to fly blindly, we are a nation in crisis. As we learn to
resourcefully navigate our way without the help of our missing-in-action environmental agency, we must realize that the power loaned to the government was loaned
by us, and we have the tools to heal or amputate the diseased institutions of our elected democracy.