Hot Particles confirmed by Arnie Gundersen

I cannot speak to what Gundersen and Kaltofen specifically referred to, but check out Chapter 1.4.2, "Problem of Hot Particles," from Yablokov & Nesterenko's, "Chernobyl, Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment"

1.4.2. Problem of “Hot Particles” (pg. 21)
A fundamental complexity in estimating the
levels of Chernobyl radioactive contamination
is the problem of so-called “hot particles” or
“Chernobyl dust.” When the reactor exploded,
it expelled not only gases and aerosols (the prod-
ucts of splitting of U (Cs-137, Sr-90, Pu, etc.),
but also particles of U fuel melted together
with other radionuclides—firm hot particles.
Near the Chernobyl NPP, heavy large parti-
cles of U and Pu dropped out. Areas of Hun-
gary, Ger many, Finland, Poland, Bulgaria, and
other European countries saw hot particles with
an average size of about 15 μm. Their activ-
ity mostly was deter mined to be (UNSCEAR,
2000) Zr-95 (half-life 35.1 days), La-140 (1.68
days), and Ce-144 (284 days). Some hot parti-
cles included beta-emitting radionuclides such
as Ru-103 and Ru-106 (39.3 and 368 days,
respectively) and Ba-140 (12.7 days). Particles
with volatile elements that included I-131, Te-
132, Cs-137, and Sb-126 (12.4 days) spread
over thousands of kilometers. “Liquid hot parti-
cles” were formed when radionuclides became
concentrated in raindrops:
Radioactivity of individual hot particles
reached 10 kBq. When absorbed into the body
(with water, food, or inhaled air), such parti-
cles generate high doses of radiation even if
an individual is in areas of low contamina-
tion. Fine particles (smaller than 1 μm) eas-
ily penetrate the lungs, whereas larger ones
(20–40 μm) are concentrated primarily in the
upper respiratory system (Khruch et al., 1988;
Ivanov et al., 1990; IAEA, 1994). Studies con-
cerning the peculiarities of the formation and
disintegration of hot particles, their properties,
and their impact on the health of humans and
other living organisms are meager and totally
inadequate.

From III Introduction, (p. 221):
“Hot” particles have disintegrated much more rapidly than
expected, leading to unpredictable secondary
emissions from some radionuclides. Sr-90 and
Am-241 are moving through the food chains
much faster than predicted because they are
so water soluble (Konoplya, 2006; Konoplya
et al., 2006; and many others). Chernobyl ra-
dioactive contamination has adversely affected
all biological as well as nonliving components of
the environment: the atmosphere, surface and
ground waters, and soil.

From Ch. 9 (Introduction, p. 237):
With the catastrophe’s initial atmo-
spheric radiotoxins powerful irradiation caused by “hot particles,”
the soil and plants surfaces became contami-
nated and a cycle of absorption and release of
radioisotopes from soil to plants and back again
was put into motion (Figure 9.1).

... and finally, (p. 92):

5.5. Respiratory System Diseases
There is a marked increase in respiratory
system morbidity everywhere in the territories
contaminated by Chernobyl fallout. Respira-
tory system diseases, which include those of the
nasal cavity, throat, trachea, bronchial tubes,
and lungs, were among the first apparent con-
sequences of the irradiation and ranged from
nose bleeds and tickling in the throat to lung
cancer. Hot particles, or “Chernobyl dust,”
consist of particles containing radionuclides de-
rived from nuclear fuel melted together with
particles from metal construction, soil, etc. (see
Chapter 1 for details). These persist for long
periods in pulmonary tissue because of the low
solubility of uranium oxides. In the first days
after the catastrophe, respiratory problems in
the mouth, throat, and trachea in adults were
basically linked to the gaseous–aerosol for ms
of radionuclides. During this initial period I-
131, Ru-106, and Ce-144 had the most seri-
ous impact on the respiratory system (IAEA,
1992; Chuchalin et al., 1998; Kut’kov et al.,
1993; Tereshenko et al., 2004). Further dam-
age to the respiratory system was caused by hot
particles and external irradiation, and was also
a consequence of changes in the immune and
hormonal systems. The smallest hot particles,
up to 5 μm, easily reached the deepest parts of
lungs, while larger particles were trapped in the
upper respiratory tract (Khrushch et al., 1988;
Ivanov et al., 1990; IAEA, 1994).
Bronchopulmonary morbidity increased
quickly among liquidators in the contaminated
territories (Kogan, 1998; Provotvorov and
Romashov, 1997; Trakhtenberg and Chissov,
2001; Yakushin and Smirnova, 2002; Tselo-
val’nykova et al., 2003; and others). Liquidators,
whose health was supervised more carefully
than that of the general population, developed
marked restrictive lung disease due to a func-
tional decrease in lung elasticity (Kuznetsova
et al., 2004). Chernobyl dust was found in
liquidators’ bronchial tubes, bronchioles, and
alveoli for many years. The syndrome of “acute
inhalation depression of the upper respiratory
system” presents as a combination of a rhini-
tis, tickling in the throat, dry cough, and diffi-
culty breathing (Chuchalin et al., 1993; Kut’kov,
1998; Romanova, 1998; Chykyna et al., 2001;
and others).

Since this is terminology directly from the industry, it's a good bet this is a solid read on Gundersen's intended definition/usage.

I highly recommend reading the entire book (I've got a hard copy - out of print, you can buy a copy directly from Dr. Janette Sherman, at her website). It's a compilation of health data from various boots on the ground scientists: doctors, epidemiologists, botanists, etc., following Chernobyl. The health data presented will blow your mind. This body of data shines the light of truth on the nuclear apologists' shameful or ignorant assurances of safety and minimal consequences. This is the chronicle of the unnecessary and inexcusable ongoing sufferings of real people. It's also the guidebook of what to expect in our Fukushima experience.

What I find most interesting is to extrapolate the health consequences that will affect EVERYONE, based upon their level of initial and ongoing exposure. It's not a question of if, it's a question of how.

Here's a link to the .pdf.

http://www.strahlentelex.de/Yablokov%20Chernobyl%20book.pdfhttp://www.st...

MadMama

I have not been able to find ANYONE at the University of Washington who can back these claims up.
===========================

HURRAY!!! We have someone here that actually checks these wild claims out with the faculty of a University.

For some reason, people have been running to their local activist group that has a political axe to grind, in order to get valid information.

Activist groups are NOT the place to get good info; they LIE to support their cause. Thankfully, we have places like Universities, where people are devoted to the concepts of truth and knowledge and not pushing some political agenda.

However, it doesn't do us any good to have these Universities unless we use them.

There are many causes other than radiation:

http://www.bettermedicine.com/article/metallic-taste/causes

Am in Seattle.

"I'm still trying to get a handle on what "hot particles" are"

AND

Your a member of the BRAWM Team !!!!!

WOW you have destroyed any faith what so ever in the Berkeley BRAWM ability to inform regarding the Fukushima accident with that PATHETIC comment.

I warned people of this at the onset. All the fuss about safe foods; meanwhile, their lungs were filling up with radionuclides. Sad.

But u are correct in the sense of our exposure here are usa measurements post chernoble plume.It would be neat to see a air filter from 1986 analyzed for all radionuclides.

http://www.davistownmuseum.org/cbm/Rad7c.html

Just as a reminder to people inquiring about symptoms, here is a thread where they are discussed in more detail:
http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/node/4473
The metallic taste and tingling tongue etc are characteristic symptoms of radiation exposure/toxicity. An interesting way of verifying this is to go to the homeopathic materia media sites where Rad brom (the remedy most often prescribed for radiation poisoning and made from radium) symptoms are listed:
http://abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Rad-b
These symptoms are an indication that the person may have been exposed to radiation and the remedy made from radium bromide is prescribed to alleviate the symptoms. Note that in homeopathy, the remedies are usually not made from the exact same substance (so not very common to see a remedy made from cesium or uranium prescribed) but from a "similar" substance. Hence rad brom is prescribed for exposure to a variety of radioisotopes. Does it work? I don't know yet! Still undergoing an experiment (self-imposed)...

maybe not so recent a term...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9525422

Side Effect: Changes in your sense of taste

Many patients will complain that foods just do not taste the same as they did before treatment. A metallic taste in your mouth is common. This will resolve over time.
Recommendations

Tart fruits or fruit-flavored sourballs might decrease the metallic taste in your mouth.
Foods that are chilled might be better tolerated, such as milkshakes, flavored gelatin, pudding, and applesauce.
Clean your mouth thoroughly before you eat to help improve the taste of food.
Try using strong flavorings or seasonings, such as salad dressings, to help provide food with more pleasant flavor.
If your taste is really dulled, you can try increasing the aroma of the foods you eat. Usually if the food smells good, it will also taste good.
Liquid nutritional drinks might be helpful.