Re:The Cobalt-60 Accident of Ciudad Juarez (2019)
by nl on Sunday October 25, 2020 @11:21PM
(#24892565)
Radiation exposure measurement is complicated. [0] has a decent description.
This story[1] about another cobalt-60 incident in Mexico (!) says: "With cobalt-60, a single-curie source will give you a dose of a little more than 1 rem in an hour if kept at arm's length". [0] says that "Eventual death for 50% if exposure is above 450 rem; others recover in about six months" and that 600 rem will kill almost 100% of people.
So yes, if you drive for 8-12 hours with a bunch of cobalt-60 in your truck it is going to be pretty harmful.
This story[1] about another cobalt-60 incident in Mexico (!) says: "With cobalt-60, a single-curie source will give you a dose of a little more than 1 rem in an hour if kept at arm's length". [0] says that "Eventual death for 50% if exposure is above 450 rem; others recover in about six months" and that 600 rem will kill almost 100% of people.
So yes, if you drive for 8-12 hours with a bunch of cobalt-60 in your truck it is going to be pretty harmful.
[0] http://www.3rd1000.com/chem101/chem105e.htm
[1] https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a9840/mexica...