After Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko’s death by Radiation Poisoning(polonium 210) now it seems to be the turn of innocent passengers. The substance that killed him had to be taken into the body to be lethal. A lethal dose of just 106 microcuries or 0.026 micrograms is enough to kill. Traces of the same were found on two planes. Around 33,000 passengers have been on the 221 flights across Europe since the traces were found earlier in the month.
Symptoms include vomiting or bleeding gums, those with the same have been asked to telephone NHS Direct.
Passengers on planes often worry about recycled air and although polonium can be breathed in, an amount that could affect another person is unlikely to be transferred except by close bodily contact. As a lethal poison polonium 210 it requires direct contact with a human’s inner tissues.
Health Protection Agency (HPA) says:
It can only represent a radiation hazard if it is taken into the body - by breathing it in, by taking it into the mouth, or if it gets into a wound. It is not a hazard as long as it remains outside the body.
The Government grounded one plane on Tuesday and another yesterday. A third is in Moscow awaiting tests.
Alexander Litvinenko’s died at UCH last Thursday shortly after making an emotional statement blaming Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, for his plight. Polonium 210 traces were found at Mr Litvinenko’s home in Muswell Hill, north London, at the offices of the billionaire Russian exile Boris Berezovsky, who employed him, and at two addresses in Grosvenor Street, one of them a private security firm.
After working in the KGB and its successor, the FSB, Litvinenko had gone against the organization. He had gained political asylum in Britian . Two books written by him Blowing up Russia: Terror from Within and Gang from Lubyanka, exposed government cover ups to support Putin.
To allay alarms the government has stated
Purely on a precautionary basis, teams have been testing locations identified as part of the police investigation.
Well if you were anywhere near the substance do go in for a checkup.
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Via: Telegraph
