The Global Network

        Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space

Menu
  • About Us
    • 33 years of peace in space activism
    • Affiliates
    • Board of Directors
      • Bruce Gagnon
        • Bruce’s Blog
        • This Issue
        • Space Alert Videos
      • Remembering Rao
    • History of GN
    • Mission Statement
    • Donate
  • Keep Space for Peace Week
    • KSFPW Event List
    • KSFPW 2023 Events
  • Reports/Articles
    • GN Reports
      • Report and Newsletter from Aotearoa
    • Conversion
    • Environmental Effects
    • Nuclear Power in Space
      • Nuclear Incidents in Space
      • Plutonium Contamination
    • Space Mining
  • Resources
    • Newsletters
    • Global Network Statement on Golden Dome
    • Some Useful Information
    • Videos
      • Space Alert Videos
  • Membership
    • Donate
  • Contact Us
  • Events

Plutonium Contamination

The interception and retention of 238Pu deposition by orange trees

From: Health Phys 1987 Jun; 52(6) : 707-15
Pinder JE 3d, Adriano DC, Ciravolo TG, Doswell AC, Yehling DM

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG) transform the heat produced during the alpha decay of 238Pu into electrical energy for use by deep-space probes, such as the Voyager spacecraft, which have returned images and other data from Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus.

Future missions involving RTGs may be launched aboard the space shuttle, and there is a remote possibility that an explosion of liquid-hydrogen and liquid-oxygen fuel could rupture the RTGs and disperse 238Pu into the atmosphere over central Florida.

Research was performed to determine the potential transport to man of atmospherically dispersed Pu via contaminated orange fruits. The results indicate that the major contamination of oranges would result from the interception and retention of 238Pu deposition by fruits.

The resulting surface contamination could enter human food chains through transfer to internal tissues during peeling or in the reconstituted juices and flavorings made from orange skins.

The interception of 238Pu deposition by fruits is especially important because the results indicate no measurable loss of Pu from fruit surfaces through time or with washing.

Approximately 1% of the 238Pu deposited onto an orange grove would be harvested in the year following deposit.


No Safe Dose for Plutonium Radiation

Letter of concern
May 11 1999


Home

Front Page

Our Blog

'Organizing Notes' by Bruce Gagnon

Karl Grossman

Karl's Blog

Recent News

  • Space / Strang to step back from spaceport after receiving terminal cancer diagnosis
  • Inside Elon Musk’s plan to rain SpaceX’s rocket debris over Hawaii’s pristine waters
  • ‘Sparring in space’ – BBC gains rare access to US base tracking global missile strikes
  • New study calls for rapid development of space nuclear power systems
  • Britain’s Top-Secret RAF Pathfinder Hub: Inside the Premier Military Spy Base
  • “They’re Calling It Starlink on Steroids”: Former Google CEO’s Secret Satellite Project Could Eclipse Musk’s Entire Space Network

Article Categories

Working to Keep Space for Peace for 30 years

Mail PO Box 652, Brunswick ME 04011 USA
About the GN

We are an international network of organisations and individuals who are concerned about the militarisation and exploitation of space.

Phone:(207) 844-8187

Email:globalnet@mindspring.com

Bluesky:keepspace4peace.bskyb.social

Facebook:www.facebook.com/space4peace

Youtube:youtube.com/gnspace4peace

Twitter:twitter.com/KeepSpace4Peace

Instagram:instagram.com/space4peace

Useful Links
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Newsletters
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
Latest Posts
  • Space / Strang to step back from spaceport after receiving terminal cancer diagnosis
    July 17, 2025
  • Inside Elon Musk’s plan to rain SpaceX’s rocket debris over Hawaii’s pristine waters
  • ‘Sparring in space’ – BBC gains rare access to US base tracking global missile strikes
    July 16, 2025
The Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space