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Old 30th Nov 2006, 09:47
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Jetstream Rider
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Heathrow
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For those worried about airport security it is worth bearing in mind that Alpha particles are stopped by about 30mm of air. Even if a container had some on the outside, detecting them would entail getting a radiation detector within 30mm of everything in the luggage and on the person without even a piece of paper getting in the way. Then trying to decide whether the reading was background or something larger.

It is also worth mentioning that Brazil nuts are Beta emitters and that the glowing bits of your watch or snazzy compass are firing radiation as we speak. Alpha is hardly a problem unless you eat it - having said that, BA are obviously doing the right thing.

Its fun to play with a Geiger counter (Beta detector) as more than you would imagine is radioactive. What about the Granite we have on our kitchen work surfaces? (If you are richer than me!).
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