Safe is a relative term, it is not an absolute. Something that many on this board do not understand. The best nuclear scientists in the world thought it was safe to stand several miles away from the first atomic blasts with just Special glasses. Lynas by all current standards is safe!!! All types of radiations is well below levels that are considered safe today. Alpha radiations about 70 years ago was deemed safe and no precaution was required for Alpha emitters. Since then people are finding some of the problems of Alpha emissions. https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/what-is-radiation/ionising-radiation/alpha-particles
“Many alpha emitters occur naturally in the environment. ... Alpha-particle radiation is normally only asafety concern if the radioactive decay occurs in an atom that is already inside the body orinside a cell. Alpha-particle emitters are particularly dangerous if inhaled,ingested, or if they enter a wound.”
Itotally believe as they are stored on the Lynas site it is safe. At some time the 500KTof WLP which will grow to over a Million KT in 3 years will have to be moved to a permanent storage facility. The moving and handling is more dangerous but can be done safely. I believe it is critical for Lynas and government to work now to figure out how this is going to happen. I find the government’s position of Lynas solve it in 9 months a little ridiculous. I do think it needs to be solved quickly. Maybe a year of Lynas and government working together on a solution. Then a year to implement.
Mt Weldhas one of the lowest levels of Thorium in the world and no Uranium or Uranium decay products at all. Simple reason is it is a very old deposit and most have decayed. That makes Mt Weld ore much easier to handle safely. I believe Lynas should really emphasize this fact compared to what Mitsubishi handled to help win over people. JMO Lynas can publish papers saying they are safe for ever with little results. Explaining why they are safe, simply, will go allot further to change people’s minds.
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