Plutonium: 'Our Country’s Only Feasible Solution'

The second major use for plutonium is for space exploration with its ability to power nuclear propulsion. Nuclear electric propulsion is using energy from plutonium to power space vehicles.(ref. 3) One of the major goals of NASA space program is to, one day, get to Mars, and it looks like the only way it is going to happen in our current fiscal condition, is if we use plutonium, instead of chemical fuel, to power our explorations. Nuclear electric propulsion can be defined as using small plutonium based bricks, to power space vehicles for interplanetary trips. Nuclear electric systems provide very low thrust levels and use only very small amounts of fuel during the voyage.(ref. 3,4) Using electric propulsion also allows the use of less fuel making the spacecrafts launch weight much lower than it would be with chemical fuel.(ref. 3)

The second route plutonium can take to be hazardous is through open wounds. This form of contact is very rare and basically cannot happen if the element is handled correctly with protective measures such as correct clothing and health monitor procedures.(ref. 1) The last, main threat to our society comes from inhalation. If inhaled, plutonium is exhaled on the next breath or gotten rid off through the mucous flow from the throat and bronchial system and released as with ingestion. However, some could get trapped and put into the blood stream or lymph nodes.(ref. 1) This has the possibility to cause cancer in the future. This might sound frightening, but what we need to realize is that inhaling this type of substance is part of some of our daily lives. The problem of inhaling Pu-239 isn’t much different than inhaling such radionuclides like decaying particles from radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that can cause cancer.(ref. 6) It comes from the decay of uranium in soil, rock and water. Inhaling this substance can damage your lungs and lead to cancer over a lifetime. Everyone who lives in homes, works in offices or goes to school, can be affected by the gas. If you live in a brick house, you could be taking a serious risk if you don’t get the radon level tested. A 1990 National Safety Council report showed that radon causes, on the average, approximately 14,000 deaths a year and can go as high as 30,000 deaths a year.(ref. 6)