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logs are for quitters (mander.xyz)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] 24 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I wonder if that's actually factual or not. Uranium by itself isn't too terribly dangerous. It's the whole fission byproducts thing that's the buzz kill.

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  • [–] 21 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    You would get heavy metal poisoning, same as if you ate a chunk of lead

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    Interestingly, no. It's not the same as if you ate a chunk of lead.

    Lead binds to calcium channels, and then blocks them. This makes it a bit of a neurotoxin. It also accumulates in the bones.

    Uranium on the other hand is one of the heavy metals that the body is good a filtering out of the blood. The body is not as good at expelling the uranium. It accumulates in the kidney. This can lead to kidney disease, and other related issues. And that's just the chemical toxicity of Uranium. Add in the radioactive side of things, and you have a truly distinct form of metal poisoning.

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago

    Also it depends on the isotope of uranium. Something you could find naturally isn't too dangerous, but something enriched too be used as fuel or for wepons is significantly more radioactive.

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago* (2 children)

    Radioactivity inside your body is very bad bad

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