Is plutonium really a threat to man and his environment?

Abstract

Plutonium is a vital source of energy. The importance of plutonium as a source of energy can easily be understood by a simple fact that the amount of energy produced from one gram of plutonium is equal to the energy produced from 100 g of uranium and/or one ton of oil. Plutonium poses little or no problem as a high level waste. This can be predicted from our earlier studies on Th in man which has indicated that the general population of the United States exposed to insoluble Th throughout the life times accumulates the amount of Th contained in 1–6 g of soil. Furthermore, the vitrification process can prevent the translocation of Pu into the environment from the waste storage site quite effectively. Plutonium is a great asset to the human race only if they are civilized and use this great element for their prosperity as a source of energy. However, if the people and/or their leaders become barbaric, inhumane, crazy and misguided, then Pu could be the greatest threat to the survival of human race. Therefore, man himself could become the greatest threat to the human race.