this is another view by a renown and respectable local speacialist<br /><br />Fear of Radioactivity in Lynas Rare Earth Plant <br /><br /><br />Dear Sir, <br /><br />I just cannot understand what the big fuss is all about with regards to the radioactivity in the Lynas Rare Earth plant. <br /><br />Thoriun-232 is the only radioactive element associated with rare earth mining and Thorium-232 has been regarded as the future green nuclear fuel. <br /><br />It is present in the rocks everywhere and even in its purest form radiates only alpha particles. <br /><br />Alpha particles which consist of 2 protons and 2 neutrons are nothing more than just helium atoms without their electrons. <br /><br />These alpha particles cannot penetrate more than a few centimeters of air and CANNOT penetrate the human skin. <br /><br />As such you can hold a lump of pure Thorium-232 in your rubber gloved hands without any danger at all. <br />Thorium-232 do not produce the dangerous Gamma particles which are ionising high energy, high frequency and extremely short wavelengh electromagnetic waves. <br /><br />These can easily pass though the whole human body and cause widespread radiation damage. <br /><br />To be very frank, I do not mind keeping a few thousand kilograms of pure Thorium-232 in my house if someone is kind enough to give me such a valuable substance. <br /><br />In other words, the fear of radioactivity dangers from the rare earth processing plant is unfounded and grossly exaggerated. What we need to worry is the chemical toxic waste that such plants produce. <br /><br />But unfortunately all industrial plants produce toxic wastes and the only way to avoid these toxic wastes is for us to remain as a poor agricultural country. <br /><br />Yours sincerely, <br /> <br />Dato’ Dr Looi Hoong Wah <br />DIMP,AMP, KMN, (MSIA),MRCS (England), LRCP, London) <br />MB.,ChB(Manchester), MRCP (UK), FAMM <br />Consultant Physician. <br />18 Perkampungan BatuSawar, <br />Jalan Sungai Lembing, Kuantan, Pahang D.M.
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