SIR: An article (BEN, June 9) described the horrors that would arise if plutonium materials were transported by air. "Flights of Death", "Containers which can't withstand crashes", "Dispersion of deadly radio-active materials over huge areas, putting millions at risk", were just a few of the things listed. This only repeated what has already appeared in the national press, but is total nonsense.
The truth is as follows: The plutonium to be transported is not a bomb and cannot explode. It would be no more dangerous than any other heavy load transported by air.
The containers it would be carried in are immensely strong and designed specifically to withstand the worst air crash imaginable. (One container for transporting nuclear fuel was allowed to be hit by a train travelling at 100 miles per hour, the train disintegrated, the container remained intact).
The plutonium is in solid form. If it were to be released due to an accident, (which it would not be), it could produce no air-born particles and could not be injested by anyone. To talk about "millions being at risk" is irresponsible scaremongering.
Nuclear materials have been transported in the U.K. for more than 30 years without one single accident. It is about time the press showed more responsibility when writing on nuclear matters - but, of course, that might not sell as many newspapers.
Albert Hornby
Glendale Drive, Bolton
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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