nothing so tremendous will happen? This myth may have become popular thanks to the opening sequence of the show The Simpson. In it we see Homer leaving the power plant and dropping a bar of uranium which then bounces and lands in between his shirt and his back. Later he reaches and pulls it out with his hands and throws it out of his car window while driving. In the newer version of the opening sequence we even see the bar of uranium landing on another character who then proceeds to eat it.But first, what is a nuclear fuel rod? It is a group of tubes made of zirconium alloy or stainless steel. Inside these sealed tubes are pellets made of enriched uranium stacked on top of one 
another. Bundled together, these nuclear fuel rods are then used to form a nuclear fuel core.
another. Bundled together, these nuclear fuel rods are then used to form a nuclear fuel core.So, are they safe to hold? The answer is no, not without special protection for your hands. This is because the pellets, as mentioned, are made of uranium which is radioactive according to Los Alamos National Laboratory's Chemistry Division. Meaning, nuclear fuel rods are radioactive. The Energy Information Administration also says they are even more radioactive after they are completely used up and ready to be replaced. Therefore, they are not safe enough to directly hold.
-Pictures from Flickr and Climate Progress
5 comments:
Well, I do not know much about nuclear fuel rods. However, they do sound quite hazardous so I am not surprised that they are unsafe to hold.
The rods are safe to hold if they are unused. They are primarily composed of U-238, which is a very mildly radioactive substance. This isotope is found in common materials, e.g. granite. The fissionable uranium, U-235, is only slightly more radioactive. It, too, is safe to hold. Thus, the fuel rods are completely harmless. . .until they've been put into the nuclear power plant. Then, they become the most radioactive substance know to mankind.
I enjoyed the connection a TV show people can relate to! After seeing that I've always wondered whether that was dangerous or not. Now, I don't need to wonder anymore. I also agree with Cammi that this is really not that surprising. Good job!
I thought it was interesting how you tied the Simpsons in with your post. But I'm wondering what would happen if you held a nuclear fuel rod in your hand.
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