Rumors that zeolites allegedly can work miracles in fighting against radiation do not die off in Russia. Some people are saying fantastic things that, allegedly, zeolites were used to “egest radiation” from dead people’s bodies after the Chernobyl catastrophe.
Some zeolites really can lower the level of radiation of some isotopes – for example, of cesium-137. There even exist several food supplements that contain zeolites and – at least, theoretically – eliminate the consequences of radiation.
15 years have already passed since the day when I, for the first time, ascended a cathedra in the Moscow Institute of Physics and Engineering and addressed the students, “Hi, I am reading the course called “Radioactive technologies”.”
Much has changed within these 15 years. Some of the technologies that seemed to be progressive at that time are now viewed as anachronistic, if not useless or even harmful. However, the interest in how to save oneself from radiation is not weakening in Russia.
This interest may look strange if we take into account the fact that in reality, for a resident of Russia, a chance of being exposed to radiation is next to impossible. The interest of Russians in physics may probably be explained as an echo of disputes between “physicists” and “lyrists” of the 1960s that has not yet fully died off till now.
However, once, the Soviet Union did experience a serious radiation catastrophe, when an explosion took place at the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine, in 1986. This catastrophe made many Russians fear radiation, and this fear has not totally died till now.
This fear is making many Russians be interested in medicines that may limit the consequences of radiation – although many people who are afraid of radiation probably do not fully understand what consequences radiation may have and how medicines may save from these consequences. This lack of knowledge brings to life many legends about some wonder-working medicines.
To say the truth, in my opinion, the best means against the consequences of radiation is… dry red wine. Wine spirits egest free radicals, that form in a human’s organism as a result of radiation, very well. Besides, red wine in small amounts is healthy for the organism. However, people are not always satisfied with simple solutions.
There is a natural substance called zeolite. Its crystalline structure has a strong chemical activity. Various types of zeolite are often used as catalytic agents – for example, in chemical industry. Some zeolites really can lower the level of radiation of some isotopes – for example, of cesium-137. There even exist several food supplements that contain zeolites and – at least, theoretically – eliminate the consequences of radiation.
There were plans to drop bags with zeolites from planes in the region of the Fukushima accident. However, from all appearances, it looks like those plans were later rejected, because some more effective ways of fighting against radiation were found.
However, rumors that zeolites allegedly can work miracles in fighting against radiation do not die off in Russia. Some people are saying fantastic things that, allegedly, zeolites were used to “egest radiation” from dead people’s bodies after the Chernobyl catastrophe.
As an expert in physics, I should say that people who spread these rumors seem not to know or to understand that “egesting radiation” from any object has any sense only if this object emits radiation in dangerous amounts.
However, even in such a case, it would be more effective not to “egest radiation” from this object but to cover the object with a radiation-proof shell.
Besides, it would be wrong to say that many people were killed or died immediately after the Chernobyl catastrophe. In fact, within the first three months after the catastrophe, only 31 people died as a result of it.
The majority of the Chernobyl catastrophe’s victims died much later because of diseases developed as a result of the radiation. As for the Fukushima catastrophe, as far as I know, nobody has died yet as a result of it.
True, zeolite was really used in liquidating the consequences of the Chernobyl accident, and there is data that proves it effectiveness. However, what all these rumors are saying about zeolite’s miracle-working properties is undoubtedly an exaggeration.
In reality, zeolite is effective against radiation – but not much more effective than any other similar substance. However, there is one more aspect that should be mentioned.
If the rumors about the miraculous properties of zeolite were spread by common people who know little about physics, this would have been only half the trouble. However, the trouble is that these rumors are being spread by producers and sellers of zeolite, who have one aim – to earn more money.
Saturday 25 January 2014
Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/2014_01_25/Rumors-about-zeolite-miracles-spark-after-Fukushima-disaster-9720/
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