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Polonium-210 (Po-210)

An alpha-emitting radionuclide (half-life 138.4 days) produced by neutron bombardment of bismuth-209. Used as the weapon in the Litvinenko murder. Detectable at trace levels by alpha spectrometry even weeks after surface deposition. Nuclear forensics uses isotope-ratio analysis to trace Po-210 to its reactor-production history.

Explained in

CWA, Dirty Bomb and RDD Investigative Readiness

Related terms

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition Alpha spectrometry Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)DRDE Gwalior IMPA (isopropyl methylphosphonic acid)Novichok Nuclear forensics OPCW Designated Laboratory Radiological dispersal device (RDD)

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