Litvinenko's Death by Polonium Poisoning
By Cartoon: Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune
Project: Cynthia Kirkeby, ClassBrain
Dec 5, 2006, 08:31 PST
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| © Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune |
Litvinenko's Death by Polonium Poisoning
Rarely has the spy world come to the forefront of the news as vividly as it has in the case of Alexander Litvinenko's death. The spy's death from polonium poisoning has been so bizarre that it reads more like something from a novel than the evening news. The substance which poisoned him and quickly caused his demise, is so deadly that the British government has been frantically testing people who may have also come in contact with the substance. Sometimes it seems, life is still stranger than fiction.
Questions to Ponder
- What is Polonium, and why is it poisonous?
- Why was Polonium used to kill Litvinenko?
- What did Litvinenko know that necessitated his murder?
- Is this murder a new trend? Will highly toxic, radioactive substances be used for murder again?
- If Polonium can be used for murder without being detected for so long, despite being present on international aircraft, will someone use it next to target a larger population in a terrorist act?
Learning Links
Polonium Risk Spreads
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has called for hundreds of people to come forward for testing in the wake of the death by radiation poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.
Source: hc2d.co.uk
Where Polonium Comes From
Polonium 210 isn't easy to come by. To produce significant amounts, a nuclear reactor is necessary. But only a tiny amount of the substance can kill.
Source: Speigel Online International
While We Weren't Looking- We Shouldn't be Surprised By Alexander Litvinenko's Death
Source: Slate.com
It's Elemental - Polonium
Source: Jefferson Lab
© Copyright 2006 by Classbrain.com
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