# TRUTH rants about Polonium-210 in cigarette smoke **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 30, 2004, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truth-rants-about-polonium-210-in-cigarette-smoke/257570 "2004-07-30T06:21:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truth-rants-about-polonium-210-in-cigarette-smoke/257570/41 "2004-08-26T00:25:55Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > If we’re going to take out the radioactive Polonium, which _might_ even be possible, why stop there? Why not remove any Potassium, too? Or Carbon-14? For that matter, aren’t you concerned about the fallout from the recent Indian and Pakistani test nukes? Welllllll…one could remove all Polonium, since it really isn’t neccessary to have that particular heavy metal in there. Sure, it’s nigh impossible to remove various isotopes, but there’s no reason the whole dang element can’t be removed if you wanted to do so. Christ, I don’t need any more dose than I already get. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truth-rants-about-polonium-210-in-cigarette-smoke/257570/42 "2004-08-27T04:59:41Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Welllllll…one could remove all Polonium, since it really isn’t neccessary to have that particular heavy metal in there. Sure, it’s nigh impossible to remove various isotopes, but there’s no reason the whole dang element can’t be removed if you wanted to do so. Christ, I don’t need any more dose than I already get. Why strain at gnats while swallowing camels? Which is to say, Po is not worth worrying about. It’s a few mildly radioactive atoms mixed in with all of the carcinogens and addictive substances that really do you harm. If all cigarettes contained was Po-210, they would be just this side of health food. If you want to do something worthwhile, quit smoking. If you aren’t willing to make a commitment, shut up about the small crap. Half-measures still leave you all the way dead. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truth-rants-about-polonium-210-in-cigarette-smoke/257570/43 "2004-08-27T12:11:24Z")
\ The fiction book people above were talking about is “Thank You For Smoking” by Christopher Buckley, for those of you who, like me, hate having to click an Amazon link just to see the title of a book being referenced. Really good book.\ ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truth-rants-about-polonium-210-in-cigarette-smoke/257570/44 "2004-08-27T13:13:46Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Why strain at gnats while swallowing camels? > > Which is to say, Po is not worth worrying about. It’s a few mildly radioactive atoms mixed in with all of the carcinogens and addictive substances that really do you harm. If all cigarettes contained was Po-210, they would be just this side of health food. > > If you want to do something worthwhile, quit smoking. If you aren’t willing to make a commitment, shut up about the small crap. Half-measures still leave you all the way dead. Hey, I’m a chemist, practicality isn’t my strong suit. I’d be happy if smoking was outlawed. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truth-rants-about-polonium-210-in-cigarette-smoke/257570/45 "2004-08-27T19:54:26Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Hey, I’m a chemist, practicality isn’t my strong suit. I’d be happy if smoking was outlawed. Are you _sure_? Remember all them sin taxes will have to be made up from somewhere, let alone the so-called Tobacco settlement payments. _sigh_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truth-rants-about-polonium-210-in-cigarette-smoke/257570.md?page=2)