# Why Kill With Polonium ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 28, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015 "2006-11-28T01:18:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/21 "2006-11-29T00:43:25Z")
Pat Buchanan has [speculated](http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53123) that the use of polonium was purposeful to point the finger at Putin: ---------Quote----- \*the predictable effect of Litvinenko’s death has been to put a cloud of suspicion over Putin and a chill over Russian relations with the West, one must ask: To whose benefit is the discrediting of Putin? Who would seek a renewal of the Cold War? Certainly, the oligarchs and robber barons like Berezovsky – many of them now dispossessed of the wealth they amassed in a collapsing Soviet Union, and all of whom have been run out of the country or imprisoned – have the most powerful of motives. They hate Putin and seek to bring him down. And Goldfarb and Litvinenko both enjoyed the patronage of the billionaire Berezovsky. ## Surely, rogue or retired KGB agents, passed over by Putin and bitter at Litvinenko, would have a motive: to send a message, written in polonium 210, that this is what happens to those who betray us and Mother Russia. \* My take - even a broken clock is right twice a day - using polonium here is like waving a GIANT red flag saying \*\*the neo-KGB did this \*\*—either Buchanan is right or the KGB doesn’t care. I favor the former but realize the latter is not impossible ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/22 "2006-11-29T00:45:19Z")
[QUOTE=CurtC] … and ophelium is not even poisonous. [/QUOTE] Nun of that, now…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/23 "2006-11-29T00:52:46Z")
The leathel dose of polonium is measured in micrograms. Radioactive elements work slowly, but are very toxic. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Aquila\_Be](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a698b9/32.png) [@Aquila\_Be](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquila_Be)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/24 "2006-11-29T10:50:46Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] Moonbats like [these?](http://www.rathergood.com/moon_song/) (Video with audio loads immediately) [/QUOTE] That’s absolutely brilliant. I’ve just emailed the link to eight of my musically inclined friends. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/25 "2006-11-29T11:24:58Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] Nun of that, now…😃 [/QUOTE] Next time I think they’ll use something even more exotic than polonium. I think - though I’m undecided - that [terbium](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terbium) would be a good choice, as it has no fewer than 33 radioisotopes of varying stability. Hmm… Tb or not Tb, that is the question. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/26 "2006-11-29T12:13:19Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] Next time I think they’ll use something even more exotic than polonium. I think - though I’m undecided - that [terbium](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terbium) would be a good choice, as it has no fewer than 33 radioisotopes of varying stability. Hmm… Tb or not Tb, that is the question. :dubious: [/QUOTE] Genius. Well done sir! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/27 "2006-11-30T17:43:45Z")
A former Russian PM now looks to have been poisoned while in Ireland last week > [@](#): > > ‘According to preliminary information from doctors, they do not see at the moment a natural reason for the poisoning,’ Valery Natarov told Reuters. > > ‘They think it is a substance they cannot so far identify - it is not a natural poisoning,’ he said. ‘It is too early to say whether it is a poison or not.’ > **[Gaidar family suspects poisoning](https://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1130/83156-poison/)** > > The family of former Russian Prime Minister Yegor Gaidar believes he was poisoned. Also there are now 33,000 people being contacted by BA after traces of radioactivity were found on some planes. > [@](#): > > Among them are two British Airways (BA) planes. A third one is awaiting checks. > > Home Secretary John Reid told Parliament that two Russian aircraft, one of which is currently at Heathrow airport, were also of interest. > > However, Mr Reid stressed the public health risk was low. BA is contacting 33,000 passengers from 221 flights. > **[BBC NEWS | UK | Radiation found at 12 locations](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6159927.stm)** > > Experts investigating Alexander Litvinenko's death find radioactive traces in 12 places, including two planes. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/28 "2006-12-01T00:52:45Z")
[QUOTE=Evil Captor] I figured they used polonium because rosencrantzium is so rare and hard to find, and it’s just about impossible to discretely administer guildensternium. [/QUOTE] 😛😛😛 ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/29 "2006-12-01T11:19:40Z")
Some intelligence expert on TV said that polonium might have been used because the victim will die slowly and without cure. As such, it is a cruel way to kill somebody, and sends a signal to other who might consider any form of betrayal. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/30 "2006-12-01T11:57:01Z")
[QUOTE=Wakinyan] Some intelligence expert on TV said that polonium might have been used because the victim will die slowly and without cure. As such, it is a cruel way to kill somebody, and sends a signal to other who might consider any form of betrayal. [/QUOTE] And as P210 is so rare there isn’t a pepper-pot of it in the world (according to expert on c4 news) it signals the power of the killers. It says ‘KGB’ or ‘Putin’ without any of the ambiguity a bullet or toxin like ricin would leave. And the unique Modus operandi leaves wriggle room for Putin’s current wide-eyed innocent act. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/31 "2006-12-01T16:30:09Z")
[A second man who ate with Litvinenko at a sushi restaurant has been found.](http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-12-01T153514Z_01_L29570112_RTRUKOC_0_UK-BRITAIN-POISONING-1.xml) Godzilla is \*not \*a suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/32 "2006-12-01T20:19:52Z")
[QUOTE=tagos] It says ‘KGB’ or ‘Putin’ without any of the ambiguity a bullet or toxin like ricin would leave. [/QUOTE] Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/33 "2006-12-04T16:40:51Z")
I had some polonium, but I foolishly gave it to someone who needed it and promised he would give it right back. Guess I learned my lesson: Neither a borrower or a lender be. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/34 "2006-12-04T16:55:50Z")
The FRB’s new motto: “Nothin’ says Putin like Polonium!” ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/35 "2006-12-04T16:58:43Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] I had some polonium, but I foolishly gave it to someone who needed it and promised he would give it right back. Guess I learned my lesson: Neither a borrower or a lender be. [/QUOTE] Sucker. 😉 One expert I heard estimated that the amount of P210 we’re talking about has a value of $20 million. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/36 "2006-12-04T18:37:23Z")
[QUOTE=tagos] Sucker. 😉 One expert I heard estimated that the amount of P210 we’re talking about has a value of $20 million. [/QUOTE] That’s amazing. Even a mint-condition Z-210 isn’t likely to fetch more than about $35K. And that’s with fancy magnesium rims. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/37 "2006-12-04T19:33:54Z")
[QUOTE=tagos] And as P210 is so rare … [snip] [/QUOTE] _P_210? Damn, I never realised Phosphorus had isotopes that heavy. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/38 "2006-12-04T19:45:46Z")
[QUOTE=CurtC] … and ophelium is not even poisonous. [/QUOTE] On the contrary, it’s quite lethal, but you can only kill yourself with it. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/39 "2006-12-04T22:51:25Z")
[QUOTE=CurtC] … and ophelium is not even poisonous. [/QUOTE] Whereas polyhelium is just an innocuous laughing gas. Because its (hypothetical) formula is He-He-He-He-He-He…, that’s why. :D) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2006, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015/40 "2006-12-04T23:12:33Z")
[QUOTE=Wakinyan] Some intelligence expert on TV said that polonium might have been used because the victim will die slowly and without cure. [/QUOTE] Apparently it causes the victim’s flesh to melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-kill-with-polonium/382015.md?page=3)