Replies to post #2252 on The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[OakesCS]

regarding thorium: its half-life is longer than the age of the earth so the author's comment

a slightly radioactive element called thorium

is another one of those exaggerations which drives me nuts. I suspect mining and refining of zirconium and maybe titantium also involves relatively thorium rich concentrates yet i've never heard any safety concerns regarding thorium in those operations. i've worked with thorium metal. it isn't particularly hazardous.