title: Murder with Radioactive Polonium Metal.
abstract: The physical and biological aspects of polonium-210, one of the most hazardous radioisotopes, are summarized. Although this radioisotope is naturally occurring and rare, it received quite a bit of attention after it was used in the 2006 assassination of former Russian Intelligence member Alexander Litvinenko in London. Recent reports on the suspected murder of Yasser Arafat with polonium-210 are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. takamitsu.kato@colostate.edu.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Wozniak
keywords: Ionizing radiation; polonium-210; radiation syndrome