If they are successful, radioactivity will end up in an unlimited number of consumer products and building materials without the knowledge or consent of the public. Any exposure to this material, which includes everything from metal to concrete to plastic, could increase the likelihood of cancer, birth defects, reduced immunity, genetic damage, and other negative health effects. If large amounts of this material are sold into the marketplace, your child could be multiply exposed to various radioactive products- from braces to baby strollers. Exposures to radiation should be avoided and reduced, not legally increased. Metal is the first radioactive material that the nuclear industry and their allies in the federal agencies are trying to force into commerce.
Radioactive metal comes from a variety of sources.
The largest generators include the nuclear power industry and the DOE's weapons production facilities. The most common radioactively contaminated metals are carbon steel, stainless steel, nickel, copper and aluminum. According to the Department of Energy National Center of Excellence for Metals Recycle website, the DOE facilities have 1.4 million tons of metal they plan to recycle. This number has probably been greatly underestimated, considering there are over 130 licensed or formerly licensed commercial nuclear power plants, each comprised of massive amounts of radioactive metal and other wastes. DOE has entered a precedent-setting contract at Oak Ridge, Tennessee that could release over 100,000 tons of radioactively contaminated nickel, steel scrap and copper.