how does tabacco contain radioactive polonium? Where does it come from? Does the plant make it radioactive, does it collect it? Do other plants do this too?

Question

how does tabacco contain radioactive polonium? Where does it come from? Does the plant make it radioactive, does it collect it? Do other plants do this too?

In: 204

Answer 1

Tobacco contains radioactive polonium because the plant absorbs it from the environment. Other plants do not absorb polonium as readily as tobacco plants do. The radioactivity in polonium is what makes it dangerous to humans.