The curious tale of murder by radiolysis becomes more convoluted each day. A Google search reveals an expanding table of accusations and denials, each party having some kind of axe to grind. There are the British authorities, anti-Putin exiles, Russian oligarchs, a diminishing group of fearless Russian journalists, angry and indignant ex-Soviet KGB patriots, and of course, Tsar Putin.  This case is beginning to reveal that there may be no perfectly clean parties, radiologically or otherwise. 

This is a fleeting glimse of a struggle takig place between bitter Russian ex-patriots and the Putin regime.  Some sketchy reports indicate that this disturbing battle involves an underworld of operatives working for both oligarch wise-guys and organs of the state secret police. It’s just creepy. There is no other way to put it.

But, it could easily be that the murder of Litvinenko was pulled off without the knowledge or sanction of the official security apparatus and was executed by freelancing bad guys.

Switching subjects now, a company in New Mexico called United Nuclear has an interesting commentary on it’s website, though I’m not sure that it makes any actual conclusions.  But, you can get a Polonium-210 coffee mug.  A 0.1 microCurie Po-210 source will run ya about $69.00. United Nuclear claims that their sources couldn’t have been used in the Litvinenko killing.  Assuming that their comments are accurate, I would have to agree with that conclusion.

I hasten to add that it is important that there be a commercial source of such things.  In order for people to invent new products using radiation, we need suppliers like United Nuclear.  We also need radiation sources for teachers to educate students and the public about radiation.  These people have some pretty cool stuff and it is my sincerest wish that pointy headed fools in DC do not try to clamp lots of extra constraints on to companies like United Nuclear because of the Litvinenko murder.  Gosh, it’s a good thing that Po-210 wasn’t found in somebody’s shoe. The TSA would be making us scan our feet at the airport.