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In message <466b7230$>, El Chippy wrote:

> In the context of the thread a wifi AP or a cellfone are not undergoing
> nuclear decay/reactions* and therefore are not radioactive*. They do
> however radiate electromagnetic signals (radiation)
>
> *on any significant scale. There is some insignificant level of C14 and
> who knows what other isotopes as there is in pretty much everything on
> this planet.

Lots of naturally-occurring substances exhibit significant (in the sense
of "easily detectable") levels of radioactivity. Potassium, for instance.
And anything containing potassium, including bananas.

For example, one problem in trying to build a screening station to pick up
attempts to smuggle components for an atomic bomb, is that you can't tell
the difference between well-hidden bomb materials and a truckload of
bananas.

In message <466ba80b$>, El Chippy wrote:

> ... but to class RF which is below the frequencies of visible light
> in the same class as X-rays and above is going a bit far.

The original mistake was in using the term "radioactive" for something that
had nothing to do with radio.

On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 19:10:59 +1200, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:

> In message <466b7230$>, El Chippy wrote:
>
>> In the context of the thread a wifi AP or a cellfone are not undergoing
>> nuclear decay/reactions* and therefore are not radioactive*. They do
>> however radiate electromagnetic signals (radiation)
>>
>> *on any significant scale. There is some insignificant level of C14 and
>> who knows what other isotopes as there is in pretty much everything on
>> this planet.
>
> Lots of naturally-occurring substances exhibit significant (in the sense
> of "easily detectable") levels of radioactivity. Potassium, for
> instance. And anything containing potassium, including bananas.

Yep, yet another form of radiation we can't live without. Evil evil
radiation, the energy source of all life on earth.
>
> For example, one problem in trying to build a screening station to pick
> up attempts to smuggle components for an atomic bomb, is that you can't
> tell the difference between well-hidden bomb materials and a truckload
> of bananas.

I know where there might be a few spare monkeys....(well, knuckle
draggers anyway.. not sure the primates at the zoo would acknowledge them
as distant relatives)