On the other hand, disadvantages of whole-body counting are that it can only be used for gamma emitters, except in special circumstances, and it can misinterpret external contamination as an internal contamination.
22.
Additionally, all 233 U production methods other than mercury fluourescence always result in significant impurities of the very dangerous gamma emitter 232 U, either from parasitic ( n, 2n ) reactions on 232 Th, 233 Pa, or 233 U that result in the loss of a neutron, or from double neutron capture of 230 Th, an impurity in natural 232 Th:
23.
In this manner the neutron bomb would be turned into a " salted bomb "; a case of zinc-64, produced as a byproduct of depleted zinc oxide enrichment, would for example probably be the most attractive for military use, as when activated, the zinc-65 so formed is a gamma emitter, with a half life of 244 days.
