Government ignored U.S. radiation monitoring data in days after 3/11
Source: The Asahi Shimbun
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The Energy Department used its Aerial Measuring System (AMS) between March 17 and 19, 2011, and compiled a detailed map of radiation levels on the basis of 40 hours of flight time over Fukushima Prefecture.
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The map clearly shows an area of high radiation levels extending in a northwesterly direction from the crippled Fukushima plant.
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Thousands of Fukushima residents living near the plant, unaware of the danger they faced, evacuated in the direction of those high radiation areas.
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Even though 15 months have passed since the data was passed on by the U.S. government, officials of NISA's Nuclear Safety Public Relations and Training Division said they were still looking into whether they obtained the information in response to repeated requests for interviews from The Asahi Shimbun.
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Read more: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201206180048