Dangerous Levels of Radioactive Isotope Found 25 Miles From Nuclear Plant

[FLAprogressive]

WASHINGTON — A long-lasting radioactive element has been measured at levels that pose a long-term danger at one spot 25 miles from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, raising questions about whether Japan’s evacuation zone should be expanded and even whether the land might need to be abandoned.

The isotope, cesium 137, was measured in one village by the International Atomic Energy Agency at a level exceeding the standard that the Soviet Union used as a gauge to recommend abandoning land surrounding the Chernobyl reactor, and at another location not precisely identified by the agency at more than double the Soviet standard.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/asia/31japan.html?_r=1

[Botany]

1. this is devastating news

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4793977&mesg_id=4794194

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Why do they NEVER give the actual readings of the levels?

In damn near every story I have read the levels are vague, compared to "as much as a flight to Boston"
"less than EPA standards" "1,000 times more than normal"etc.
but never reported in actual measurements.
They they wonder why we do not trust their info.

[daleo]

3. I agree with you

This has bothered me from day one.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. Here are some readings taken by Tohoku University in Sendai

approximately 50 miles north of Dai-ichi

http://www.bureau.tohoku.ac.jp/anzen/monitoring/english.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Perhaps you can tell me..

at what measurement of microsieverts/hr. IS there a risk?

[Art_from_Ark]

10. Here's something to get you started

It's from the Radiation Effects Research Foundation. I think that Question #11 might be of particular interest to you.

http://www.rerf.or.jp/fukushima_qae.pdf

Here's their home page (in English) with links to other sites:

http://www.rerf.or.jp/index_e.html

[jtuck004]

19. For example, and in addition to Art's links (I like that first one)

This week various readings were reported, and one was 1 Sievert per hour next to but on the outside of the reactors (among several other weaker readings in the distance). So a person with no shielding (which shouldn't happen) could work there an hour and get a measureable 1 Sievert.

From wiki on the Sievert, a specific dose of human-absorbed radiation -

1 – 3 Sv (1000 – 3000 mSv): Mild to severe nausea, loss of appetite, infection; more severe bone marrow, lymph node, spleen damage; recovery probable, not assured.

Tokyo Electric raised the exposure level for emergency workers from 100 millisieverts to 250 millisieverts. There have been readings reported of 400 mSv/hr. That unshielded (also unlikely here) person could work less than an hour and gain the 250 mSv total ever dose.

But that's all stuff within the perimeter of the plant, for the most part.

Among several similar typical readings where people really are, in the city and suburbs, you are looking at 0.11 -micro-sieverts/hr.
Considerably less, and within the margin of radiation one would get from other common exposures such as

One Chest X-ray: 100 microsieverts
One dental X-ray: 40-150 microsieverts
One mammogram: 700 microsieverts
Full-body airport X-ray scanner: 0.0148 microsieverts

according to one site. So not desireable, but nothing to set your hair on fire about.

There are other variables, particles, radiation too high in the nearby sea that can make specific instances worse. Ideally people limit their exposure to the outside for awhile, and the escaping radiation gets stopped.

But it needs to stop. And they are getting reinforcements and help from France and U.S...

It's three weeks today.

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. From another thread: "400 millisievert is 40 Rem/ hr."

That thread has lots of posts by someone who indicates they worked in reactors, if I am reading it right.
Worth bookmarking for all the info, I just found it this am.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x648970

[jtuck004]

23. Thank you for that. eom

[crickets]

17. You're posting links to some wonderful resources.

Thank you.

[Art_from_Ark]

18. You're welcome

I'm in a kind of unique situation in that I have been in Japan for years and it's relatively easy for me to find sources in Japanese as well as English. I figure that as long as I am stuck here, I might as well make myself useful.

[RC]

7. Fear mongering by the anti-nuke people.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

13. RC.....I don't think there is enough concern being shown to the real dangers facing 1/3 of planet

[Forkboy]

16. As opposed to feel good mongering by it's proponents.

[FLAprogressive]

9. so hard to get straight answers from anyone

[suffragette]

11. That is bothering me as well

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x773522#773873

[crickets]

15. So you can't keep track of the numbers.

Lies of omission cover a multitude of sins.

[jimlup]

4. As time goes on the news will keep getting worse

The media still isn't understanding the long term scope of this disaster. This is perhaps better termed a catastrophe. It truly is.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. The media is still going " Will Fukushima be * as bad as* Chernobyl?"

When there are at least 4 reactors in trouble and reports confirmed that at least one has melted thru the container.
Way behind the curve, for sure.

[AndyTiedye]

12. Were They Able to Clean Up Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

[dixiegrrrrl]

21. Define "clean up". 1,000s of Japanese died for years after due to radiation.

[AndyTiedye]

22. How radioactive are those places today?

[grahamhgreen]

14. "level exceeding the standard that the Soviet Union used as a gauge to recommend abandoning land" nt