Published: April 3rd, 2011 at 6:17 pm ET
|
EPA RadNet Precipitation Results, EPA, April 2, 2011:
Elevated levels of radioactive material in rainwater have been expected as a result of the nuclear incident after the events in Japan since radiation is known to travel in the atmosphere – precipitation data collected by EPA in the states of California, Idaho and Minnesota have seen elevated levels of radiation in recent precipitation events.
In all cases these are levels above the normal background levels historically reported in these areas. While short-term elevations such as these do not raise public health concerns – and the levels seen in rainwater are expected to be relatively short in duration – the U.S. EPA has taken steps to increase the level of monitoring of precipitation, drinking water, and other potential exposure routes to continue to verify that. …
Read the EPA report here.
Boise, Idaho rainwater 3/22/2011:
- 11.2 pCi/L of Cs-134
- 11.6 pCi/L of Cs-137
- 242 pCi/L of I-131
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for Iodine, CDC, April 2004:
EPA has set an average annual drinking water limit of 3 pCi/L for Iodine-131 so the public radiation dose will not exceed 4 millirem
EPA releases new radiation numbers for Boise, say levels pose no health threat, Idaho Statesman, April 2, 2011:
[Emphasis Added]
… Boise’s levels were higher than any other U.S. city in the report; most U.S. cities in the study had levels of cesium and iodine 131 that were not detectable. Officials had no explanation Saturday for why Idaho would have higher levels, but said the levels that were detected were far below levels that would warrant public-health concern.
Radiation in precipitation is measured because it affects not only the air, but vegetation, including grass eaten by cows that produce milk for human consumption.
Read the report here.
Published: April 3rd, 2011 at 6:17 pm ET
|
sending...
“No explanation” once again shows nuclear energy is in safe hands …
You and your readers may also be interested in how to treat radioactively contaminated drinking water, one of the most pressing concerns in Japan and soon in regions further off:
http://crisismaven.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/dangers-properties-possible-uses-and-methods-of-purification-of-radioactively-contaminated-drinking-water-e-g-in-japan/
Maybe someone wants to help with Japanese and other languages?
Report Comment
“It may take up to five days for results because of the number of samples being directed to the laboratory.”
A lot of water can be drank by a cities and municipality’s in five days !
Hope they are low !
Report Comment
Thanks for the info., Crisis Maven…Now to get my family -just regular folks- to take this to heart, especially with the health of several dear little children at stake. I have no idea why I’m the one who watches out for this stuff…Maybe I had too many science classes that I loved or something??
Report Comment
I never thought those physics, geology, and chem labs would spark my interests this way! :/
Report Comment
There is also an article here on the Petkau Effect which demonstrates the harmful effects of this supposed “not harmful” level of radiation, and what you can do to protect yourself.
http://stretchingminds.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/dr-john-w-apsley-the-petkau-effect-why-prolonged-exposure-to-low-level-radiation-is-harmful-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/
Report Comment
Mindstretcer, big Pacific Northwest Island Thank You! For the above post and link.
Report Comment
The answer is simple.
The first explosion at Fukushima was March 12rh. Transit time from there to the West Coast for wind blown aerosols is 7-9 days this time of year.
Nothing was to be expected before March 19th at the earliest. These readings are right on time. I just wonder how much else there was and will be.
Thanks for reporting it. These numbers are very hard to come by elsewhere.
Report Comment
Rain water = entire food chain.
Report Comment
I was told that it takes a month for snow melt to make it down to my well’s ground water. Snow’s finally all melted down here in SE Idaho. *cheers*
My thanks also for this data that is hard to find-what is up with people who think you are a ‘fear mongerer’ just for wanting the data?
Report Comment
Beware of them that say ‘fear mongerer’
Sock puppets/ beware
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/17/us-spy-operation-social-networks
and
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/17/online-persona-management_n_837153.html
Report Comment
The readings there in CPM have been higher then most areas other then Az. And Texas.
https://cdxnode64.epa.gov/radnet-public/showMap.do
Report Comment
…and the half life of Iodine-131 is, what again?
Even IF it were possible that ANY “harmful” radiation could affect North America in any way!
Answer:8 days. After that…its GONE BABY GONE!
In the coming weeks we can expect to hear that radioactivity from the Fukushima Nuclear plants has been detected damn near everywhere it’s looked for. This should be no surprise. Some of the materials released are very short lived and therefore are not normally found in any quantity in the enviornment. Since they can be measured down to the most minuscule levels, even the tiniest traces will show up. Also, expect the press to go nuts over this. Oh…they already have….
Report Comment
8 days. Not Exactly correct:
half-life =
“half-life” would be: 50% in 8 days, 25% in 16 days, 12.5% in 24 days, 6.25% in 32 days, 3.125% in 40 days, 1.5625% in 48 days, .78125 in 56 days – so, in two months it’s down to about 1%. But, if each day the source of radioactive iodine is renewed, then in a very short time there will be radiation as it gets built up faster than it depletes, and so would other bad isotope’s with longer half-lifes!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-life
Do Not to drink the milk and water !
Report Comment