WSJ: A new ‘twist’ after Fukushima — Massive clouds of radioactive spores can travel 100 miles (PHOTO)

Published: March 9th, 2012 at 3:17 pm ET
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Title: March 11, One Year On: Radioactive Pollen?
Source: Wall Street Journal
Date: March 9, 2012
Emphasis Added

March is the peak of hay fever season in Japan. And this year it brings a new twist: radioactivity in pollen.

SOURCE: European Pressphoto Agency via WSJ

A year after meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant blew radioactive particles over much of northeastern Japan, some of that contamination is being re-dispersed by trees. [...]

Sugi are everywhere in Japan, growing especially thickly in the hills and mountains of eastern Japan. Between February and May, the tiny cones on the ends of the sugi branches release their pollen spores in massive clouds, which can waft more than 100 miles [...]

The problem this year is the radioactive cesium spewed out after the Fukushima accident, which researchers last summer found collecting inside sugi needles, though they’re still not sure how it got there. [...]

Although the survey did find some extremely high levels – especially from sugi in the town of Namie in Fukushima, inside the no-go zone – the Forestry Agency concluded that by the time the pollen got through the noses of the populace, the level of exposure would be very low. [...]

Read the report here

Published: March 9th, 2012 at 3:17 pm ET
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44 comments

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44 comments to WSJ: A new ‘twist’ after Fukushima — Massive clouds of radioactive spores can travel 100 miles (PHOTO)

  • PoorDaddy PoorDaddy

    Expected response…..levels low, no immediate health threat, blah, blah.

    "Although the survey did find some extremely high levels – especially from sugi in the town of Namie in Fukushima, inside the no-go zone – the Forestry Agency concluded that by the time the pollen got through the noses of the populace, the level of exposure would be very low."

    Wouldn't want any of that shit in my nose!


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  • InfoPest InfoPest

    Here's an idea for anybody in Japan with a Dosimeter. It's raining in Tokyo today. When it stops raining, look for a dried puddle that left behind a yellow coating of collected pollen. I would bet this is going to creat new HotSpots.


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  • jec

    So what is the science that allows the Forestry Agency to make THAT proclaimation? The "low exposure?"–like the "low "thyroid exposure for 80% of Fukushima residents tested….up to 87 mSv! Thats not low, and the Forestry Officials need to demonstrate the facts they used to do the PROCLAIMATION. Frankly, for those officials..I would not like to be in their shoes (or their family's shoes) when the gemeral population finds out they have been lied to yet again. For awhile, the government officials will get polite disagreements from the public..but that will change, if it has not already. The fury of a parent whose children have been given a death sentence–will be extreme..and radiated/contaminated people have nothing further to lose..


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    • americancommntr

      Hasn't the public learned yet? Reactors and/or spent fuel pools can freaking explode in a giant mushroom cloud, blowing fuel rods to bits and streaking them out for miles, and the radiation is not harmful.

      It's always just a little bit, and it won't hurt you. Half the Japanese are going to die, but it's all going to be alright.

      Just like the pollen, it magically stops at 100 miles out.

      Government officials in Japan have wonderful jobs in which they get paid to lie.


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      • CaptD CaptD

        Forget the 100 mile limitation, once this stuff gets into the atmosphere the jet stream will carry it Globally; maybe not in great quanitites but if you are the one inhaling them it is not good!

        Gives Made in Japan, an entirely new meaning….


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  • enoughalready45 enoughalready45

    New Forum on ENENews: 3/11 Commemoration

    Many events happening around the world. See what is happening near you. Participate. Meet others. Join Forces.

    http://enenews.com/311-commemoration-discussion


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  • Machomaker Machomaker

    InfoPest
    March 9, 2012 at 4:16 pm · Reply

    Here's an idea for anybody in Japan with a Dosimeter. It's raining in Tokyo today. When it stops raining, look for a dried puddle that left behind a yellow coating of collected pollen. I would bet this is going to creat new HotSpots.

    http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/03/520-%CE%BCsvh-in-futabamachi-fukushima/
    absolutely deadly hotspot, isnßt it.
    4.5 Sievert Per Year


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  • Myme

    "it won’t be hazardous to health, the level of exposure would be very low…"

    Irresponsible statements like that should be banned unless the person provides sound data and evidence, and he/she should be held legally accountable when someone becomes ill directly or indirectly from believing such statement, affecting the short term or long term health. This includes any government officials, TEPCO employees, as well as journalists.

    If I know of local sprouts contaminated with E-coli and write in a newspaper "it is not a dangerous level," I would be legally responsible if someone dies from eating the 'non-danger level' E-coli sprouts.


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  • Anthony Anthony

    Fukushima wants to know: Is radiation still a threat?
    While the worst may be over, the future for many in the area is still uncertain

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46684077/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.T1qEajEgdPc


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    • vital1

      Anthony,

      MSNBC article

      "While none of the nuclear plant workers died of radiation exposure last March, many got doses beyond safe levels as they fought to keep the plant from melting down in the days after the killer earthquake and tsunami knocked out power to the reactors."

      Lies, lies lies, this NRC document proves instantly this statement in the article is a lie.

      I suggest you all use this document as one of your resources to prove to those who say "No one has died from the Fukushima Nuclear disaster", they are totally wrong.

      This occurred in the first few days of the disaster. In this correspondence between the NRC and the Japanese, the Japanese admitted to 5 people having received lethal radiation doses.

      http://enformable.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Pascarelli-Robert.png

      ———————————————————-
      Get the message out there on how serious the Fukushima nuclear disaster is quickly, and efficiently. You don’t need to explain anything just distribute the lifesaver.pdf (or create your own), hand it out, mailbox it, or email it.

      Put it everywhere, libraries, notice boards, web pages, forums, Facebook, and tweet! Think outside the box.

      http://technologypals.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/lifesaver.pdf


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  • many moons

    These journalists and researchers with their ridiculous lies are disgusting.
    How about all the nature that is involved with these events…birds, insects etc all being transformed by this radioactive cloud that floats for miles…and by the way is really nothing by the time it reaches your nose…are there really people in the world…who read the WSJ….. who can possibly believe that?


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  • Uh Oh

    I've not been feeling so good this week and rad net levels in some areas near me have been high

    My allergies–indeed, everyone's allergies–are really acting up here in the desert.

    Bad allergies prevail despite relatively little pollen (terrible drought).

    But what if the pollen here is radioactive also?

    Hypothetical: the radiation in the pollen here may be weakening us enough that we experience intense allergy symptoms, especially fatigue.

    I do NOT want to go through December again.

    really…


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    • Kevin Kevin

      See this right here is to my mind a BIG issue!

      (sorry to use you as a an example Majia)

      There are many facets to it.

      First off, no one, I repeat no one should have to live with fear of pollon. And this is spread to everything. Water, food, dairy products, rain and the list goes on. This is "terrorism."

      Second the pro nukers use claims like Majia's as an example of ummm, I forget the exact term they use, but it is something like hysteria. The essentially blame "emotions" and forward the notion that the biggest problem is how people react, of course it is done in such away to suggest the reaction is unjustified.

      Third, even if the pro nuke spin was right and people are just a bunch paranoid, hysteric, over-reacting nutbars as they tend to suggest when dealing with this issue (which you clearly are not majia, just to be clear ;) ) this reaction is stressful and if we are lucky and do not win the plutonium lottery and fail to breath in 1/100th of a gram and/or manage to avoid the ceasium, strontium, neptunium and whatever elseium, the stress itself is terribly damaging.

      This industry has absolutely no argument to continue, you cant hold humanity hostage like this and think you are gonna carry on unabated. The time is coming. The end is near.


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  • bluebonnet bluebonnet

    Has anyone heard about any testing of the pollen from the trees on our Pacific coast or the trees in Hawaii ? Thanks


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    • CB CB

      I haven't came across any bluebonnet, but there are recent interesting videos and posts from unsuspecting people about mutilations and deformities to vegetation in the anomalies section. Also very recent tweets and pictures of those takeing notice of changes.


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      • bluebonnet bluebonnet

        Thanks CB. I have a feeling that Hawaii may reveal the radiation damage more quickly and clearly than the mainland. There were very high radiation readings there last Summer before the monitor on Kauai went off-line. There were some TV news reports of radiation levels in milk exceeding safety limits in May or June. I haven't seen anything since then. I will look for the videos you mentioned. Thank-you !


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  • dear jones

    How we know that the radiation is comming out from Fukushima only.


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    • PoorDaddy PoorDaddy

      Every nuke plant "leaks" just by the process of venting. Just guessing, but the reason they make the stacks very high is so the radioactivity will "disperse" and will show up locally as "acceptable levels". Technically not all rads are from Fuku, but so much is.
      Fukushima is not a nuke plant anymore…it is an ongoing death machine of poisonous rubble that will be uninhabitable and spewing death for centuries.


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  • goathead goathead

    The potential for destroying the pollinators of this world through genetic damage might be high enough to wipe us off the planet! Kind of like the equivalent damage caused to plankton, affecting its ability to produce oxygen! That means that Honey could be like concentrated death!! The implications for what has been happening this past year are irreversible and it seems they will continue to intensify for a very long time!!


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  • goathead goathead

    We are beginning to appreciate how fragile our world really is. Unfortunately we seem to feel a need to destroy it in order to understand how it functions! In an educative context, Some folks can get by on theory, others like stuff to blow up in their faces but we don't really get a second chance with nukes! Everything changes forever!!


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    • many moons

      I think we did have a second chance with nukes and we didn't take it. Chernobyl showed us the hell on earth nukes create…we turned our eyes away from the suffering and ignored it…we had 25 years to shut them down…we have only ourselves to blame.

      Chernobyl WAS our second chance. Based on the past I have no doubts that nukes will transform this planet into hell…on earth.


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  • Jack Jack

    Pollen is not "spores". "Grains" make up pollen.


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    • aigeezer aigeezer

      True, but the WSJ is always sloppy with science stories. I doubt that their target readership would care about the details.

      http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_spores_and_pollen


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    • goathead goathead

      That's true but you put enough radioactive spores together, you've got a radioactive grain, no? If they're worried about radioactive cedar pollen blowing across Japan then I can see the same issues with other trees plants etc! All the pollinating insects are bringing this stuff around with them which is going to affect their DNA and those that are turning nectar into food (honey) are going to have the most damage surely, no? and we're eating that honey!!! I'd be interested in what the bee keepers of Japan are thinking about this issue!!


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      • aigeezer aigeezer

        Hi goathead. There are a couple of online editorials about the position of Japan's bee keepers. I can view them through Google Quick View, but I can't provide working links to the PDFs – The IBRA site appears to be down. Anyway, as far as I can tell, the industry is downplaying the effects of radiation and is hoping to sell honey again Real Soon Now – the public is wary though.

        PDF]
        Editorial TG.pub
        http://www.ibra.org.uk/downloads/20120221/download
        File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat – Quick View
        21 Feb 2012 – The Japanese Beekeeping. Association also analysed radioactive contamination in honey from Fukushima, Tochigi, and Miyagi prefectures …
        [PDF]
        Editorial TG.pub
        http://www.ibra.org.uk/downloads/20120217/download
        File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat – Quick View
        17 Feb 2012 – IBRA has friends and long standing members in Japan so along with the … apiaries in Fukushima to overwinter and to be on hand for an early …


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