Japan: Cesium-137 deposits 50 times more than previous record

Asahi Shimbun ^ | 12/03/11 | YUMI NAKAYAMA

[TigerLikesRooster]

Cesium-137 deposits 50 times more than previous record

BY YUMI NAKAYAMA STAFF WRITER

TSUKUBA, Ibaraki Prefecture--Nearly 30,000 becquerels per square meter of cesium-137 fell on Tsukuba in March as a result of the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, the government's Meteorological Research Institute said Dec. 1.

[TigerLikesRooster]

All these time people have been walking around feeling that it is safe in Tsukuba, and now Japanese gov is telling people, "By the way, cesium rained on you. Lots of it. But nothing to worry. Move on." What a way to inspire confidence.

[TigerLikesRooster]

[allmost]

It's allright. The youth are terribly sparse and those responsible look up. ?

[Ron C.]

Note the whole story...

"... cesium-137 deposits in Tsukuba in April fell to less than one-tenth the March level, and by summer fell further to several tens of becquerels per square meter, approximately the same levels found in the aftermath of the 1986 Chernobyl accident, researchers said."

It fell from "30,000 becquerels per square meter" to less than 3000 becquerels in one month - then to 'several tens' (40 becquerels) by June - then falling by the same percentages, it is has become virtually indistinguishable from normal rates today.

Does that mean it was not a threat to health at the time - not really. Long term exposure at it highest levels significantly raises the threat of cancer ten years later - so said something I read lately.

But the good news in that piece was that the number of people 'threatened was low.' Supposedly because there were not that many people in the area where the fallout was greatest - most of them killed, and or subsequently evacuated.

[allmost]

The kids have nothing from here. Bow their heads and be good whatevers? It cannot last either way.