Small amounts of radiation headed for California, but no health risk seen

LA Times ^ | 3/17/11 | Ralph Vartabedian

[Libloather]

Small amounts of radiation headed for California, but no health risk seen
By Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times
March 17, 2011

Small amounts of radioactive isotopes from the crippled Japanese nuclear power plant are being blown toward North America high in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean and will reach California as soon as Friday, according to experts.

A network of sensors in the U.S. and around the world is watching for the first signs of that fallout, though experts said they were confident that the amount of radiation would be well within safe limits.

Operated by the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. network known as Radnet is a system of 100 radiation monitors that work 24 hours a day, spread across the country in places such as Anaheim, Bakersfield and Eureka. In addition, a network of 63 sensors is operated by the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, an international agency allied with the United Nations.

Atmospheric experts said the material should begin showing up on the West Coast as early as Friday, though it could take up to an additional week for the 5,000-mile trip from Japan to Southern California. Although the organization has told its member countries that the first indication of radiation would hit on Friday, the plume from a North Korean nuclear test in 2006 took about two weeks to travel to North America, U.N. officials said.

[Libloather]

I've been pretty much pounded. Ate plenty of beef in Europe during the mad cow madness - which puts me out of any blood donation consideration. Was under the Chernobyl cloud for months. Even grew up near Johns-Manville - the manufactures of asbestos. Say, what kind of insulation was in those middle schools, back in the day?

Just to let you know - things are fine. I'm still standing and there's absolutely nothing wrong wi

[Smokin' Joe]

How High is “high” in the atmosphere, and what got that material up there? It was practically at sea level.

[douginthearmy]

Nice. I’m pretty sure the time to panic was yesterday. I estimate it is approximately 1 million billion times worse than I first suspected.

[DB]

Just had a little 2.2 earthquake here California...

[Jeff Chandler]

Maybe California will absorb the radiation before it gets to Arizona?

[Cementjungle]

In other news, millions of asteroids are buzzing around in outer space. Experts say risk of major impact is small.

[max americana]

Or the radiation cloud hits mexico before california...

[Darkwolf377]

I think Obama should spend this next vacation in California, to show there’s absolutely nothing to worry about, and to put some coin into California’s economy.

[rlferny]

That is what I was thinking. The explosions didn't go very high into the sky and the debris and dust dissipated pretty quickly.

[Carley]

After China tested a nuke in the atmosphere........about 30 years ago the band of radioactivity circled the globe.

Statistics showed an increase in birth defects under that band of radioactivity.

Farmers in PA were ordered not to graze their cattle but use stored feed instead.

We travelled thru the area to double check. The cattle were grazing on the grass which meant their milk and meat was contaminated, which would have led to the increase in birth defects.

It’s so long ago I no longer have my documentation but for now it would be a good idea to pass up on buying produce from CA.

[Smokin' Joe]

Exactly, nothing like the driving force of a nuclear explosion, and nothing like the convective effects of a nuclear fireball to push the material into any part of the upper atmosphere.

So, back to it, "How high is high, and how did it get there?"

We should all want to know.

I smell some heavy panic mongering on the horizon.

[Jeff Chandler]

for now it would be a good idea to pass up on buying produce from CA.

Or rinse it first.

[Smokin' Joe]

There is a big difference between a nuclear explosion in atmosphere and a fire at sea level carrying away some material in smoke and steam. Even the hydrogen explosion on the site was a popcorn fart next to a nuclear warhead. One has tremendously more energy to push radioactive material up into the atmosphere. The other, not so much.

That is why I am having problems understanding this scenario.

[sten]

[Carley]

Understand this.........governments lie lie and lie some more.

Pregnant women, infants and children need our protection.

I had a newborn and a toddler when the China bomb hit the USA. We switched to powdered milk, dried fruits and veggies from our local co op and tried to minimize outdoor playing on the grass for a couple of months.

Nothing lost and a small semblance of peace of mind.

[Smokin' Joe]

Oh, I agree that governments lie. Especially nowadays. The 64,000 dollar question remians one of how high in the atmosphere, and how did it get there?

Keep in mind that the media are in the business of selling soap--(advertising)--and that is based on ratings, and gloom, doom, and apocalypse sell like hotcakes.

Without facts, a number of people may have adverse reactions to substances used as prophylaxis for a non-existent threat.

I note that there may well be a problem, but I'm the 'doubting Thomas' who wants to understand what, why, how (did it get there), and what to do about it. Those questions were part of the basic framework of any good news story, (Who, What, Where, When, How, and Why), and are sadly ignored in what passes for journalism in this era of hype, obfustication, and dissimilation.

By all means, take the precautions you find necessary, I won't fault anyone for that. It is just that facts seem to be conspicuously lacking.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Oh no you don’t. We’re SHARING!!!!!!

[blueplum]

lol - it’s raining in Calif. Hope it stops by Friday and a big 90mph wind blows this stuff on thru to Nevada where it belongs (ducking...)

[justa-hairyape]

From BBC Tweet.

0825: Low concentrations of radioactive particles are heading eastwards from Fukushima towards North America, a Swedish official is quoted as saying by Reuters. Lars-Erik De Geer, research director at the Swedish Defence Research Institute, a government agency, was citing data from a network of international monitoring stations, but stressed the levels were not dangerous for people.

[rolling_stone]

Think we could get them to broadcast warnings in Spanish, it might help some illegals decide to vamoose....