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Reuters Special Report: Radiation fears may be greatly exaggerated
Reuters ^ | March 18, 2011 | By Julie Steenhuysen

Posted on 03/18/2011 2:30:55 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

As workers struggle to contain the fallout from the crippled nuclear plant in northeastern Japan, people as far away as Illinois are calling public health officials in a state of panic.

They are hoping to get their hands on potassium iodide pills to protect them from radiation -- despite warnings that, in the absence of a real nuclear threat, taking the medicine is riskier than doing nothing.

"People in general have an exaggerated fear of radiation. That is true in the United States, and it is probably even more so in Japan," said Jerrold Bushberg, director of health physics programs and clinical professor of radiology and radiation oncology at the University of California Davis.

Despite the Japanese government's assurances that the risk so far is minimal, residents of Tokyo have flooded out of the city and foreigners have fled the country, hoping to escape a threat they cannot see.

The fact is that everyone is exposed to small amounts of radiation every day just from living on earth or flying in an airplane.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: fukushima; journalism; media; radiation
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1 posted on 03/18/2011 2:31:00 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

It is a trick by those meat eating zombies. I’m going to stay in the shelter.


2 posted on 03/18/2011 2:33:23 PM PDT by org.whodat
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Actually, the “fear” is not as exaggerated as unwarranted. The “fear” is real and tangible. Most of the exaggeration is coming from the MSM!


3 posted on 03/18/2011 2:33:39 PM PDT by the_Watchman (Healthcare reform was never about health.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

When DUmmies rush out to buy irradiated milk to stock up for nuclear winter, yes, its probably overblown.


4 posted on 03/18/2011 2:34:23 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
I lay this problem SQUARELY at the feet of Barack Obama's INCOMPETENT Surgeon General. Her comments on this subject, especially as they relate to the purchase of potassium iodine tablets, were (at best) reckless, and possibly even dangerous. She exacerbated already growing (and irrational) fears with her idiot comments.

She should have been fired post-haste.

5 posted on 03/18/2011 2:34:34 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The cause is squarely on the shoulders of a media too willing to overhype anything and everything. At what point does the media get the blame and some negative consequences for their constant fear-mongering. They are destroying our nation.


6 posted on 03/18/2011 2:35:17 PM PDT by ilgipper
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

No sh¡t?


7 posted on 03/18/2011 2:35:44 PM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 786 of our national holiday from reality. - It's never 3 AM at the White Hut)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
...people as far away as Illinois are calling public health officials in a state of panic.

This week explains a lot in terms of the sheer stupidity of the American public, including the election of Obama and the large number of elected Democrats.

8 posted on 03/18/2011 2:36:07 PM PDT by denydenydeny (Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak-Adams)
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To: the_Watchman

>>Most of the exaggeration is coming from the MSM!<<

Since I don’t have TV, don’t listen to the radio, and get all my news off the internet, maybe that is why I’m not fearing anything here. ;)


9 posted on 03/18/2011 2:36:38 PM PDT by RobRoy
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To: ilgipper

>>The cause is squarely on the shoulders of a media too willing to overhype anything and everything. <<

Hey, whatever gets ratings! :)

That may be why I don’t take the media seriously, and why I seem to take all this stuff in a different way than those that have television.


10 posted on 03/18/2011 2:38:20 PM PDT by RobRoy
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I ate a bottle of potassium iodide just in case. I’m good.


11 posted on 03/18/2011 2:39:29 PM PDT by Retired Greyhound
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To: OldDeckHand
And those morons claim they are the “pro-science” administration.
12 posted on 03/18/2011 2:40:30 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Ya think?


13 posted on 03/18/2011 2:44:30 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open ( <o> ---)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Exaggerated fears of radiation are par for the course: this has been going on for decades.
http://www.phyast.pitt.edu/~blc/book/chapter8.html

It explains why the U.S. is so far behind Japan and even FRANCE (how pathetic is it that the Frogs are less timid about nuclear power than we are?) in nuclear power use.


14 posted on 03/18/2011 2:45:19 PM PDT by DrC
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To: RobRoy

Matt Drudge has been a bigger panic monger this past week than any other news outlet or aggregator.

And I’m finding that one needs to use a ton of discernment when relying on FR posts during a potential emergency or crisis.


15 posted on 03/18/2011 2:45:19 PM PDT by lonevoice (Where the Welfare State is on the march, the Police State is not far behind)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

The radiation plume has hit Wisconsin causing some of the snow to melt.

oh wait ... could just be warmer weather.
I’ll ask my little dog, he can see things more clearly since he’s grown a third eye.

Update : He said “woof”.


16 posted on 03/18/2011 2:48:18 PM PDT by Nonsense Unlimited
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Exaggerated fears of radiation are par for the course: this has been going on for decades.
http://www.phyast.pitt.edu/~blc/book/chapter8.html

It explains why the U.S. is so far behind Japan and even FRANCE (how pathetic is it that the Frogs are less timid about nuclear power than we are?) in nuclear power use.


17 posted on 03/18/2011 2:49:29 PM PDT by DrC
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I think I’ve been exposed. The hair on my head is falling off, while other hair grows out my nose and ears. I can’t remember where I put my old wristwatch with the Radium dial or the wind-up alarm clock with same. I’m only 57 years old!

I can’t find the iodide stuff, but the 12 oz. Budweiser pills seem to offer some relief, at least temporarily.


18 posted on 03/18/2011 2:51:18 PM PDT by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)
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To: lonevoice

>>Matt Drudge has been a bigger panic monger this past week than any other news outlet or aggregator.<<

Yeah, but at least you can get more story there and then compare it to the other stories on the web and make up your own mind. I especially like to get a story after a dozen or so people have commented on it. I may not agree with many of the comments, but they spark questions and suspicions that keep me “honest” in what I choose to believe, hook, line and sinker. :)


19 posted on 03/18/2011 2:53:12 PM PDT by RobRoy
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

We just had a nice de-bunking segment on local tv. It should be on national.

Hospital radiologist showing his old geiger counter buzzing over some old China stonewear and an alarm clock with luminous hands.

http://www.wthr.com/story/14280163/experts-say-radiation-threat-is-minimal


20 posted on 03/18/2011 2:54:01 PM PDT by nascarnation
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