Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Not Enough Panic? Let's Add Some More!

The media have not been entirely responsible in reporting on the Fukushima nuclear crisis, and its effects on the rest of Japan. While radiation levels in Tokyo have multiplied several times over, in real terms they're 1/40 the radiation received during an x-ray examination. For that matter, humans receive radiation on long overseas flights because of the altitude and the radiation coming from the sun.

The radiation in Tokyo has increased to just short of one microsievert, while in Fukushima it's spiked as high as 400 millisieverts. 250 millisieverts, or more than 250,000 times the Tokyo level, is the threshold for health danger.

For a little reality from industry and academic specialists, check this link:
http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/notes/paul-atkinson/japan-nuclear-update-british-embassy/10150111611771235

As you see from the article, the exclusion zone is indeed a danger zone, but only 50 or so brave TEPCO employees (wearing radiation suits, I would hope!) are working within that zone. But, pity the farmer who lives outside the exclusion zone, and who tries to sell his produce with "Fukushima" as the name of the place where it is grown. Would anyone buy it?

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