TX-sized floating island containing one million tonnes of junk from Japan tsunami drifting toward US

[kpete]

The 'toxic monster' is coming! Texas-sized floating island containing one million tonnes of junk from Japan tsunami drifting towards US
The most concentrated stretch of rubbish- dubbed the 'toxic monster' - is currently sitting between Hawaii and California

Now The Independent UK reports that an island of trash, some of it presumed toxic from the Fukushima radiation leaks, is floating across the Pacific, headed toward North America:

An enormous floating island of debris from Japan’s 2011 tsunami is drifting towards the coast of America, bringing with it over one million tons of junk that would cover an area the size of Texas.

The most concentrated stretch – dubbed the “toxic monster” ... - is currently around 1,700 miles off the coast, sitting between Hawaii and California, but several million tons of additional debris remains scattered across the Pacific.

If the rubbish were to continue to fuse, the combined area of the floating junkyard would be greater than that of the United States, and could theoretically weigh up to five million tons.

Even accounting for a bit of sensationalism in the projected size of the giant bobbing debris field, it is widely assumed that a significant percentage of the trash has essentially been soaked in radioactive water. In short, more radiation fallout from Fukushima is likely headed our way, and if so in gigantic fashion.

pics & more:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/the-toxic-monster-is-coming-texassized-floating-island-containing-one-million-tonnes-of-junk-from-japan-tsunami-drifting-towards-us-8922358.html
http://truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/18295-massive-toxic-japanese-tsunami-island-of-trash-headed-toward-us

[quinnox]

1. It really sucks that we are downwind from Japan

with Fukushima, and all the potential future Fukushima's they have waiting to happen.

[Autumn]

2. Interesting picture. Thanks for posting it.

[rustydog]

3. Has Ted Cruz blamed it on Obama yet?

[el_bryanto]

4. also the subject of a bizarre but interesting comic book from Image

About a rich sort-of altruistic kid who goes there and declares his own nation --> Great Pacific.

[HooptieWagon]

5. A whole lot of sensationalism there.

The debris washed out to sea immediately, so its most likely not radioactive. Furthermore, if its floating, it has soaked up little water. Much of the debris will end up in the Pacific gyre, so it won't wash up on US shores....although certainly the trash in the gyre is an enviromental concern. Fukushima is a clusterfuck enough, without making shit up.

[jaysunb]

7. +1 n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. 5 million tons over the area of the US (10m sq. km) would have an average depth

of half a micron (10 *1000 * 1000 * 1000 * 1000 * 0.5 * 1/1000000 cubic metres, and a cubic metre of water weighs a tonne). About a 50th the width of a human hair. "If the rubbish were to continue to fuse, the combined area of the floating junkyard would be greater than that of the United States, and could theoretically weigh up to five million tons" is complete rubbish, so to speak.