Contamination checks on evacuated residents

[jpak]

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Contamination_found_on_evacuated_residents-1303114.html

Potential contamination of the public is being studied by Japanese authorities as over 170,000 residents are evacuated from within 20 kilometres of Fukushima Daini and Daiichi nuclear power plants. Nine people's results have shown some degree of contamination.

Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (Nisa) – part of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Meti) – said that out of about 100 residents evacuated from Futaba by buses, nine people were found to have been exposed. The pathway of their exposure is currently under investigation.

One person was measured to have an exposure of 18,000 counts per minute (cpm); another had a measurement of between 30,000 and 36,000 cpm; while a third evacuee had an exposure of 40,000 cpm. A fourth person initially gave a reading of over 100,000 cpm, but a second measurement taken after the person had removed their shoes was just under 40,000 cpm. Another five people were said to have "very small counts".

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On-site casualties

At Fukushima Daiini unit 3 one worker received a radiation dose of 106 mSv. This is a notable dose, but comparable to levels deemed acceptable in emergency situations by some national nuclear safety regulators.

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[FBaggins]

1. To put that in context

First responders trained to deal with radiological events will just send you home and tell you to take a shower if the cpm is below 10,000.

Between a cpm of 10,000 and 100,000 - They will give you the shower (in a decon unit). In both cases, there's no concern of any health impact.

Above 100,000 - they'll assume that you have potential internal contamination and have you checked out by a doctor (though that doesn't mean "raced off in an abulance for emergency treatment"). There's still no expectation of danger at this point.