EPA—Japanese Nuclear Emergency: Radiation Monitoring (Last updated on 03/24/2011 at 12:06:17)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.epa.gov/japan2011/data-updates.html

Japanese Nuclear Emergency: Radiation Monitoring

Daily Data Summary

Last updated on 03/24/2011 at 12:06:17.

As the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has said, we do not expect to see radiation at harmful levels reaching the U.S. from damaged Japanese nuclear power plants. As part of the federal government's continuing effort to make our activities and science transparent and available to the public, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will continue to keep all RadNet data available in the current online database. EPA is working with its federal partners and has deployed additional monitors to Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

EPA is utilizing this existing nationwide radiation monitoring system, RadNet, which continuously monitors the nation's air and regularly monitors drinking water, milk and precipitation for environmental radiation. The RadNet online searchable database contains historical data of environmental radiation monitoring data from all fifty states and U.S. territories.

EPA will provide daily data summaries of our radiation air monitoring efforts. We will continue to keep all RadNet data available in the current http://epa.gov/cdx/">online database.

March 23, 2011

As of 5:00pm (EDT) EPA's RadNet radiation air monitors across the U.S. show typical fluctuations in background radiation levels. The levels detected are far below levels of concern.

On Tuesday, March 22 - preliminary monitor results in Hawaii detected minuscule levels of an isotope that were consistent with the Japanese nuclear incident. This detection varied from background and historical data in Hawaii. This isotope was detected at our fixed monitor in Hawaii, and it was far below any level of concern for human health. The sampling filter from this monitor has been sent to our national radiation lab for further analysis.

As of 1:00pm (EDT) EPA's RadNet radiation air monitors across the U.S. show typical fluctuations in background radiation levels. The levels detected are far below levels of concern.

On Tuesday, March 22 - preliminary monitor results in Hawaii detected minuscule levels of an isotope that were consistent with the Japanese nuclear incident. This detection varied from background and historical data in Hawaii. This isotope was detected at our fixed monitor in Hawaii, and it was far below any level of concern for human health. The sampling filter from this monitor has been sent to our national radiation lab for further analysis.

March 22, 2011

As of 6:30pm (EDT) preliminary monitor results in Hawaii detected minuscule levels of an isotope that is consistent with the Japanese nuclear incident. This detection varies from background and historical data in Hawaii. This isotope was detected at our fixed monitor in Hawaii, and it is far below any level of concern for human health. The sampling filter from this monitor is being sent to our national radiation lab for further analysis.

EPA's RadNet radiation air monitors across the rest of the U.S. show typical fluctuations in background radiation levels. The levels detected are far below levels of concern.

…

Gamma counts from Honolulu are available here:
http://www.epa.gov/japan2011/rert/radnet-honolulu-bg.html

Gamma exposure rates in Oahu are available here:
http://www.epa.gov/japan2011/rert/radnet-oahu-exp-rate.html

Gamma exposure rates in Kauai are available here:
http://www.epa.gov/japan2011/rert/radnet-kauai-exp-rate.html

Look for a sensor near you here:
http://www.epa.gov/japan2011/rert/radnet-data-map.html

[FBaggins]

1. So... um... no need to take the potasium iodide pills yet? n/t

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. I think you’re OK for now

Unless you’re http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/16/world/asia/japan-nuclear-evaculation-zone.html">planning a trip…

[FBaggins]

3. That's the model that assumes that the reactors breach containment.

(and in a big way)

That hasn't happened.

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. Right (Sorry for any confusion I may have caused.)

My point was (as it has always been) that there has never been much of a radiation threat to the US from a nuclear accident in Japan.

[FBaggins]

5. Well that's certainly true. n/t

[crickets]

6. "minuscule levels of an isotope"

Interesting how the isotope is not identified.

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. The sampling filter from this monitor has been sent to our national radiation lab for further analy…

(Let them do the analysis.)

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/3724de8571e1b03f8525785c00041a7a!OpenDocument

Release date: 03/22/2011

Contact Information: EPA Press Office [e-mail]

WASHINGTON – During a detailed analysis of four west coast RadNet air monitor filters, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified trace amounts of radioactive iodine, cesium, and tellurium consistent with the Japanese nuclear incident. These levels are consistent with the levels found by a Department of Energy monitor last week and are to be expected in the coming days.

EPA’s samples were captured by three monitors in California and one in Washington State on Friday, March 18 and sent to EPA scientists for detailed laboratory analysis. The data was reviewed over the weekend and the analysis was completed Monday night. The radiation levels detected on the filters from California and Washington monitors are hundreds of thousands to millions of times below levels of concern.

In addition, last night preliminary monitor results in Hawaii detected minuscule levels of an isotope that is also consistent with the Japanese nuclear incident. This detection varies from background and historical data in Hawaii. This isotope was detected at our fixed monitor in Hawaii, and it is far below any level of concern for human health. The sampling filter from this monitor is being sent to our national radiation lab for further analysis.

In a typical day, Americans receive doses of radiation from natural sources like rocks, bricks and the sun that are about 100,000 times higher than what we have detected coming from Japan. For example, the levels we’re seeing coming from Japan are 100,000 times lower than what you get from taking a roundtrip international flight.

EPA is in the process of conducting detailed filter analyses for fixed monitors located in Oregon.

EPA’s RadNet filter results for San Francisco, Seattle, Riverside and Anaheim, California detected minuscule quantities of iodine isotopes and other radioactive particles that pose no health concern at the detected levels. Below are the results of the detailed filter analysis. All of the radiation levels detected during the detailed filter analysis are hundreds of thousands to millions of times below levels of concern.

All units are in Picocuries per meter cubed.

- Filter results for Anaheim, Calif. found:
Cesium-137: 0.0017
Tellurium-132: 0.012
Iodine-132: 0.0095
Iodine-131: 0.046

- Filter results for Riverside, Calif. found:
Cesium-137: 0.00024
Tellurium-132: 0.0014
Iodine-132: 0.0015
Iodine-131: 0.011
- Filter results for Seattle, Wash. found:
Cesium-137: 0.00045
Tellurium-132: 0.0034
Iodine-132: 0.0029
Iodine-131: 0.013

- Filter results for San Francisco, Calif. found:
Cesium-137: 0.0013
Tellurium-132: 0.0075
Iodine-132: 0.0066
Iodine-131: 0.068

EPA’s RadNet system is designed to protect the public by notifying scientists, in near real time, of elevated levels of radiation so they can determine whether protective action is required. In addition, an analysis of the filters in the monitors can identify even the smallest trace amounts of specific radioactive isotopes.

As part of the federal government’s continuing effort to make our activities and science transparent and available to the public, EPA will continue to keep RadNet data available at: http://www.epa.gov/japan2011/

[crickets]

8. Thank you!

I'll keep working on that reading comprehension thing. :)