Radiation could reach Tokyo within 10 hours

[FourScore]

Source: CBSNews Tweet

CBSNews‎ French Embassy says low-level radioactive wind from the nuclear reactor in could reach Tokyo within 10 hours #japan
Disaster in Japan - CBS News‎ - cbsnews.com
Twitter -
163
2 minutes ago

Read more: CBS News‎ - cbsnews.com

[doc03]

1. I just read minutes ago radiation levels are 9 times normal in

Tokyo already. With all the conflicting information coming out of Japan I could swear BP is in charge over there.

[Teaser]

4. 9 times above normal may not be that bad

don't know what Tokyo's background level is. It could fluctuate that much, or near that much, regularly.

[doc03]

8. There were several reports over the weekend that levels were

1000 times normal at the reactor and that wasn't of any real concern acording to (experts?).

[FourScore]

9. Those reports were of levels inside the reactor. Not outside. n/t

[krispos42]

11. Well, radiation is a matter of accumation.

1,000x isn't any real concern... as long as you leave immediately.


It also depends on the kind.

[doc03]

12. How would that compare with a CT scan?

[krispos42]

14. Probably a lot less than 1000x

The sensors are extremely sensitive. We've learned a lot building astronomical telescopes of various kinds over the years, and I think it's safe to assume that a lot of that has been adapted to things other than studying quasars.

CT scans are also focused pretty tightly, so the amount of radiation per, say, cubic inch I don't think its that great.

But I don't know for certain; I only play a radiographer on TV... :-)

[Statistical]

15. Sadly not true. A CT scan is much much much more radiation.

Normal radiation is about 2.4mSv per year. That works out to ~ 0.00027397 mSv per hour.

1000x normal is bad but it is only 0.27mSv. So if you stayed in 1000x normal levels for 4 hours you would add about 1mSv to your annual dose. Now obviously you can't live in 1000x normal but short exposures are not lethal. It takes about a +100mSv increase before cancer rates are statistically increased.

Back to that CT scan. Depending on the type, area, and detail needed you can get 6mSv to 50mSv of radiation. At the high end one CT scan would be equivelent of staying in that 1000x normal zone for 185 hours.

[krispos42]

16. I did not know that!

Thank you very much. Is this why they tend to use MRI scans instead?

[doc03]

17. I have heard CT scans were bad, I didn't know

they were that bad. I took 5 of them, one every 6 months for two years observing a spot on my lung. Last time the doc finally decided to just give me an x-ray once a year. So if I take your worst case I spent the equivalent of 2 1/2 years at 1000x normal. I have had a couple other CT scans for an other problem so you could round it out to 3 years. So that's that green glow I see at night.

[flamingdem]

2. CNN: If they are making the announcement to be sheltered, and further away

this suggests a much greater seriousness and it's out of character for the govt.

Gupta says: a change of tone speaking to Anderson Cooper

Jeez they are 60 kilometers away, wonder if they are thinking of getting out of there..

[Cetacea]

5. I read somewhere that Cooper left.

And I believe he was 100 miles out.

[flamingdem]

7. It's on right now and he seems to have the latest news

and he's discussing the PM's statement with Gupta, but that could have been an hour ago.. and I bet he's further away now.

[rocktivity]

3. I think the smartest course of action is to assume the worst

There's no telling what the real truth is.

:(
rocktivity

[Ex Lurker]

6. I believe they're upwind nt.

[flamingdem]

10. AC tweeted that he was outthere for safety concerns for the 2nd hour of the show

andersoncooper Anderson Cooper
Due to safety concerns we are leaving this area an therefore not live for the second hour

[Tsiyu]

13. Air China has cancelled flights

Air China, the country's flag carrier, has cancelled flights from Beijing and Shanghai to Tokyo on Tuesday afternoon and in the evening.0337: A low level radioactive wind could reach Tokyo in 10 hours, Reuters is quoting the French embassy in the Japanese capital as saying.


bbc