Sand from China's Gobi desert came to America.. Radiation from Japan?

[SnoopDog]

I think it would be naive to believe that no radiation will come to America.

If you look at the weather charts, the jet stream comes right from Japan right to the West coast..

I really am concerned.

And rain is expected for Northern California where I am.

Anybody have suggestions to protect oneself?


http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/satelliteworld/pacificoceansatellite_large_animated.html

[grasswire]

1. I think we have 7-10 days before the jet stream...

.....carries anything here, if indeed anything DOES come.

From what I learned tonight, particulates would have to be blown WAY high in order to catch the jet stream. And that has not happened.

[Poll_Blind]

2. It depends on how high the material goes. It is absolutely NOT a certainty.

However, I think iodide tablets will be the fist line of defense. Again, I cannot strongly stress this enough- it does not appear that the West Coast is in any danger at this time. I'm in Eugene, Oregon- I sure as shit am keeping an eye on what is happening for the safety of myself and my family.

PB

[SnoopDog]

3. Why do you think the West Coast is ok?

If radiation is carried high enough, won't that be carried into the jet steam and hit the West coast?

Also, a guest on Rachel's show tonight said that iodine tablets do nothing for us. The problem is more
where the radiation gets into the food chain (e.g cows->milk and meat).

[originalpckelly]

4. Yeah, but what will carry it that high?

You don't have the heat of a nuclear explosion, like with a bomb, to get it up that high. It's very likely most of it will fall out before it gets to us.

[Statistical]

5. Levels in Japan are still very low. Levels in tokyo are barely above normal.

Distance matters as the material gets dispersed and effective dose drops.

Unless readings in Japan (or neighboring countries go off the chart) the amount reaching the US will likely only be detectable by sensitive equipment.

Of course the situation is still unfolding but so far the levels in Japan are not high enough to warrant panic thousands of miles away.

[SnoopDog]

8. But, any radiation is unsafe...

And I don't think 'dispersed' radiation is more safe - actually it spreads it over a wider area thus more unsafe...

[Statistical]

11. You are exposed to radiation every day.

The smallest increase that has been confirmed with detectable increase in cancer (very very very very slight increase) is 100 mSv per year exposure.

To put it into perspective the increase in Tokyo right now is +0.000024mSv per hour. If it didn't drop for an entire year that would be 0.2mSv in a year. If the dose was increased 500x that would be 100mSv, remember 500x. But exposure decreases with distance so even if the effective dose is 100mSv in Japan it would be in the ballpark of a couple mSv in the US.

A single long distance flight is 2mSv. Living in a bickhome gets you 0.5mSv. A CT scan juices you up almost 50mSv. Each trip on the space shuttle gets you 4 to 80 mSv.

I mean if you want to freak yourself out, dig a fallout shelter, and buy survival gear knock yourself out. It is your time, your money, and your nerves but the reality is unless radiation levels increase by thousand fold in Japan you have nothing to worry about.

[SnoopDog]

17. What about Chernobyl?

That disaster has killed an entire region and people have died years later from the cancers from radiation.

[Statistical]

20. That is why I said to watch for much higher levels in Japan before your freak out.

To put it into perspective the latest reading at the plant front gate is ~8000 microSivert or 8mSv (milli Sivert) per hour.

At the exposed core Chernobyl was 300,000 mSv per hour. 8 vs 300,000. Now if the situation in Japan gets worse and exposure rates increase by couple THOUSAND fold then you should start to worry but even then you have 7-10 days to prepare. Right now the exposure rates are very low. Comparing the two is simply going to create a low of stress.

[madokie]

24. Yes it is unsafe

I have a growing tumor in my left lung that is being watched but it can only be watched so close because of the dangers of the exposure of the radiation from the scans to keep an eye on it. That fact keeps me in a constant state of worry.

[Tx4obama]

9. ..... 40 times normal near Tokyo

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x279079

[Statistical]

13. 40x is still very low especially over short time period. Your article even used the word minute.

Still feel free to fear monger and scare your fellow DUer.

[Poll_Blind]

6. Yes BUT the key here is _what_ would carry it that high? In this case, nothing I've seen.

Not yet, anyway. It's like going into orbit: A rocket ship has to be able to get high up enough before it can go into orbit. Same goes for particles. The Pacific Jet Stream is pretty high up there, at least 30,000 feet, IIRC. It's way up there. As the person said who responded to your query as well, you've gotta have something really energetic to get those particles up there- and I'm not aware of anything yet which would do it.

PB

[SnoopDog]

10. But, how did the sands from the Gobi get to America?

I would say it was from violent winds...

I just am very concerned that the radiation contamination, in any amount from Japan, could
get to the West Coast and all of America.

I really am concerned.

Just like Chernobyl - a large area was contaminated and Thom Hartman said that cesium level in Germany are still present.

I don't pray, but I hope to heaven that this isn't a global health risk.

[CoffeeCat]

16. I think you have the right to be concerned...

...because this is a very serious situation. Not to sound like Donald Rumsfeld, but there are many
unknowns at this point. Furthermore, there is a lot of "rosy scenario" articles being written and
the exact happenings are pretty fuzzy, at this point.

It is normal to want to protect yourself and loved ones. I suggest reading up on radiation exposure
and what to do in the even that this happens. Someone else mentioned iodine tablets. You can get
these on Ebay. Just do a search on Ebay and you'll find many "Buy It Now" auctions. I ordered
some of these tablets a few years ago. It never hurts to be prepared.

Best of luck to you. Asking questions and being prepared is never wrong...it's just good common sense.

Also, I get concerned when I hear that Mitch McConnell is telling us to just sit and wait and that there is
no reason for concern. Seriously. He doesn't know if we're sitting on a harmless situation or a
complete global disaster. But what we do know is that he has rec'd many campaign contributions from
companies that deal in nuclear power. He's bought and paid for. I don't like being lied to--by a
politician who serves his corporate masters at the expense of the people. In my opinion--we need
to be our own advocates and do our own due diligence--and be prepared for bad outcomes.

The corruption that has happened with our politicians (who squelch the truth for greed) leaves us
more vulnerable. Even if this situation won't endanger anyone in our country--the dishonesty
and lack of integrity of our political leaders--leaves us to fend for ourselves. In my opinion, that means
we do have to be better prepared for worst-case scenarios.

[Poll_Blind]

18. It got here through strong winds and from storms. None of which are happening over Japan at the...

...moment. In fact, there's going to be snowfall over the next few days. A good portion of this will get locked into and pulled down into snow.

Again, I'm not saying it's not possible. I'm as aware of the connective web of winds which circle our Earth as you are- but this is still happening at a fairly low level and is very far from the "superhighway".

PB

[SnoopDog]

19. Just very concerned...

As the previous poster said - you have to be concerned.

And the real very scary part of it is that there isn't anything anybody can do
if it does come to the USA thru winds and rain...except keep moving east...

[Poll_Blind]

22. You're absolutely right- it would be dangerous if you weren't concerned. But....

...there's a time for every gear to kick in- and right now, on the West Coast of the U.S., I don't see any reason to be in anything other than idle and keeping a hell of a close eye on things.

PB

[Tx4obama]

7. Here's a link with some info regarding California

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x647811

[azul]

12. Stay underwater.

This is almost like worrying about terrorists.

[SnoopDog]

14. No offense, but

isn't that sort of naive?

This radiation in Japan is an absolute clear and present danger. And I feel for my
Japanese friends.

And if it hits the USA, our country will get contaminated as well... and people will get sick.

[SoCalDem]

15. and sub saharan dust is killing Caribbean reefs & giving local kids asthma

We all live in a terrarium.. we share the same water & air..

[Tx4obama]

21. Radiation levels around the plant Tuesday were measured at ...more than 7,000 above the legal limit

Radiation levels around the plant Tuesday were measured at 8,217 microsieverts an hour -- more than 7,000 above the legal limit.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4771272

[Statistical]

23. Which is 8mSv. Chernobyl was 300,000 mSv.

Just to put it into perspective.

Also the update this morning is that the levels have dropped to 0.5mSv.

If containment hold (a big if) then this will be nothing like Chernobyl.

[KharmaTrain]

25. How Did We Ever Survive The 50s and 60s

Not to discount the possibility of fallout following the tradewinds across the Pacific, but I'm far more concerned about the impact on the immediate area than I will lose sleep about people in this country becoming iradiated. In the 50s and 60s the US conducted above ground testing in the Pacific and the Nevada desert. One test was so big and close that it turned night into day along the Vegas strip. Somehow there wasn't a big outbreak of radiation sickness across the country...or at least in levels that could directly attributed to cancers in those not in the immediate vacinity of an explosion.

There's far worse toxins that fall out of the sky that come from a nearby coal-fired energy plant or chemical factory or oil refinery. Be alert but fear doesn't solve problems, only makes things worse.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

26. read the book "Black Rain"