Navy says radiation releases pose challenging environment

[ensho]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/15/navy.radiation.challenges/index.html?hpt=Sbin


-snip-

Davis said Tuesday that for the second time, U.S. helicopter crews have been exposed to elevated, albeit low, levels of radiation during flights near Japan's nuclear reactors. In addition, the Navy is moving three incoming ships to a new location because of "radiological and navigation hazards" at their intended destination on the eastern coast of Honshu, according to Davis.

-snip-

"This will continue to happen," Davis said. He did not know how many personnel tested positive for radiological contamination in the second incident nor what ships they were on. Most of the nine U.S. Navy warships now operating off Japan are involved in helicopter operations.

For example, the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group flew 29 sorties on Tuesday and delivered 17 tons of supplies, including food, water and blankets. The USS Tortuga is transporting 300 Japan Ground Self Defense Force personnel and 90 vehicles.

Officials expect that air crew members will continue to be exposed to increased low levels of radiation, so the Navy is telling helicopter crews to keep their sleeves rolled down and keep cabin windows closed when possible.

And some air crew members, Davis said, have been given potassium iodide pills. The iodide protects a person's thyroid gland from the effects of radioactivity and can reduce the threat of thyroid cancer.

-snip-
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good luck to them all

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Genie out of the bottle.

[Poll_Blind]

2. This is a good use to put our troops to, and no less dangerous in some respects, than...

...Iraq or Afghanistan.

Except they'll actually be thankful for our intervention!

PB

[ensho]

3. kicking because this thread flew off pg.1 at the speed of light

nt