Tokyo's water is now so radioactive it's unsafe for infants - government warning

[highplainsdem]

Two sources for this story so far, the one from SKY News that I posted in LBN

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Japan-Radiation-In-Tokyo-Tap-Water-Is-Unsafe-For-Infants-Despite-Fukushima-Nuclear-Plant-Boost/Article/201103415958344?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_2&lid=ARTICLE_15958344_Japan%3A_Radiation_In_Tokyo_T

and that was merged into the topic about the Reuters story posted just before my post:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/23/japan-water-idUSS7E7EN00420110323


This is such devastating news.

[Urban Prairie]

1. Well that awful news must put a new chill throughout Japan and especially Tokyo's citizens

Even bathing/showering, or cooking with it would give me a "bit" of pause if I lived there...:scared:

[suffragette]

2. That means no tap water for formula

I wonder what the supplies of bottled water are like now.

Agree this is terrible news.

[bullwinkle428]

17. NPR said that bottle water has DISAPPEARED from store shelves this morning.

[suffragette]

24. I would think from that news that shortages are likely.

[Thunderstruck]

3. Just imagine having to desert Tokyo...ho-ly shit.

[highplainsdem]

4. More than 30 million people...

[Thunderstruck]

5. This is a nightmare of epic proportions

if that becomes necessary.

[texanwitch]

6. I was thinking about this last week.

Japan isn't that big.

Many may have to leave the country.

[meow mix]

7. we should give them a state..maybe wyoming?

no nuke plants allowed though

[Junkdrawer]

10. ...or they could cash in their $14 trillion in Treasuries and buy one...

Oregon = "New Japan"

[Junkdrawer]

9. Which is why the full extent of the damage at the reactors would be suppressed.....

Myself, I suspect there's been meltdowns with loss of containment since last Tuesday.

[AsahinaKimi]

21. Saw a story where many Tokyo residents

are going to Osaka. Just wondering how Osaka residents will be able to deal with the influx of a large population. My uncle's family is there. He has told my father that people are showing up all over the place.

[HereSince1628]

8. Terrible news.

[Catherina]

11. Rec'd with great sadness. very devastating news. n/t

[PCIntern]

12. Hey! If you listen to the 'gentleman' who supervised

the TMI cleanup, there's NO PROBLEM!!!

All you have to do is follow what the government tells you and you'll be just fine.

Really...he said this this AM on CNN...

[Junkdrawer]

13. They are trying to make high radioactivity the new normal....

....

It is unclear what background levels would have been this far away from the plant before the tsunami struck, but a reading of 110 microsieverts is roughly 3,000 times Tokyo's normal pre-disaster background level.

Exposure to 100,000 microsieverts a year is the lowest level at which any increase in cancer risk is clearly evident.

....

Edano said there were no health risks, even at the highest cesium readings.

....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42206728/ns/world_news-asiapacific


Contrast that with this:

....

Specifically, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission allows members of the public to get 100 millirems or mr (1 milliSievert or mSv) per year of radiation in addition to background. The BEIR VII report (page 500, Table 12-9) estimates that this level will result in approximately 1 (1.142) cancer in every 100 people exposed at 100 mr/yr which includes 1 fatal cancer in every 175 people so exposed (5.7 in 1000).<4>

The risk of getting cancer from radiation (in BEIR VII) is increased by about a third from current government risk figures (FGR13): BEIR VII estimates that 11.42 people will get cancer if 10,000 are each exposed to a rem (1,000 millirems or 10 mSv). The US Environmental Protection Agency Federal Guidance Report 13 estimates that 8.46 people will get cancer if 10,000 are each exposed to a rem.

....

http://www.nirs.org/press/06-30-2005/1

[thewiseguy]

15. Pretty soon we have to acknowledge a DUer's accounts of a BS press conference

Everything is good! Nothing to worry about!

[closeupready]

16. Oh, yeah, another well dog-eared lie is, no matter how bad it is, it could have been worse.

Which will always be true, no matter what; thus, putting an optimistic spin on cancer and irradiation and rendering thousands of square miles uninhabitable overnight.

[Junkdrawer]

14. Kick

:kick:

[Statistical]

18. One thing I would like to point out is I-131 decays rapidly.

So while infants shouldn't drink the tap water now the amount of I-131 will decline quickly once situation is stabilized.

Per OP articles. Levels detected are 210 Bq of I-131.
Max safe level for infants is 100 Bq/kg. Max safe level for adults is 2000 Bq/kg.

Why Bq not mSv? uSv, mSv, and Sv measure radiation, the actual energy produced.
Bq measures radioactive material the ability to produce radiation over time.
For ingestion what matters is the amount of material.

Anyways I-131 has a half life of about 8 days. So if source is stopped. 8 days later levels would be 105 Bq. 8 days after that (16 days) it would be 52Bq. After about a month the levels would be 26Bq. After 2 months 1.6Bq. After 3 months would be below minimum detection levels of most equipment (0.1 Bq).

[highplainsdem]

19. "The amount of I-131 will decline quickly once situation is stabilized." Yes, but no one knows when

that will be, or how much radiation will be released first. Every bit of good news seems to be followed by another setback.

[Statistical]

20. I agree the short half life can't help you if you are emitted more than it decays.

Just pointing out that I-131 isn't a long term hazard like Sr-90 or Cs-137.

[highplainsdem]

22. I understand, and I do appreciate the reminder that it has a short half life.

[Lucinda]

23. I assume it would also effect anyone with a suppressed immune system

I'm taking a low dose chemo medicine right now...I assume anyone with a supressed immune system would also be in danger, and depending on how much was consumed it could still be an issue for everyone?