Washington physicists detail findings on Japanese radiation that arrived in Seattle

[Godhumor]

From Science Blog: http://scienceblog.com/44058/physicists-detect-low-level-radioactivity-from-japan-arriving-in-seattle/

The presence of relatively short-lived iodine 131 and tellurium isotopes, indicating the material came primarily from fuel rods, not spent fuel.

The absence of iodine 133, an isotope with an even shorter half-life than iodine 131, signaling that at least a week must have passed since the reactors were stopped.

“What that means is that they were successful in shutting down the reactors at the time of the earthquake,” Robertson said. “The lack of iodine 133 indicates that the chain reaction was shut down.”

The researchers speculate that, because they see only three of the many possible products of nuclear fission, the material that arrived in Seattle came from the evaporation of contaminated steam released from the reactors. Similar tests following the Chernobyl nuclear reactor meltdown in 1986 found a much broader spectrum of elements, indicating that material from actively burning fuel was being sent into the atmosphere.

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Actually an interesting article about how even though the amounts are so tiny that humans won't notice them, the radiation does pose a problem for some experiments happening or scheduled to happen. Still, amazing what can be told from a little air filtering.

[Forkboy]

1. Never discount air filtering.

Detecting radiation in the atmosphere is how we knew the Russians had detonated an atomic bomb. We used to fly planes over their territory with equipment designed to detect radiation in the atmosphere.

[Godhumor]

2. It really is like investigative work--why I love it

To think how much we've learned about our world and universe is amazing. I can't even imagine what our knowledge will be like even just 10 years from now.

[Forkboy]

3. Imagine a 100 years from now.

"The universe is not only queerer than we imagine, it's queerer than we can imagine. ~ Arthur C. Clarke.

[Godhumor]

4. I would imagine a 100 years from now, but I plan on being dead

10 years is about all I can manage.

[Forkboy]

5. I plan on coming back!

;)

[Generic Other]

8. If it's such a negligible amount why do they keep finding traces?

It makes me wonder if they mean negligible amount found in a solitary particle or many particles with trace amounts.

What I do know about trace amounts of snow is that it usually accumulates. Am I wrong or crazy to worry about that?

[Forkboy]

9. I can't give you the answer you're probably looking for.

"Negligible amount" is a very nebulous term, and depends on who is telling you that.

I'm not an expert, but I wouldn't be panicking here in America. I would be concerned and following developments. Do I think the radiation will kill anyone in the U.S. immediately? No. Is the potential for long term effects there? Yes.

I have cancer. Three years ago I was given a pill that set off a geiger counter to the max (it was right beside me when they handed me the pill, something that fascinated me greatly...it was just neat to me, science junkie that I am lol). I asked the doctor and nurse if this bothered them that they had to do this everyday, and they laughed and said no. Make no mistake, I'm not trying to say that radiation is good, or something the human body needs to get. What I am saying is that I don't think Americans need to panic at this point.

I don't mean to downplay the seriousness of this. Your concerns are valid, imo.

[Generic Other]

10. Did the pill help? I am having visions of you glowing in the dark

I didn't know you were sick. You always seem such an active lively voice here.

[Forkboy]

11. Oh, I'm doing good now.

Still have traces of cancer, but not enough to worry about anymore (well, my oncologist doesn't seem worried at least...I'm still going gray rapidly lol). The radiation did help, a lot, though I don't glow in the dark (that would be awesome...I could have fun with that).

I guess my point, if I have one (always up for debate), is that radiation itself can be a double edged thing. However, there's huge difference between me being given a controlled dose and people getting a dose that they can't even verify. People should ask questions until they feel satisfied, and should ALWAYS question those in authority.

[Godhumor]

13. Terminology means a great deal in the science world

It didn't say in the article anything along how many parts in a million, etc, but the scientists did note they had to filter more air more aggressively than what would normally be done in the world to find it. In this case, they needed that information due to the sensitivity of some of the experiments going on.

What I found most interesting about the article was two things: first, how unbelievable it is that trace amounts can be used to backdate and fill out details about the nuclear disaster across an entire ocean, and, second, that it never even occurred to me to consider how radiation could affect scientific work in the US.

Always like getting an inner glimpse at how things work.

[gkhouston]

6. Very interesting. Thanks for posting it. n/t

[gateley]

7. Amazing - thanks. nt

[Hannah Bell]

12. kickrec