It's been raining like crazy here in the Northwest all week--is it crazy to have radiation concerns?

[Mrs. Overall]

I just read a post regarding communities in Mexico keeping children indoors during the recent rainy weather because of the possibility of radiation being carried to the ground.

So, I've also just read an article about very low levels of radiation being found in milk from Eastern Washington State.

It's been pouring heavily here in the Northwest for several days--I have chickens being rained on and my vegetable garden (though not planted yet)has also been deeply saturated with rain water (as has my entire yard). I've been out and about in the rain as well because that's life here in the Northwest.

For those of you who have read up on how the Fukushima radiation is dispersing--is it alarmist to wonder about the amount of radiation in the rain here in the Pacific Northwest or is it truly so minimal that it doesn't matter?

[slackmaster]

1. What could you do about it if you were concerned?

It's kind of hard to get away from the air and the water.

[Mrs. Overall]

3. I guess I just want to be informed. And, you are right--

if it's truly serious, what can I do? Maybe it would be wise for me not to plant a veg. garden this year--it might be nice to know that.

[Divernan]

5. Gather objective scientific info to pressure our govt.

to provide honest information to us as to the present situation, and back off its laissez faire attitude toward the nuclear industry, no matter how much it's contributed to political decision makers.

Do you & your friends, family and neighbors drink local milk? Eat local produce? What about your local water supplier? Is it testing for radiation? I'm sure the nuclear industry would like you to not take any action at all, and just quit posting about it too.

[walldude]

2. It's crazy not to.

Unless you believe the Corporate Media.

[Divernan]

4. I'd get my own radiation monitoring device, if I were you.

There are several threads about the local govt. and residents of Fukushima complaining about being kept in the dark by the Japanese govt. as to the radiation situation.

Given our present administration's commitment to investing in a next generation of nuclear plants, and extending operating permits to the old, lightly regulated plants for another 20 or 30 years, I'd say it's time to "trust but verify."

[buddysmellgood]

6. Yes, that is nuts. You have been exposed to radiation

everyday of you life from all kinds of sources. If you're going to worry about getting sick from the rain, then you should be really frightened by driving or eating donuts.

[grahamhgreen]

7. Just stay out of the rain as much as possible. See:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x781617

NO veggie garden, IMHO.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

10. Correct... no produce, dairy, or water!

All are suspect to tainting by the radioactive rain.

The good news is that you can still eat meat (maybe)!
Yay for meat.

[lumberjack_jeff]

12. No veggie garden?

From whom should we in the northwest buy the certified, guaranteed, radioactivity-free produce?

Given the choice between the veggies in my garden or a nearby factory farm which uses pesticides, herbicides and GM seed, I'll eat mine.

The same rain falls on both of us.

This advice is useless without telling us which soil will be free from radiation. The southern hemisphere can't produce enough food to feed us all.

[grahamhgreen]

14. From my limited understanding

I don't know if it's possible to avoid.

If it's in the water, the plants will take up the radiation regardless.

[cliffordu]

8. Uh, did the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs, which, if I understand it

pumped tons or radioactive crap into the atmosphere mutate people here on the West Coast??

Of course I was born here, so draw your own counsel......

[Divernan]

11. Different kinds of radiation.

As Trof suggests, research Petaku Effect.

[trof]

9. Nope, not crazy. Search "Petkau Effect".

[uppityperson]

13. I live here, still putting in a garden if it ever stops raining. Otherwise I'd buy food grown locall

locally, which would have the same exposure, or food grown in another state or country which has it's issues also. Eventually it will get all over since the atmosphere is all connected. Or call your local county health dept. See what they have to say.

Personally, I am SO looking forward to the rain stopping and being able to get the new garden part tilled.

Edited to add a link to Cliff Moss's blog:
"From virtually a point source, the radiation would mix through huge volumes of the atmosphere due to horizontal and vertical mixing. Since it would take days to reach us, there would be time for larger particles to settle out and precipitation would wash some out as well. Even for Chernobyl, where the core exploded while the reactor was powered up and where there was no containment, serious radiation only extended roughly 1000-1500 km away.

The Northwest is more than 7000 km away!"

[joeybee12]

15. Yes, because it's in your milk now...

a couple threads about that.

[Zorra]

16. Honestly, I would stay indoors. nt