SimplyInfo » Entries tagged with "Minamisoma"
Fewer Choose To Participate In Radiation Monitoring
[Translate] The radiation exposure monitoring program at Minamisoma Hospital has seen numbers of participants drop substantially. The program is not part of the Fukushima Health Survey, instead is a public service being offered in the municipality. The initial scans in 2011 saw 67% of adults scanned with no detectable internal radiation contamination. In 2012 about 92% of adults had no detectable levels but Dr. Tsubokura, the doctor handling the program said participation is lower for this year. Only about 50% of the towns residents were tested during the first round. Of those tested most scans have been low with levels seen on scans continuing on a downward trend in 2012. There was the case of some extremely high readings that were found in some older residents that were still eating banned mushrooms. Dr. Tsubokura did … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Minamisoma, Dose Reconstruction Exercises
[Translate] The recent JAMA letter discussing radiation exposure among people in the city was quickly heralded by the western media as “proof” Fukushima exposures were low. We explained here how these scans were instead a very small slice of the total picture of exposure. The data used in the study discussed in the JAMA letter is partially publicly available via the Minamisoma municipal website. We looked at some of the body scans done for local residents. One that was in a higher range for children under high school age was used to do a hypothetical dose reconstruction. The common thought has been that people were exposed during the first days and weeks of the disaster. During this time reactors exploded and radioactive steam leaked continually. On March 14th unit 3 at Fukushima Daiichi … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Black Stuff Mystery Gets Stranger, Is Magnetic, We Look Into What It Is
[Translate] The ongoing mystery of the black stuff gets another twist. Someone in Minamisoma took a sample and separated it with a sieve. The larger pieces had about 50 uSv while the fine matter had 100 uSv. The fine matter is also slightly magnetic. This raised the obvious question of what could it be to be radioactive and magnetic. This is the detector used in the video. The video here. We looked at a number of possible substances. Some are paramagnetic. This type can be influenced by heavy magnets under certain conditions but probably not the manner seen in the video. A household magnet generally can’t attract a paramagnetic substance. Our team has been researching the past 2 days trying to determine potential sources for the substance and have run through a long list of possibilities. We also … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Politics Prevents Children From Being Screened For Radiation Exposure
[Translate] Political infighting is causing a shortage of testing equipment in Fukushima. One specific incident is Minamisoma Municipal Hospital. The hospital can screen 110 children per day with the current equipment they have. There is a widespread shortage of whole body counting scanners in the region. Some other cities and private medical facilities have given up and started the search to obtain equipment through other means. The lack of scanners was understandable soon after the disaster. Almost a year later and delays being caused by politics is simply wrong. Currently of the small number of children screened in Minamisoma, 51% have shown with internal cesium contamination. This is higher than in other areas around the region and there is reason to suspect some children may have been considerably exposed yet have not … Read entire article »
Filed under: The Latest
Minamisoma Residents Do Their Own Radiation Testing, Establish Reconstruction Committee
[Translate] Residents in Minamisoma have created their own radiation monitoring system that is considerably more accurate than the government testing. The group is informing the community of the localized radiation levels and will be starting efforts to decontaminate roads. This article would not be possible without the extensive efforts of the SimplyInfo research team Join the conversation at chat.simplyinfo.org All content is copyright SimplyInfo.org. Content may also be copyright of other specific original authors or creators and was reproduced here with limited permission. While we welcome the sharing of information or promoting our work, please do so with respect to the large amount of effort and time that goes into our research and analysis. Referring to something or a quote is great, copying it all or in substantial parts is not so great. If … Read entire article »
Filed under: Citizen Reporting, The Latest
The Puzzling Hot Spot Evacuations In Date And Minamisoma
[Translate] The Wall Street Journal explores the strange situation of evacuation by hot spot going on in areas outside the 20km exclusion zone. Government officials use a set of two tests in the yard and front door, purposely ignoring areas where radiation concentrates to declare who evacuates. This approach has caused one neighbor to be allowed to evacuate while others left to deal with the situation with no help. Many times the difference in readings are very small leading to more anxiety and confusion. Those told to stay are told to limit their time outdoors, don’t go to parks or the forest. This odd lottery of who gets help and who doesn’t has caused anxiety and strained relations between neighbors. In one bizarre situation, two homes on a family plot that … Read entire article »
Filed under: Current Readings, Humanitarian, Radiation Exposure, The Latest
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