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@borrrden - No, you wouldn't receive the full dose to the body, and we also need to consider that I-131 makes up a large part of that dose. The half life of I-131 is just over a week, and it will fully dissipate in a matter of months. How that would change the uSv/hr exactly I don't know, but it would affect it significantly. The remaining C-137, however, would present problems if the soil were used to grow food.

@Hank Scorpio Actually that is one of the points I wanted to touch on. It has been 15 days since the reactors shut down. That means within the next few days the amount of I-131 should be around 1/4 of the original amount, right?

@Jojo Yeah....because things tend to break when you throw them around

@borrrden - No. The dissipation is not a straight line. Half-life can't be doubled to indicate full removal.

@Jojo - I agree there are some hotspots. We won't know the full effect until it's all over. So far, the data I see suggests hotspots only, but that's because winds have been favorable.

Well, sure, there were hotspots with Chernobyl as well. The problem is that they aren't doing widespread measurements, but the ones they are doing do not bode well.

@borrrden - Sorry, brain fart. You are correct.

@Jojo - They're measuring different samples. I don't believe they're hitting the exact same spot within inches for every measurement. I could be wrong though.

And yes, I would assume that rain would indeed move accumulated surface radiation to the soil from the vegetation.

Just a quick reminder, for those who wish to contribute to a list of useful links that George Gibb can build into a sidebar widget thingy. Thanks. Keep rocking. ---> www.goo.gl

Couldn't sleep...can you guys help me understand the DOE's findings? blog.energy.gov

@anyone Had 2 questions about the comment regarding fresh water in the reactors. 1 Why would they just be using Boric Acid in number two reactor? From the white papers someone (?Dean?) showed us the other day, it looks like you need both Boron-10 mixed with Boric Acid or a product called Polybor which only needs mixing with water? #2 Why wouldn't they use it in number 3 reactor since it's the MOX fuel core. I wonder if the Fukushima and Peachtree reactors are close in size? Would appreciate any thoughts, I've got about 10 min left before sleep wins. Thanks, Becca

@Jojo You would have to take into account the proximities of those locations to the treatment plants, along with any countermeasures the plant itself might be taking (activated charcoal, for example). So, while it is a legitimate concern, we here cannot make any reasonable conclusions from that data alone.

@borrrden Plants would have active countermeasures to radiation? What I'm saying is that these high readings across the soil and rain/pond water, how can there be such a low drinking water number?

Meh. I'm retarded I think. :)

For the last reading (again for Iitate Village) for soil, the Iodine reading was 1,170,000 Bq /kg of Iodine, and 163,000 Bq/Kg of Cesium. How does that number compare to Chernobyl?

I've been thinking something like this would happen for the past 3 days. I think it will continue to get worse.

@Jojo Radioactive particles are no different than any other particles aside from a few minor internal differences, they can be filtered. chemistry.about.com

apologies, Reuters still in hiatus.

@borrrden Ok. Thanks.

We're still seeing massive radiation in the soil/air/plants outside of the evacuation zone. 25 Km South it is 69,000 Bq/kg of Iodine, 2600 Bq/kg of cesium. 30 km NW it's 200,000 bq of iodine and 45000 bq of Cesium. 11000/3300, 33000/8600, 70000/12000, ...

My understanding was you need both Boron-10 AND boric Acid to create the poison for the Decay heat. Unless you have the other product Polybor which only requires water. Not that 156.2 tons will get them to 700 ppm in all reactors and pools. Please let me know if I miss read the white paper. I have no knowledge of nuclear physics except what I picked up lurking in the last 2 weeks. I can ask Dean later today as well. Becca