View Full Version : High Radiation Readings
Hello Whiteblaze,
I didn't see a thread on this subject and I thought we have to start to seriously start thinking about this as a reality. Our health is at stake and should not be taken lightly.
Recently I have been monitoring the radiation levels from the Japanese Nuclear Plant and had to share this with the community. I am not a scientist but over the past few weeks it doesn't take a scientist to realize that the the cumulative fallout is starting to add up. One of the most dangerous particles is Cessium-137 and it has a half-life of 30 years...it isn't just going to go away in our lifetimes and it is still being emitted! There are many other particles falling that have much much much longer half-lives.
Today there was a video uploaded to You-tube from close to the top of Grandfather mountain that I feel all hikers must know about.
http://www.youtube.com/user/dutchsinse#p/u/12/rMn4o2SjzE4 (http://www.youtube.com/user/dutchsinse#p/u/12/rMn4o2SjzE4)
btw, this not me on any of he videos...
Obviously there are a number of factors influencing what is showing up in these current readings on this first video and these are not professional nuclear engineers conducting these readings. Please watch all of the videos and draw your own conclusions.
The radiation being detected is no longer just something that can be dismissed despite what our media tells us is within acceptable ranges. Hikers are not inside all day! Because of the nature of hiking and especially long distance hiking, it is my belief that the hiking community is in fact going to be our canaries in the coal mine so to speak. This is due to the fact we hike in the rain and snow, drink the water that falls, and expose ourselves to extended periods of time outdoors, in high winds, and at altitude.
More detail of radiation forecast...
http://www.youtube.com/user/dutchsinse#p/u/35/BnRMS71OpCY (http://www.youtube.com/user/dutchsinse#p/u/35/BnRMS71OpCY)
Mushroom cloud explosion of fukushima not shown in the US media
http://www.youtube.com/user/PoliticalSeer#p/u/17/lkminzU20U0 (http://www.youtube.com/user/PoliticalSeer#p/u/17/lkminzU20U0)
Radiation forecast for end of April
http://www.youtube.com/user/PoliticalSeer#p/u/14/QfAG6UspRWQ (http://www.youtube.com/user/PoliticalSeer#p/u/14/QfAG6UspRWQ)
God Bless us All.........
I wish all happy and healthy hiking, HappyTracker
mweinstone
04-25-2011, 00:11
no. you cant say what your saying and think its valid. your leaving out all the things that protect us from such fallout.
fear is what your selling
the bodys imune system is way stronger than this
god is in charge....and so on.
Did you watch the video(s)? The readings are there at that point in time on that device. I'm not selling anything and I don't have fear. What I do have is a concience that will not let me know something so important and not present and share that said knowledge. I'm not trying to scare anybody...to the contrary I wish to inform calmly and with prudence. I didn't post this on a whim. I have never even posted anything here before but felt it potentially could be important... It is my wish that others with more knowledge may enlighten us all. Fact not opinion. Good to know your still out there Matty......Happy. God Bless.
From what I have read about this situation the radiation from the crippled Japanese nuclear plant could reach the USA via the jet stream, especially if massive explosions occur at the plant and eject these particles high into the atmosphere. However I believe the jet stream would carry the radiation/particles heading east across the Pacific Ocean, arriving to the Western Seaboard of the USA first. This means that it would then have to travel further to reach the Eastern Seaboard. The Western states would receive it first and possibly the most. This is not to say we won't/couldn't receive high amounts of it possibly/eventually. This I do not know. However I think the video of the radiation being registered in North Carolina may not be radiation in the air but from the area/mountain there itself. This may be as other's comments in the video state derived from naturally occuring radioactive substances found in the earth in that general area/vicinity:-?
Your right DapperD, There might be naturally occuring radiation at that location. Being somewhat of a rockhound also I know that amethyst quartz has been found all over the appalacians and it takes radiation in order for the quartz to take on the purple color (and the dark color of smokey quartz). As far as the jet stream, the models show accumilation already occuring completly around the northern hemisphere. Mainstream news has reported elevated radioactive iodine isotopes in the water of Pennsylvania and in other eastern states. Luckily it only has a half-life of 8 days (plus we all know how hard it is to find water in penn. during the summer, hehe). I'll keep researching.....
I would also like to add that I don't necessarily agree with all the commentary on the videos............You can turn the volume down on your speakers and still get the information without somebody elses beliefs.......
I think I'd prefer to invest energy and time in studying how to reduce my pack weight without sacrificing comfort. This is something over which I have control, that's relevant to my hiking satisfaction, and that I can approach constructively. After that, I think I'll consider how to improve my trail photography.
I agree with Onwego. Those that feel the need to take some action may find some comfort in an aluminum foil hat.
mweinstone
04-25-2011, 08:00
heres an artists mentle rendering for the underknowing out there who may wonder just what radiation fearmongers looks like. imagine your body the size of most of the known universe. so your like a scrunched up embryo in the placenta witch is the universe. thats a big baby.
honestly the op is correct to post such stuff. in my home prefacture of philladelphia, only today prefect nutter announced happy time lucky sparkle for all!
witch means sparkely radiation clean clothes!
in its simplest form, heres how radiation works.
really normal rocks are messed with till their really not normal and then lite on fire by guys who are way not normal so a world of folks who are not normal can plug in zit zappers that arent normal. all to zap a zit that is perfectly normal.
then the men play checkers and let the pot of cooking weirdo rocks overboil and the mess causes upside down fish.
this is why I've lined my pack with lead and put on a tin-foil hat.
Found a video on YouTube on how to make a foil hat. This one shows the making of one with tinfoil. Even though tin is mostly used for blocking thought control waves, the tips presented should be relevant for those looking to block radiation falling from the sky with aluminum foil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZZYRCNUzmA&feature=related
But it seems that there is evidence that foil hats MAY not work for shielding your thought processes from the government. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OuhHUvl6Sc&feature=related Don't know about how well they work for shielding radiation, but I guess it couldn't hurt. Certainly could provide comfort for some.
mweinstone
04-25-2011, 08:29
we are allways just one tsunami or one game of checkers away from total inialation.
Pedaling Fool
04-25-2011, 08:42
You're health is more at risk in the AT privies. Seriously.
Babies.. before we're done here.. y'all be wearing tin-foil diapers.
mweinstone
04-25-2011, 08:55
Babies.. before we're done here.. y'all be wearing tin-foil diapers.
oh god thats funny. best laugh of the morning.
I am just amazed at all the factual scientific information to be found on YouTube. And all this time I have been looking at other sources when searching for scientific info.
Babies.. before we're done here.. y'all be wearing tin-foil diapers.
You make a great point. We should certainly be shielding young nads from the rads.
Be interested in Mt McKinley readings looks like they are taking the bulk of it.
awestberry
04-25-2011, 11:02
I am just amazed at all the factual scientific information to be found on YouTube. And all this time I have been looking at other sources when searching for scientific info.
Don't forget about wikipedia....who needs college when you have the vast collection of knowledge that is wikipedia.
Don't forget about wikipedia....who needs college when you have the vast collection of knowledge that is wikipedia.
Thanks for the info. It seems that foil hats may actually provide protection-
"The notion that a tin foil hat can significantly reduce the intensity of incident radio frequency radiation on the wearer's brain has some scientific validity, as the effect of strong radio waves has been documented for quite some time.[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_foil_hat#cite_note-Ref_1979-2) A well-constructed tin foil enclosure would approximate a Faraday cage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage),"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_foil_hat
I will add wikipedia to my list of sources of factual information.
jainsworth123
04-25-2011, 11:28
I think this chart puts the "radiation poisoning" scare into perspective.
http://xkcd.com/radiation/
I think this chart puts the "radiation poisoning" scare into perspective.
http://xkcd.com/radiation/
You didn't quote the source of your information. Hopefully it came from YouTube or Wikipedia. Those are now at the top of my list of credible sources.
:-? Thanks for the update Styn. NC Dept. of Environment and Nat. Resources is monitoring radiation levels throughout NC. That's air, water, vegetation, even milk produced there (from cows, know where some of your minds are heading). To date no levels detected that would cause a public health alert. Readings in this video could be from the rocks the device is sitting on, as well as the position it is placed in. Calibration of the device would need to be known. Hike on brave souls!! :sun
From everything I've read, honestly, I'm not worried at this point.
My thinking is that I really only have two choices: get out there and take whatever chance it is I'm taking, or stay home. I'm not staying home. So I'm not going to worry about it; it won't help anything.
Mushroom cloud explosion of fukushima not shown in the US media
http://www.youtube.com/user/PoliticalSeer#p/u/17/lkminzU20U0 (http://www.youtube.com/user/PoliticalSeer#p/u/17/lkminzU20U0)
That's the Ichihara Oil Refinery. Do a search for it, you'll find tons of footage of that exact explosion on CNN.
For future reference: 'Mushroom clouds' are a result of air pressure and temperature, they don't indicate a 'nuke explosion' as the link claims.
That's the Ichihara Oil Refinery. Do a search for it, you'll find tons of footage of that exact explosion on CNN.
For future reference: 'Mushroom clouds' are a result of air pressure and temperature, they don't indicate a 'nuke explosion' as the link claims.
The real inconvenient truth is that facts are not necessary for some to convince others to support their agenda.
Sarcasm the elf
04-25-2011, 13:28
I think this chart puts the "radiation poisoning" scare into perspective.
http://xkcd.com/radiation/
Drat, you beat me to posting that!
The comparison of the radiation given off by a coal powerplant vs. A properly functioning reactor is particularly interesting.
Label me uninformed, ignorant, and indifferent but until I see a greater POTENTIAL risk I'm still planning and pursuing long distance hikes, maybe not in Japan though!
Let's say, radiation risks from the crippled nuclear power plants in Japan, OR FOR THAT MATTER FROM THE SUN, CELL PHONES, NATURALLY OCURRING ORE VEINS, AMERICAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES/ACTIVITIES, ETC DO POSE UNACCEPTABLELY HIGH RISKS, WHICH I"M NOT YET CONVINCED THAT THEY DO OR WILL, what do you suggest we be doing? what pecautions do you think we should be taking? as hikers?
I'm not a meterologists, but as Dapper Dan suggests, and I think he's correct, doesn't the jet stream travel eastward from Japan making the Hawaiian Islands the first U.S. lands to experience these POTENTIAL radiation risks?
Those that fly in an aitrplane often, spend much time in a cinder block/stone shelter/ cellar, under go extensive medical procedures? collectively from several radioactive sources?
Pedaling Fool
04-25-2011, 15:21
For future reference: 'Mushroom clouds' are a result of air pressure and temperature, they don't indicate a 'nuke explosion' as the link claims.
Bravo, Bravo!:)
jainsworth123
04-25-2011, 15:30
You didn't quote the source of your information. Hopefully it came from YouTube or Wikipedia. Those are now at the top of my list of credible sources.
Did you happen to take a look at it?
Chart designed my Randall Monroe with help form Ellen, Senior Reactor Operator at the Reed research Reactor
Not to mention the 11 other sources that are listed just above that. Granted, one of those is a wiki link (the definition of a Sievert), but the rest are .gov or .edu listing, which you could go dig through if you feel so inclined.
I was a nuclear engineer in the 80s. After Chernobyl blew up, I was asked to calculate the size of that reactor core based on readings in Sweden; the Soviets weren't telling, state secret and all that. So I was off by 1%. Big deal.
My advice: go hike your hike. And wear your sunscreen, because you should be more worried about the big yellow ball, particularly this year.
Is it bad news on those six reactors? Yes, for the Japanese and anyone else that fishes in those waters. All that seawater they've been pumping into the cores to keep them from melting? Went right back out to sea, although they now say they're diverting the water to holding tanks. Which tanks, exactly? Why do you think the reactors were located on the coast? So, if you like tuna with your Ramen (need to check on the source for that), you should buy some now, before the price goes way up.
And start getting your news from newspapers. Anyone can post anything to youtube (where did we get justin bieber?), and they do. A published writer puts his/her reputation and livelihood on the line, with every line. It takes more work to get the facts straight. That's why they get paid to do it. And the ones that stay in business make the fewest errors.
Rocket Jones
04-25-2011, 19:22
We are all going to die.
Eventually.
TIDE-HSV
04-25-2011, 19:34
Eventually.
Yep. Don't know exactly when (even those on Death Row), and only a minority know how...
Eventually.
Yes, goes without saying
boarstone
04-25-2011, 20:18
Unless it comes from Gov't or other "persons-in-the-know" I 'm not heeding your stories...we're all adults here and can read and comprehend on our own w/o ones like you "babysitting" us...
Ironically, this could be a good thing for the dolphins off Japan. They will likely suffer birth defects and higher mortality rates due to cancer and such, but we will most likely stop overfishing them for quite some time.
TIDE-HSV
04-26-2011, 00:27
Ironically, this could be a good thing for the dolphins off Japan. They will likely suffer birth defects and higher mortality rates due to cancer and such, but we will most likely stop overfishing them for quite some time.
That's likely true of several other species, as well...
The Old Fhart
04-26-2011, 14:18
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/world/asia/22plume.html (NY Times 3-21-2011)
“Health experts said that the plume’s radiation had been diluted enormously in its journey of thousands of miles and that — at least for now, with concentrations so low — its presence will have no health consequences in the United States. In a similar way, faint radiation from the Chernobyl disaster spread around the globe and reached the West Coast in 10 days, its levels detectable but minuscule.
Atomic and atmospheric specialists expect that, in time, the extremely diffuse Japanese plume will spread so that it extends over most of the planet’s northern regions.
The global network of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, an arm of the United Nations in Vienna, has detected the movements of the plume. The organization’s mandate is to monitor the global ban on the testing of nuclear arms, and it has more than 60 stations that sniff the air for radiation spikes.
The group has declined to make the recent findings public, but it shares its information with 120 member states, some of which have divulged the status of the plume’s movements.
On Friday, European officials said that network sensors in Sacramento had detected the radioactive plume, picking up traces of iodine 131 and cesium 137 — highly dangerous byproducts of reactor operation that in large amounts can cause cancer. The measured levels were judged to be many millions of times lower than concentrations that would pose a danger to human health.
Late Friday, the Department of Energy confirmed the European statements about the arrival of the radioactive plume in the continental United States, saying its “minuscule quantities” of radiation posed no health hazard.
On Monday, European officials said the plume had reached the East Coast after drifting over North America. One station that detected the fresh radioactivity is in Charlottesville, Va., officials said.”
++++++++++++++++++
If you check, Iodine-131 has a half-life of just over 8 days so the readings of this radioactive isotope will drop off fairly rapidly. Some of the YouTube "reliable sources" used by the OP failed (as others mentioned) to establish a baseline so the data is totally meaningless. Nuclear power plants are monitored continually both by the power companies and independently so these monitors have historical baseline information to use as comparison and they can barely detect the added radiation from Japan.
I may not be a nuclear scientist but I stayed at a Holiday Inn and I'm not worried. :D
Sickmont
04-26-2011, 14:44
I ain't skeered.....everything dies sooner or later. I say keep hiking until you do.
Just figured I would throw this out there. I used cs-137 as a tracer for finding where excess sediment in streams is coming from utilizing a radionuclide detector. Chernobyl left most of the world covered in a layer of the isotope that is used through-out the scientific world as a time marker in sediment studies. This is perfectly safe to handle because the concentration is slow. A few inches under your lawn you may have cs-137 present as well!