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Saturday, September 10, 2011

Increased Radiation In Washington Post-Fukushima

Earthquake in Japan on March 11, the last long tails. Because, as a result of the disaster, Japan's nuclear reactors are leaking, have been polluting the atmosphere. Levels of atmospheric radioactive aerosols in Washington state increased from 10,000 to 100,000 times normal. Although not dangerous to humans.

concentration of xenon in USA
Concentration of Xenon (sciencedirect)

The research was conducted by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and University of Texas. They reported five days post-radiation Fukushima, detected the element Xe 133. The concentration of these elements exceeds 40 Bq per cubic. Which means 40 000 times the normal American. According Biegalski, "I think the conclusion was this That was a really major events here".

Xenon 133 is a group of noble gas elements and is one of the inert gas (does not react with other chemical elements). During the concentration of Xenon 133 does not exceed normal limits, then it will not harm humans. Since the Fukushima nuclear disaster took place, the average population of Washington is expected to increase to 16.4017. Whereas previously, received only 16.4 microsieverts (Tracy Tipping, a health physicist and laboratory manager at The University of Texas at Austin's Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory). This radiation level is one of the technological advances made ​​by Biegalski (University of Texas) and PNNL. Because with this tool, a very small concentration of gas can be detected. The data obtained and shared with the American government and Japanese, so it can be presented to the emergency responders in Fukushima.

"As the measurements come faster and at higher concentrations than we originally expected, we quickly come to the conclusion that there are some major core melts at the facility," said Biegalski.

Reprinted from sciencedaily and sciencedirect.

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