Japan rocked with 8.9 earthquake.

[kokopup]

I can see how Radiation might get higher on the west coast that they might expect. During WW2 the Japanese were able to launch balloons from their beaches that set forest on fire on the west coast using the Jet stream as it's rapid transit for their balloons bombs. There were confirmed deaths in Oregon from these bombs.

[ChrisH]

A survivor has been found -

Japan news agency withdraws miracle rescue story

[Karen]

It is still ongoing, yesterday's news seemed bad, but at least today they have restored power to one of the reactors.

The other news is much worse, they have dug down a couple inches 50 kilometers away in several spots, and found very high radiation. This is very bad, as the areas around there have many farms, and grow a lot of Japan's produce.

It is just terribly scary, and even if it isn't in the forefront of the news, Japan will be dealing with this for many, many years to come. And even the damage from the earthquake and tsunami will take time and care to repair, the nuclear situation is just making it more tragic.

[smokey the elder]

(geek hat on)
The problem with radioactivity is, it depends on which isotope. Iodine 131 is the stuff that goes to the thyroid. This stuff has a half life of 8 days. So even if it did get into fish, it would decay rapidly to inert (stable) elements.

On the other hand, you have strontium 90, which has a half-life of 28.8 years; and cesium 137, about 30 years. Sr 90 is the isotope which is like calcium and goes into the bones; and Cs 137 is in the sodium group. These are what made the milk dangerous after Chernobyl. It is the longer half-life isotopes that are the worst, especially since they like to get into the system and hang around, causing great amounts of damage.

(geek hat off)

[pomtzu]

I don't think the U.S should be in a panic state over any radiation that might reach us. Sure, none would be ideal, but the small amounts that could get here are certainly not going to be a threat to the food and water supply and our lives - IMO. I've had enough x-rays in my lifetime for dozens of people, and I'm not glowing yet, and I'm certain I won't die from radiation poisoning. The U.S. needs to be a lot more worried about the pesticides that we use - the amounts that get into the soil and water and food that we eat. I'm a lot more concerned about that, than the possibility of somewhat elevated radiation levels from the Japan disaster.

[smokey the elder]

I found this incredible graphic showing the amount of radiation you get from different sources. http://xkcd.com/radiation/

[Kirsten]

Now they say Plutonium is leaking, they detected neutron beams several times, which means that now the really bad stuff is set free. Things are getting pretty scary!

The article I read was a German one, otherwise I would post a link. And on German tv, they say that radiation in Fukushima has never been as high as today...

[Karen]

The news grows continually worse. NHK right now says they have detected cesium in the soil 50 km from the plant, 5 cm down, that is over 1000 times normal.

This is just bad, and the fact that the Japanese just had people evacuate within 30 km makes this even more horrifying. I am glad the American government told every American within 50 miles (about 80 km) and I hope many Japanese heard that and moved away also.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

They are saying that dangerous levels are reaching Tokyo now and some of the water is contaminated as well as some foods.

[smokey the elder]

They found cesium? Uh, oh that's not good.

I read the I 131 in the water has dropped to under 100 (it was 210 yesterday) and is safe for babies again.

I would think they could use ion exchange (chloride for iodide) to remove the iodine. I think a simple Brita filter would work; just store it for awhile in a thick walled plastic container once it's used. (Just like kitty litter after iodine treatment for hyperthyroid cats. It's the same isotope.)

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Another thing has been bothering me. They say the water is not safe for children to drink but ok for adults. What about women who are pregnant? or breast feeding babies? Would the radiation in the water the moms drink filter down, so to speak, to the babies?

[Karen]

Another thing has been bothering me. They say the water is not safe for children to drink but ok for adults. What about women who are pregnant? or breast feeding babies? Would the radiation in the water the moms drink filter down, so to speak, to the babies?

If it is not safe for children, they usually tell pregnant or nursing mothers to avoid it as well. They do say, though, that it is better to drink it if that's the only choice you have, as dehydration can be dangerous for pregnant women. Frankly, given all the misinformation and obfuscation the Japanese government and TEPCO have done, I would have any pregnant or nursing women anywhere near the plant have gone to visit relatives in the South, or made any excuse to not stay.

[lizbud]

The tsunami wave was 4 stories high. I just can't imagine the horror
of those trapped in their hospital beds.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapc...ex.html?hpt=C1

[cassiesmom]

Can I just gently rant for a moment? I heard a woman say last night that she was not contributing to aid for Japan because of how cruel the "Japs" were to "our boys" during World War II. I was surprised by that. I just kept quiet because I couldn't think how to answer.

They're still having big problems with the nuclear power plant. I wonder what is going to happen with that over the long term.

[Karen]

I hope they get things under control there soon, but don't see it happening anytime soon, sadly. I hope most people left the area who could.

There are always women who will find ways to hang on to hate, thankfully, humans rarely live over 100 years, so it won't last forever!