I took a cumulative reading outdoors today from roughly 2pm-3:30pm. The RADALERT Inspector was worn nerd like on my belt, in its case, sensor facing away from the body. This test only measures Beta and Gamma Radiation.
The results:
2285 total counts over a 85 minute period for an equivalent reading of 0.0077 mR/hr.
The result is identical to my 4/8/11 test.
Friday, April 29, 2011
TVA's Browns Ferry is in a Single Point Failure mode, making it a Jihadist's Dream
Browns Ferry nuclear plant is named after a relative; and If I had to pick a Nuclear generation facility to be partial about, Browns Ferry would be it. Unfortunately the swath of tornadoes that blew through the South East took out all the transmission lines to and from the Browns Ferry nuclear facility. In short, the only two things between Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant and Fukushima Daiichi are: working backup generators and a better logistics framework.
At this moment Browns Ferry is either in single point failure mode, or very close to it. That means that the site is extremely vulnerable to physical attack. Have no doubt that an enterprising Jihadist or Libyan sapper could readily use the current situation at Browns Ferry as a massive force multiplier. We can pray that TVA's security guards are getting the support they need to carry out their duties.
At this moment Browns Ferry is either in single point failure mode, or very close to it. That means that the site is extremely vulnerable to physical attack. Have no doubt that an enterprising Jihadist or Libyan sapper could readily use the current situation at Browns Ferry as a massive force multiplier. We can pray that TVA's security guards are getting the support they need to carry out their duties.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Four Hundred & Eighty Two Lung Cancers from FOUR days in San Francisco !?!
Click on the images for a better view
The data and methodology shown is how I would have calculated my lung cancer risk from the Fukushima Plutonium particles detected in California's San Francisco Bay Area air by EPA’s RADNET from 3/15/11 to 3/18/11. How you apply the information to yourself is your own personal decision. However, once having seen the data and calculations, I believe it would be in your own personal best interests to contact your local, state, and federal politicians and petition them to provide detail risk assessments for your own situation. Assurances that everything is safe and okay mean nothing without facts and data.
My calculations indicate that had I been in San Francisco California from March 15th - 18th, 2011 approximately 75 million atoms of Plutonium 239 would have entered my lungs during that 96 hour period. My calculations indicate that based on the 2008 population of the San Francisco Bay Area of California, approximately 482 individuals in San Francisco would have had an Alpha particle released in their lungs during that 96 hour time period. If the worst case fears of Plutonium toxicity are to be believed, 482 people in San Francisco will develop lung cancer from that single 96 hour exposure to airborne Fukushima Plutonium.
Many of the assumptions and groundrules I have used are obvious from the calculations. However, some assumptions are more debatable than others, and they deserve closer scrutiny in your own risk assessment.
(1) A 100% cancer rate from a single in-lung release of an Alpha particle from Plutonium. If this rate is to be believed, Plutonium may be the single most deadly thing on the planet. I left the rate at 100% so that it would be easy for others to recalculate their own risk based on their own research.
(2) The lung cancer calculation is based on a breath of 1 second duration in which every Plutonium atom that enters the lung also leaves the lung. If one assumes that the Plutonium will remain in the lung, the cancer rates will greatly increase.
(3) An atom of Plutonium releasing an Alpha particle in the Lung creates damage without respect to its exact location in the Lung space.
(4) Lung cancers resulting from the radioactive decay products of Plutonium were NOT directly examined; chemically induced cancers were also not directly examined.
(5) The calculations use an Air Sample Multiplier. No additional multiplication of the air sample was required because the dates of the air sampling span a time period in which it was physical possible for Plutonium to have traveled from Japan to California.
(6) The Plutonium fallout was a four day / 96 hour duration non-reoccurring event.
(7) The fact that the EPA reported negative Curie values for Plutonium 238 is not indicative of under reporting the threat. A negative value is reported when the quantity of Plutonium found is less than an expected baseline value.
The data and methodology shown is how I would have calculated my lung cancer risk from the Fukushima Plutonium particles detected in California's San Francisco Bay Area air by EPA’s RADNET from 3/15/11 to 3/18/11. How you apply the information to yourself is your own personal decision. However, once having seen the data and calculations, I believe it would be in your own personal best interests to contact your local, state, and federal politicians and petition them to provide detail risk assessments for your own situation. Assurances that everything is safe and okay mean nothing without facts and data.
My calculations indicate that had I been in San Francisco California from March 15th - 18th, 2011 approximately 75 million atoms of Plutonium 239 would have entered my lungs during that 96 hour period. My calculations indicate that based on the 2008 population of the San Francisco Bay Area of California, approximately 482 individuals in San Francisco would have had an Alpha particle released in their lungs during that 96 hour time period. If the worst case fears of Plutonium toxicity are to be believed, 482 people in San Francisco will develop lung cancer from that single 96 hour exposure to airborne Fukushima Plutonium.
Many of the assumptions and groundrules I have used are obvious from the calculations. However, some assumptions are more debatable than others, and they deserve closer scrutiny in your own risk assessment.
(1) A 100% cancer rate from a single in-lung release of an Alpha particle from Plutonium. If this rate is to be believed, Plutonium may be the single most deadly thing on the planet. I left the rate at 100% so that it would be easy for others to recalculate their own risk based on their own research.
(2) The lung cancer calculation is based on a breath of 1 second duration in which every Plutonium atom that enters the lung also leaves the lung. If one assumes that the Plutonium will remain in the lung, the cancer rates will greatly increase.
(3) An atom of Plutonium releasing an Alpha particle in the Lung creates damage without respect to its exact location in the Lung space.
(4) Lung cancers resulting from the radioactive decay products of Plutonium were NOT directly examined; chemically induced cancers were also not directly examined.
(5) The calculations use an Air Sample Multiplier. No additional multiplication of the air sample was required because the dates of the air sampling span a time period in which it was physical possible for Plutonium to have traveled from Japan to California.
(6) The Plutonium fallout was a four day / 96 hour duration non-reoccurring event.
(7) The fact that the EPA reported negative Curie values for Plutonium 238 is not indicative of under reporting the threat. A negative value is reported when the quantity of Plutonium found is less than an expected baseline value.
Plutonium Atoms Inhaled per Person in San Francisco California from 3/15/11 to 3/18/11
RADNET Detection Air Sampling Conversion factor Conversion factor Specific Activity Calculated Value Atomic Weight Calculated Value Avogadro's Number Calculated Value Breathing Rate Constant Calculated Total Four Day Lung Exposure
Radionuclide pCi/m^3 multiplier pCi/Ci Curies/gram grams/m^3 grams/mol mols/m^3 atoms/mol atoms/m^3 m^3/day Plutonium Atoms
Plutonium 239 0.0000065 1 1E+12 0.063 1.03175E-16 239.0521634 4.31599E-19 6.02E+23 2.60E+05 72 74,828,856
74,828,856
Potential San Francisco California Lung Cancers
from the calculated 3/15/11 to 3/18/11 Plutonium Exposure
RADNET Detection Air Sampling Conversion factor Individual Breathing Rate Individual Plutonium Inhalation Rate Disintegration Conversion Factor Individual Lung Exposure Time Alpha's exposed to Population San Francisco California Population Per Breath Alpha Exposure Population Per Day Alpha Exposure Single Alpha exposure to Lung Cancer Conversion Lung Cancers from Time Period
Radionuclide pCi/m^3 multiplier m^3/sec pCi/sec Alpha's per second per pCi Seconds Count People People People Percentage People
Plutonium 239 0.0000065 1 0.000833333 5.41667E-09 0.037 1 2.00417E-10 6,960,079 0.001394916 120.520728 100% 482.1
482
Seventy Three Lung Cancers from ONE day in Riverside California !?!
Click on the images to enlarge them.
The data and methodology shown is how I would have calculated my lung cancer risk from the Plutonium particles detected in Riverside California by EPA’s RADNET on 3/11/11 – 3/15/11. How you apply the information to yourself is your own personal decision. However, once having seen the data and calculations, I believe it would be in your own personal best interests to contact your local, state, and federal politicians and petition them to provide detail risk assessments for your own situation. Assurances that everything is safe and okay mean nothing without facts and data.
My calculations indicate that had I been in Riverside California on March 15th 2011 approximately 18.7 million combined atoms of Plutonium 238 and Plutonium 239 would have entered my lungs during that 24 hour period. My calculations indicate that based on the 2008 population of Riverside California, approximately 73 individuals in Riverside would have had an Alpha particle released in their lungs during that 24 hour time period. If the worst case fears of Plutonium toxicity are to be believed, 73 people in Riverside will develop lung cancer from that single 24 hour exposure to airborne Plutonium.
Many of the assumptions and groundrules I have used are obvious from the calculations. However, some assumptions are more debatable than others, and they deserve closer scrutiny in your own risk assessment.
(1) A 100% cancer rate from a single in-lung release of an Alpha particle from Plutonium. If this rate is to be believed, Plutonium may be the single most deadly thing on the planet. I left the rate at 100% so that it would be easy for others to recalculate their own risk based on their own research.
(2) The lung cancer calculation is based on a breath of 1 second duration in which every Plutonium atom that enters the lung also leaves the lung. If one assumes that the Plutonium will remain in the lung, the cancer rates will greatly increase.
(3) An atom of Plutonium releasing an Alpha particle in the Lung creates damage without respect to its exact location in the Lung space.
(4) Lung cancers resulting from the radioactive decay products of Plutonium were NOT directly examined; chemically induced cancers were also not directly examined.
(5) The calculations use an Air Sample Multiplier. The multiplier is used because the RADNET sample in question was based on 5 days of air filtering starting on the day of the Fukushima earthquake. Given the weather travel times from Japan to California, it is safe to assume that the entire Plutonium dosage occurred on the last day of the sample. Hence EPA’s listed concentration is 5 times too low.
(6) The Plutonium fallout was a one day / 24 hour duration non-reoccurring event.
(7) The fact that the EPA reported the exact same Curie values for both Plutonium 238 and Plutonium 239, despite their highly different Specific Activity values, is not indicative of under reporting the threat.
The data and methodology shown is how I would have calculated my lung cancer risk from the Plutonium particles detected in Riverside California by EPA’s RADNET on 3/11/11 – 3/15/11. How you apply the information to yourself is your own personal decision. However, once having seen the data and calculations, I believe it would be in your own personal best interests to contact your local, state, and federal politicians and petition them to provide detail risk assessments for your own situation. Assurances that everything is safe and okay mean nothing without facts and data.
My calculations indicate that had I been in Riverside California on March 15th 2011 approximately 18.7 million combined atoms of Plutonium 238 and Plutonium 239 would have entered my lungs during that 24 hour period. My calculations indicate that based on the 2008 population of Riverside California, approximately 73 individuals in Riverside would have had an Alpha particle released in their lungs during that 24 hour time period. If the worst case fears of Plutonium toxicity are to be believed, 73 people in Riverside will develop lung cancer from that single 24 hour exposure to airborne Plutonium.
Many of the assumptions and groundrules I have used are obvious from the calculations. However, some assumptions are more debatable than others, and they deserve closer scrutiny in your own risk assessment.
(1) A 100% cancer rate from a single in-lung release of an Alpha particle from Plutonium. If this rate is to be believed, Plutonium may be the single most deadly thing on the planet. I left the rate at 100% so that it would be easy for others to recalculate their own risk based on their own research.
(2) The lung cancer calculation is based on a breath of 1 second duration in which every Plutonium atom that enters the lung also leaves the lung. If one assumes that the Plutonium will remain in the lung, the cancer rates will greatly increase.
(3) An atom of Plutonium releasing an Alpha particle in the Lung creates damage without respect to its exact location in the Lung space.
(4) Lung cancers resulting from the radioactive decay products of Plutonium were NOT directly examined; chemically induced cancers were also not directly examined.
(5) The calculations use an Air Sample Multiplier. The multiplier is used because the RADNET sample in question was based on 5 days of air filtering starting on the day of the Fukushima earthquake. Given the weather travel times from Japan to California, it is safe to assume that the entire Plutonium dosage occurred on the last day of the sample. Hence EPA’s listed concentration is 5 times too low.
(6) The Plutonium fallout was a one day / 24 hour duration non-reoccurring event.
(7) The fact that the EPA reported the exact same Curie values for both Plutonium 238 and Plutonium 239, despite their highly different Specific Activity values, is not indicative of under reporting the threat.
Live in Riverside California? You inhaled 25.7 Million Atoms of Plutonium on 3/15/11
2nd 4/24/11 update- Follow this link for more data and calculated cancer rates
Update 4/24/11
If you live in Riverside California, on March 15th you inhaled a combined 25,740,000 atoms of Plutonium 238 and Plutonium 239.
The source data is from EPA's RADNET. The data indicates 0.0000013 pCi per cubic meter of Plutonium 238 was detected in an air filter from Riverside California. The data had a standard deviation of 0.000003.Given that the detected quantity was within 3 sigma, it can be taken as a true detection of Plutonium 238.
(Based on NIST definitions, the sigma EPA listed may not have been actually calculated from the sample) The exact same quantity of Plutonium 239 was also detected.
In order to quantify what that fallout means on the individual level, I decided to calculate approximately how many atoms of Plutonium a person in Riverside California would have inhaled on that Tuesday. To perform that analysis I had to make the following PRIMARY assumptions:
(1) the air sample was taken over 3/11 to 3/15, but all contamination occurred on 3/15
(2) 1 pCi = 2.2 disintegration per minute (DPM)
(3) 1 DPM = 12,500,000,000 Plutonium atoms
(4) A person breathes 3 cubic meters per hour
(5) A person was exposed for only 24 hours
On the bright side of things, atoms are VERY small.
A big hat tip to Alexander Higgins Blog for the heads up on how to find the Plutonium data.
Seventy Three Lung Cancers from ONE day in Riverside California !?!
Update 4/24/11
If you live in Riverside California, on March 15th you inhaled a combined 25,740,000 atoms of Plutonium 238 and Plutonium 239.
The source data is from EPA's RADNET. The data indicates 0.0000013 pCi per cubic meter of Plutonium 238 was detected in an air filter from Riverside California. The data had a standard deviation of 0.000003.
(Based on NIST definitions, the sigma EPA listed may not have been actually calculated from the sample) The exact same quantity of Plutonium 239 was also detected.
In order to quantify what that fallout means on the individual level, I decided to calculate approximately how many atoms of Plutonium a person in Riverside California would have inhaled on that Tuesday. To perform that analysis I had to make the following PRIMARY assumptions:
(1) the air sample was taken over 3/11 to 3/15, but all contamination occurred on 3/15
(2) 1 pCi = 2.2 disintegration per minute (DPM)
(3) 1 DPM = 12,500,000,000 Plutonium atoms
(4) A person breathes 3 cubic meters per hour
(5) A person was exposed for only 24 hours
On the bright side of things, atoms are VERY small.
A big hat tip to Alexander Higgins Blog for the heads up on how to find the Plutonium data.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
4/23/11 10:30pm Radioactive Rain @ 2x background
4/23/11 It has been overcast most of the day with a few on and off showers. At 10:30 pm a few sprinkles moved in ahead of a building storm cell. The truck was driven approximately 3 miles via a round trip to the store (15 minutes of shopping). Upon return, the hood and windshield where tested for radioactive fallout via my standard paper towel method. The radioactive fallout came back at 0.026 mR/hr, roughly 2X background. Hopefully the readings will remain low throughout Easter.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Radioactive Tornadic Storms in Saint Louis Missouri on April 22, 2011
The radiation fallout sample was taken via a paper towel wipe of the hood and windshield of my SUV. The sample maxed out at 0.100 mR/hr, roughly 10x background radiation. The water droplets absorbed in the towel tended to vary in their radioactivity. The radionuclides appeared less drawn to particulate than in samples from previous days. Concurrently, the level of radioactivity in this sample was mostly a function of the quantity of water absorbed in the towel. Given that this was the third strong storm of the day, the potential of Radon Daughter washout is significantly reduced.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The reason why Academics aren't publically providing analysis about Fukushima
There are a few reasons why academic and industry experts are not willing to communicate publicly about Fukushima and its fallout; primarily it’s because they don't know which way the learned herd is running. As all academicians so well know, the quickest death to one’s career is run opposite of the learned herd. From a prestige and monetary standpoint it is much better to be wrong but in agreement with the herd, than it is to be correct and in disagreement with the herd.
Of course, the strong risk of looking stupid is also holding some experts back from providing analysis. The risk of looking stupid is an especially great in a subject with such deep system of systems level complexities. There probably is no single subject matter expert that understands the entire scope of complexities we face as a result of Fukushima; there may have been someone with that skill set back in the cold war days, but he is long dead or senile by now. The odds are that any "expert" giving interviews and providing broadcast analysis has an agenda to sway the public in one direction or another. On the positive side, in such an environment it is also possible for lone voices to rapidly raise factual information to the surface.
Some of the more interesting public analyses I have seen are from Arnie Gundersen; I don’t know what biases he may have in the matter, but he certainly has given useful reverse engineering insight into the tangled web of assumptions , groundrules, and facts that would have to be the foundation lying down the rabbit hole of TEPCO’s status reports . The background required to make TEPCO’s status reports believable are often even more concerning than what TEPCO’s reports attempt to soothe; - but such is the way of tangled webs. The key to wade through an environment like the one we all face today is to maintain a critical mind regarding the wisdom of any “expert”; to quote Ms X: “ an open mind is like the town dump, everyone throws their garbage in”.
Of course, the strong risk of looking stupid is also holding some experts back from providing analysis. The risk of looking stupid is an especially great in a subject with such deep system of systems level complexities. There probably is no single subject matter expert that understands the entire scope of complexities we face as a result of Fukushima; there may have been someone with that skill set back in the cold war days, but he is long dead or senile by now. The odds are that any "expert" giving interviews and providing broadcast analysis has an agenda to sway the public in one direction or another. On the positive side, in such an environment it is also possible for lone voices to rapidly raise factual information to the surface.
Some of the more interesting public analyses I have seen are from Arnie Gundersen; I don’t know what biases he may have in the matter, but he certainly has given useful reverse engineering insight into the tangled web of assumptions , groundrules, and facts that would have to be the foundation lying down the rabbit hole of TEPCO’s status reports . The background required to make TEPCO’s status reports believable are often even more concerning than what TEPCO’s reports attempt to soothe; - but such is the way of tangled webs. The key to wade through an environment like the one we all face today is to maintain a critical mind regarding the wisdom of any “expert”; to quote Ms X: “ an open mind is like the town dump, everyone throws their garbage in”.
4/21/11 Rainshower @ 5x background radiation
4/21/11 8:15 pm, I took a reading from wipes of the hood and from the grill; samples were taken approximately 1.5 hours after the rain had started. Both samples were mostly free of dirt, and had readings of roughly 0.05 mR/hr. The truck had been driven approximately 3 miles in the rain.
These samples were taken long enough after the rain started that they should not be influenced by Radon daughters from washout. I am working on a methodology to minimize affects (if any) from Radon daughters.
These samples were taken long enough after the rain started that they should not be influenced by Radon daughters from washout. I am working on a methodology to minimize affects (if any) from Radon daughters.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Miranda Rights for Mother Earth?
Fox News reported recently that the UN was going to waste an entire day "debating" whether an inanimate object (earth) should be granted "human" rights. Well, that is, "human" rights as the UN defines them, which for the most part aren't actually "rights" at all. But that's another conversation.
L. Neil Smith said it best some years ago in his fine essay "Animals are Property"
Then there is the fact that in order for animals, or planets or armchairs to have "rights", they must first have Responsibilities. And if they shirk, or are negligent in the execution of those responsibilities, they must able to be held accountable. When Ms. Earth fails in her responsibility to not kill us, will she be held accountable?
That would take some mighty big handcuffs.
L. Neil Smith said it best some years ago in his fine essay "Animals are Property"
If you take nothing else from this essay, take this: the sillier the situation created by the other side's claims, the better they like it. Their goal is not to uphold the rights of animals [or Earth - Ms. X adds] ... but to render absurd -- and destroy -- the very concept of rights itself.
Then there is the fact that in order for animals, or planets or armchairs to have "rights", they must first have Responsibilities. And if they shirk, or are negligent in the execution of those responsibilities, they must able to be held accountable. When Ms. Earth fails in her responsibility to not kill us, will she be held accountable?
That would take some mighty big handcuffs.
Winning!
Yeah, I know. "Winning" is sooo yesterday. But it fits sooo perfectly with this self-righteous Hollywood tale. Seems that Weird Al Yankovic wanted to write a parody of Lady Gaga's tune "Born this Way" but he was afraid it might offend people. His solution was a ditty he titled "Perform this Way". Listen.
Hah. I wonder if Weird Al is really that canny. On his blog he wrote
The only parody I see is that this is a song, instead of fingernail polish. Perhaps Weird Al was still unsure himself, for he wrote
But then the Gaga camp declined to give W. Al their blessing on the project, so he posted the song onto youtube for everyone to access, and no monies went to the Human Rights Campaign.
As Charlie might slur.. "winning"
Hah. I wonder if Weird Al is really that canny. On his blog he wrote
...after hearing the song, I was reluctant to tackle it. Because it was such an earnest human rights anthem, I thought some people might consider a parody to be in poor taste.
The only parody I see is that this is a song, instead of fingernail polish. Perhaps Weird Al was still unsure himself, for he wrote
Based on my concept, I was reasonably sure that my parody wasn’t really going to offend anybody… but I still decided, as an act of good karma, that I would donate all the money from sales of the song and music video to the Human Rights Campaign.
But then the Gaga camp declined to give W. Al their blessing on the project, so he posted the song onto youtube for everyone to access, and no monies went to the Human Rights Campaign.
As Charlie might slur.. "winning"
Disposable respirators for travel risk mitigation- Planes, Trains, & Automobiles
Questions have come up regarding flying and Fukushima fallout exposure, I have listed some disposable respirators on the left side of the screen. The masks with exhalation valves breath easier, and are less humid. I believe the masks listed offer the best compromise to mitigate low level risks from both radioactive particles and gasses. The minimum capabilities I looked for where a N95 particulate filter and a nuisance level organic vapor filter (carbon).
From an aircraft passenger's view point, the major concern is that jet engines act like giant vacuums sucking in potential radioactive fallout. Most jet aircraft draw cabin air from the engines; see this previous post for more info. It is important to note that there is a difference from flying in an aircraft and being exposed to cosmic rays, versus flying through radioactive fallout and inhaling radioactive particles and gasses. It is the difference between getting a CAT scan and eating the CAT scan machine; one is temporary the other gets incorporated into your body for long term internal exposure.
Similar concerns maybe raised when driving through a rain storm, especially when other vehicles are aerosolizing the rain runoff into a mist via their tires. In those instances, some protection may be offered by setting the vehicle's environmental controls to recirculate. Turning the air conditioning on may also offer additional protection by dehumidifying the air.
Update 6/6/11:
I would not wear a carbon filter mask in the rain; wet activated carbon will absorb oxygen.
From an aircraft passenger's view point, the major concern is that jet engines act like giant vacuums sucking in potential radioactive fallout. Most jet aircraft draw cabin air from the engines; see this previous post for more info. It is important to note that there is a difference from flying in an aircraft and being exposed to cosmic rays, versus flying through radioactive fallout and inhaling radioactive particles and gasses. It is the difference between getting a CAT scan and eating the CAT scan machine; one is temporary the other gets incorporated into your body for long term internal exposure.
Similar concerns maybe raised when driving through a rain storm, especially when other vehicles are aerosolizing the rain runoff into a mist via their tires. In those instances, some protection may be offered by setting the vehicle's environmental controls to recirculate. Turning the air conditioning on may also offer additional protection by dehumidifying the air.
Update 6/6/11:
I would not wear a carbon filter mask in the rain; wet activated carbon will absorb oxygen.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
4/19/11 Late Evening rain sample 7x to 16x background radiation
The trailing edges of the thunderstorms usually have higher Fukushima fallout readings, and 10pm this evening was no exception. The family went out shopping and we drove around 6 miles, the last 3 of which were in on and off light rain.
I took samples from the driver's side hood, the nose/grill area, and the passenger hood. The short of it is that the readings are proportional to the surface area wiped. Wiping the driver's side of the hood returned a 7x background reading. Using the same towel to wipe the passenger's side hood returned a 16x background reading
Some more testing may help determine if it is better to main equivalent levels of towel dampness between events, or if it is better to maintain equivalent surface areas sampled (without regard to varying moisture levels). The key take away is that there is an inherent level of variability in these tests.
I took samples from the driver's side hood, the nose/grill area, and the passenger hood. The short of it is that the readings are proportional to the surface area wiped. Wiping the driver's side of the hood returned a 7x background reading. Using the same towel to wipe the passenger's side hood returned a 16x background reading
Some more testing may help determine if it is better to main equivalent levels of towel dampness between events, or if it is better to maintain equivalent surface areas sampled (without regard to varying moisture levels). The key take away is that there is an inherent level of variability in these tests.
4/19/11 Evening Thunderstorm Rain and Hail fallout results
Accoring to the EPA Saint Louis RADNET site, Beta radiation was elevated for Saint Louis today. However in my own tests of the rain and hail, I found lesser activity than previous thunderstorms. The rain was approximately 3x normal background radiation. The sample was taken from a piece of sheet metal in my front yard (the sheet metal had been cleaned after the morning thunderstorm).
I also collected large marble sized hail from the front yard; there was little detectable activity in the hail. The lack of activity is not surprising as ice does offer some shielding. The melt water from the hail also showed little activity, again not surprising given the short half life of the fallout that has been occurring in Saint Louis.
In a test prior to the storm, I dry wiped the dust off of the nose / grill of my truck and detected approximately 3x background in that sample. Further tests to follow this evening.
I also collected large marble sized hail from the front yard; there was little detectable activity in the hail. The lack of activity is not surprising as ice does offer some shielding. The melt water from the hail also showed little activity, again not surprising given the short half life of the fallout that has been occurring in Saint Louis.
In a test prior to the storm, I dry wiped the dust off of the nose / grill of my truck and detected approximately 3x background in that sample. Further tests to follow this evening.
4/19/11 Thunderstorm Radioactive Fallout 5x background
Another radioactive thunderstorm is certainly not the greatest start to the 236th anniversary of the "shot heard around the world"; when the Governor of Massachusetts ordered the confiscation of weapons from the farmers in Lexington and Concorde.
Nor would I have envisioned myself as a Geiger counter bearing Paul Revere warning that the "The fallout is raining". None-the-less here it is, A sample from the 4/19/11 7am thunderstorm tested 5x background (0.053 mR/hr). The sample was wiped from the hood of my SUV. The sample was unusually clean of dirt or debris. Empirical data indicates that the radioactive fallout contamination is attracted to surface debris / dirt, this is an indication that the rain borne radioactive fallout will stick to and build up on skin.
A little more School House Rock about the April 19th battle of Lexington and Concorde
Nor would I have envisioned myself as a Geiger counter bearing Paul Revere warning that the "The fallout is raining". None-the-less here it is, A sample from the 4/19/11 7am thunderstorm tested 5x background (0.053 mR/hr). The sample was wiped from the hood of my SUV. The sample was unusually clean of dirt or debris. Empirical data indicates that the radioactive fallout contamination is attracted to surface debris / dirt, this is an indication that the rain borne radioactive fallout will stick to and build up on skin.
A little more School House Rock about the April 19th battle of Lexington and Concorde
Saturday, April 16, 2011
[Breaking] Indications of Fukushima Iodine 134 Contamination in Saint Louis
The above chart is of data recorded from the Saint Louis 4/15/11 radioactive thunderstorm fallout sample which was wiped from the nose/grill of my SUV.
The data was taken from a sample sealed in a Ziploc Vacuum bag.
The sample was sealed in the vacuum bag to prevent potential radioactive dissipation from off-gassing.
The data was right censored (after 255 minutes) to improve the signal to noise ratio as the decay approached background levels.
The half life was calculated from the exponential trend line fit of the empirical data.
The resultant half life was calculated to be approximately 46 minutes.
Given the probabilistic nature of decay and the trend line fit error, the calculated half life can not be taken as an exact value.
Radioactive decay chains were examined for beta decay isotopes with half lives falling within +/- 20 minutes of the calculated 46 minute half life.
A cursory examination was made of isotope decay chains whose superposition of half lives might approximate a 46 minutes half life.
An examination was made of reported Fukushima fission release products and possible daughters with the requisite half life.
Based on the empirical data analysis and reports of massive releases of I134 (and parent), a strong potential exists that the radioactive fallout contamination sample collected here in Saint Louis Missouri is Iodine 134.
Given the fleeting detectable nature of I134 fallout, and the potential risk to the human thyroid, further vigilance and analysis should be performed by a qualified laboratory.
STAY OUT OF THE RAIN!
Friday, April 15, 2011
[VIDEO update] !!!ALERT!!! 62 TIMES background radiation, Saint Louis Mo 4/15/11
All rights reserved, please no copying or mirroring without express written permission.
5/29/11 Update
For further analysis read this blog post:
4/16/11 Update
----
Indications of Fukushima Iodine 134 Contamination in Saint Louis
---------
STAY OUT OF THE RAIN! - Especially if you are on a motorcycle or bicycle.
This fallout sample was taken from the nose/grill area of my truck after a roughly 15 mile drive through the rain. The truck was parked through approximately 20 minutes of heavy rain and pea sized hail. The truck was then driven through roughly 15 miles of rain on the back side of the storm. The last 2-5 miles of the drive there was no rain and the truck arrived home mostly dry. The sample was taken from the remaining few drops of water on the nose/grill.
The fallout sample maxed out at 0.686 mR/hr, approximately 62 times normal background radiation as measured in Saint Louis, Missouri. Data indicates that the radioactivity in this sample will dissipate completely within 3 hours. Some testing was performed using plastic and wood as Alpha and Beta filters. The fallout sample was primarily a Beta emitter. Secondary emissions were Alpha, and a small amount of Gamma was detected.
The dissipation time is so rapid that the dosage/exposure to this fallout is unlikely to be measured by governmental authorities, which means only your thyroid will know what kill it.
5/29/11 Update
For further analysis read this blog post:
TENORM: The Smoking Gun on Hiding Fukushima Nuclear Fallout
4/16/11 Update
----
Indications of Fukushima Iodine 134 Contamination in Saint Louis
---------
STAY OUT OF THE RAIN! - Especially if you are on a motorcycle or bicycle.
This fallout sample was taken from the nose/grill area of my truck after a roughly 15 mile drive through the rain. The truck was parked through approximately 20 minutes of heavy rain and pea sized hail. The truck was then driven through roughly 15 miles of rain on the back side of the storm. The last 2-5 miles of the drive there was no rain and the truck arrived home mostly dry. The sample was taken from the remaining few drops of water on the nose/grill.
The fallout sample maxed out at 0.686 mR/hr, approximately 62 times normal background radiation as measured in Saint Louis, Missouri. Data indicates that the radioactivity in this sample will dissipate completely within 3 hours. Some testing was performed using plastic and wood as Alpha and Beta filters. The fallout sample was primarily a Beta emitter. Secondary emissions were Alpha, and a small amount of Gamma was detected.
The dissipation time is so rapid that the dosage/exposure to this fallout is unlikely to be measured by governmental authorities, which means only your thyroid will know what kill it.
!!!ALERT!!! 62 TIMES background radiation, Saint Louis Mo 4/15/11
5:30 pm Saint Louis Rain at 62 times background!
STAY OUT OF THE RAIN!
I can not even imagine driving a motorcycle or bicycle through a rain this hot.
Took a sample off the front of the truck after about a 15 mile drive.
The reading was 0.686 mRh or 62 times greater than background radiation.
A review of the video may provide a higher reading.
Video to follow.
STAY OUT OF THE RAIN!
I can not even imagine driving a motorcycle or bicycle through a rain this hot.
Took a sample off the front of the truck after about a 15 mile drive.
The reading was 0.686 mRh or 62 times greater than background radiation.
A review of the video may provide a higher reading.
Video to follow.
Source for Red Feather canned butter and Bega cheese
I was contacted by Laurie Gawronski of G & R Foods Inc. They are the largest importers of Red Feather canned butter and the exclusive importer of Bega canned cheese. Laurie has offered to be a point of contact to directly purchase Red Feather butter and Bega canned cheese from the importer.
In that regard, I have the following cavets and disclosures:
(1) I have no financial interests in the matter (I make no money)
(2) I have never used G&R services so I can't personally vouch for them.
(3) Red Feather canned butter is my favorite butter, bar none.
(4) I have not tried the Bega can cheese, it is a processed cheese.
The details per Laurie:
In that regard, I have the following cavets and disclosures:
(1) I have no financial interests in the matter (I make no money)
(2) I have never used G&R services so I can't personally vouch for them.
(3) Red Feather canned butter is my favorite butter, bar none.
(4) I have not tried the Bega can cheese, it is a processed cheese.
The details per Laurie:
The Red Feather canned butter comes 24/12oz cans per case at $119 per case, if purchasing by the pallet (81 cases) price goes down to $100 per case plus shipping.
Bega cheese 200 gram can: 36/200 gr cans per case for $72 /case, if purchasing by the pallet (91 cases per pallet) price goes down to $62 per case plus shipping.
Bega cheese 56 gram single serve can: 72/56 gr cans per case for $58/case, if purchasing by the pallet (160 cases) price is $48 per case plus shipping
"The smaller 56 g cans are single serve cans with a pull tab to make opening easier. They were actually made for the Australian army and Bega thought they also might be a good fit here in the US."
Laurie's contact information is:
Laurie Gawronski
G & R Foods Inc
Reedsburg, WI 53959
608-524-3776
laurie@grfoodsinc.com
She will accept either check or PayPal. She can also email you detail nutritional information.
Her quoted case price on Red Feather is $20 cheaper than I have been able to find it. If you order, please feel free to review how it went in the comment section below
Soothing comfort music for Tax Day Radioactive Rainfalls
Here is a link to a nice little diddy that may provide some soothing comfort as you endure the April 15th radioactive rainfalls.
Soothing comfort music for Tax Day Radioactive Rainfalls.
Soothing comfort music for Tax Day Radioactive Rainfalls.
Tax Day Radioactive Rain 9X background in Saint Louis Missouri
All rights reserved, please no copying or mirroring without express written permission.
Stay out of the rain! If you have to drive through the radioactive rainfall, make sure your vehicle's environmental controls are set to re-circulate. Turn on your defroster or air conditioner, if possible. Selecting "recirculate" would be my primary action. If "defrost" is not an option with recirculate, turning on the air conditioner would also work. The purpose of the air conditioner/defroster is to dehumidify the air in the car, and to reduce the possibility of off gassing. Of course from a driving safety point of view, don't let your windshield get fogged up!
The readings from the Tax day rainfall here in Saint Louis are roughly 9 times greater than background radiation. The sample is a few paper towel sheets which were used to wipe the rain water off of a piece of sheet metal located in my front yard. The sample max'd out at 0.09 mR/hr. The sample was taken at approximately 7:45am, during the trailing edge of a squall line that moved in a few hours earlier. In previous thunderstorms, samples taken using the same methodology have read as high as 0.228 mR/hr, roughly 20x background.
Despite the high readings of 20x background some people have ridiculously claimed that these readings could be coming from naturally occurring Radon washout. Previous studies done by Klemic in 1996 show max peaks from Radon washout at 0.012 mR/hr. Throw in that fact that the highest readings I have observed have occurred at the tail end of storms after over an hour of rain, it becomes obvious how ridiculous any claims of Radon washout really are.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
So who is building the PANtron for Fukushima, and when will it be used?
So who is building the Percussion Actuated Neutronalizer (PANtron) for Fukushima?
Never heard of it you say? But, it sounds familiar?
Well, there is good reason for that!
There are two main ways to interrupt a nuclear fission process.
(1) you break the fission chain by absorbing the neutrons which drive the process.
(2) you disperse the source into a sub-critical mass, which deprives the neutrons of their fission targets.
The methodologies employed at Fukushima to implement the above two process are working on the scale of hundreds of years. It is the equivalent of hanging off of a cliff by one fingernail, with a randomly exploding boiling vat of razorblades waiting beneath you; all the while hoping that your one finger nail will eventually grow long enough and strong enough to allow you to claw your way up that cliff face.
There is a more rapid solution possible; disperse the fuel rods via explosive force, and begin cleanup/removal operations. Of course that begs, how does one explosively disperse the fuel pellets without making the situation worse?
The solution is an explosively directed boron/water solution; hence my term "Percussion Actuated NEUTRONalizer". The term is a play on a similar term for a water cannon device used by EOD teams to "dismantle" bombs before they explode. There are many ways to implement the concept; ranging from a precision tool, to a MOAB powered version, to a controlled demolition project with the PANtron as the grand finale.
Lets just hope that the eventually use of a PANtron is a planned event and not one born out of desperation grown out of a rapidly destabilizing situation. When 'they' starting talking about dropping a MOAB on Fukushima, the sound you will hear is the fat lady singing as she is dropping towards the target. If we're lucky, she wont be singing for us.
Never heard of it you say? But, it sounds familiar?
Well, there is good reason for that!
There are two main ways to interrupt a nuclear fission process.
(1) you break the fission chain by absorbing the neutrons which drive the process.
(2) you disperse the source into a sub-critical mass, which deprives the neutrons of their fission targets.
The methodologies employed at Fukushima to implement the above two process are working on the scale of hundreds of years. It is the equivalent of hanging off of a cliff by one fingernail, with a randomly exploding boiling vat of razorblades waiting beneath you; all the while hoping that your one finger nail will eventually grow long enough and strong enough to allow you to claw your way up that cliff face.
There is a more rapid solution possible; disperse the fuel rods via explosive force, and begin cleanup/removal operations. Of course that begs, how does one explosively disperse the fuel pellets without making the situation worse?
The solution is an explosively directed boron/water solution; hence my term "Percussion Actuated NEUTRONalizer". The term is a play on a similar term for a water cannon device used by EOD teams to "dismantle" bombs before they explode. There are many ways to implement the concept; ranging from a precision tool, to a MOAB powered version, to a controlled demolition project with the PANtron as the grand finale.
Lets just hope that the eventually use of a PANtron is a planned event and not one born out of desperation grown out of a rapidly destabilizing situation. When 'they' starting talking about dropping a MOAB on Fukushima, the sound you will hear is the fat lady singing as she is dropping towards the target. If we're lucky, she wont be singing for us.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Little Lord Fauntleroy is back in the pink!
Dr. Keith Ablow has written an amazing article over at Fox News, about gender boundaries. He wrote in response to a J Crew ad showing a mother painting her little boy's toenails pink.
To the surprise of no one, (n=1)^1000 crowd hit their typewriters full force in the comments sections, to decry any attempt to establish and celebrate differences in the sexes. While most agreed that forces of nature could not be denied, they were perfectly willing to try denial until nature became insurmountable.
So much for celebrating diversity.
The hundreds of commenters who wrote their n=1 hypotheses followed an identical template. 'My mother / sister / aunt / grandmother put makeup / nail polish / dresses / long curls on me and I turned out okay, so what's the big deal?'
Who's right? The army of Fauntleroy enthusiasts, or the creepy looking friend of Glenn Beck?
"Who" you ask, "is Fauntleroy?" Before I answer that, I just want to say in fairness (since I liked his article), that the good doctor looks less creepy in other photos. Just the Fox one is odd.
So. Little Lord Fauntleroy is a fictional character created by Frances Hodges Burnett of Secret Garden fame. Fauntleroy was the anti-child, ridiculed, mocked and despised by real children; beloved, uplifted and extolled by parents.
A lad of 5 or 6, he lived with his beloved mother whom he called "Dearest"; waiting lovingly on her with hand and foot. But most importantly, Fauntleroy was always immaculately garbed in suits and skirts, white kilts and black velvets, all crowned with 'shiny golden love locks that curled about his shoulders'. As boys go, Faunt was an effeminate fop, who all mothers yearned after. He was gender neutralized - old school.
In that day and age, foppishness and effeminacy was called "dressing your boy up as a young lord", and as it always has been throughout history, aspiring to wealth and aristocracy meant the adoption of effeminate softness.
Smooth slippery fabrics, powdered wigs, makeup. Louis XIV's standards of opulent decay are historically cured only when lopped off at the neck.
That, is the point Dr. Ablow is trying to make.
The Faunts' mom didn't promote effeminacy by saying "it doesn't matter to me if he wants to like girls or boys or sheep when he grows up, or has certain body parts amputated like the pet dog. I'm big enough to love whatever he turns into". Loudly expansive toleration of the ostentatious is a modern point of Munchhausen pride.
But pride of the ostentatious, whatever the trappings, has been a constant theme throughout history. Ostentatiousness promises money, power and influence and attracts all who love those things.
Idle hands, ill gotten gains and the love of money prescribe national failure.
Though Fauntleroy single-handedly popularized the lace cravat in size 5T for a time, America was still young and industrious and in theory at least, opposed to rank and aristocracy. Trends soon drifted toward a hard bitten masculine fashon, but without the communist abhorrence for wealth.
So is the J Crew mama just a silly woman putting her daughter-yearnings on a good natured, tolerant son? Or is she consciously promoting the effeminacy that represents class and aristocracy, afforded by wealth and idleness?
I suggest it is in fact irrelevant what Jenna Lyons personal motives were. What is relevant is that the photo and caption were published by a company trying to sell things. And that company, which depends on the patronage of the wealthy for survival, is appealing through abject effeminacy.
That answers the question, don't you think?
Heed Dr. Ablow. If we are lucky, the worse that will happen is our wealth bubble will pop. If we are not, well, I hope this time we get some chain mail woven into those lace cravats.
Bikinis, Coconuts, Bread fruit and keeping your garden safe from radioactive Fallout
So what does a Bikini have to do with keeping your vegetable and fruit gardens safe from radioactive fallout from Fukushima? Surprisingly a whole lot. One of the primary sources we have regarding the research and mitigation of radioactive fallout on edible plant and animal life is from atomic testing on Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.
The 'short' of the research shows that "single application of 2000 kg per ha of potassium can be effective in reducing the cesium-137 uptake in coconut meat (and juice) to about 5% to 10% of the pretreatment level."
The research also indicates that Silica clay based soils are better at binding C137 and Sr90, than are calcium carbonate based (coral) soils. The addition of potassium to the soil may aid in blocking the uptake of C137 and Sr90 into plants. For Pu239, Pu240, and Am241 the soil type did not matter much.
"The uptake of 137Cs by plants is enhanced because of the absence of mineral binding sites and the low concentration of potassium in the coral soil. 137Cs is bound to the organic fraction of the soil, whereas 90Sr, 239+240Pu and 241Am are primarily bound to soil particles."
For specific detail data on the uptake and concentrations of Cesium-137 (137Cs), Strontium-90 (90Sr), Plutonium-239+ 240 (239+240Pu) and Americium-241 (241Am) in reef fish, pork(by organ), tuna, pumpkins, rain water, well water, corn, chicken(by organ), crabs, muscles, turtle, eggs, pandanus fruit, pandanaus nuts, coconut juice, coconut milk, citrus, coffee, tea, banana, squash, et al, and the resulting uptake by the islanders; follow this PDF link.
For detail data on how this fallout is taken up by Humans (by organ) follow this PDF link.
The key of it is, I will NOT be eating island food products, (or any food products) grown in calcium carbonate type soils from north of the equator. Oranges, Pineapples and Coconuts are now in what I call the "radioactive food group"
In a closing note, the whole "X" family is willing to travel to Bikini Atoll as consultants should P. Allen Smith, or the original cast of the "Victory Garden" like to shoot a radiological gardening episode.
The 'short' of the research shows that "single application of 2000 kg per ha of potassium can be effective in reducing the cesium-137 uptake in coconut meat (and juice) to about 5% to 10% of the pretreatment level."
The research also indicates that Silica clay based soils are better at binding C137 and Sr90, than are calcium carbonate based (coral) soils. The addition of potassium to the soil may aid in blocking the uptake of C137 and Sr90 into plants. For Pu239, Pu240, and Am241 the soil type did not matter much.
"The uptake of 137Cs by plants is enhanced because of the absence of mineral binding sites and the low concentration of potassium in the coral soil. 137Cs is bound to the organic fraction of the soil, whereas 90Sr, 239+240Pu and 241Am are primarily bound to soil particles."
For specific detail data on the uptake and concentrations of Cesium-137 (137Cs), Strontium-90 (90Sr), Plutonium-239+ 240 (239+240Pu) and Americium-241 (241Am) in reef fish, pork(by organ), tuna, pumpkins, rain water, well water, corn, chicken(by organ), crabs, muscles, turtle, eggs, pandanus fruit, pandanaus nuts, coconut juice, coconut milk, citrus, coffee, tea, banana, squash, et al, and the resulting uptake by the islanders; follow this PDF link.
For detail data on how this fallout is taken up by Humans (by organ) follow this PDF link.
The key of it is, I will NOT be eating island food products, (or any food products) grown in calcium carbonate type soils from north of the equator. Oranges, Pineapples and Coconuts are now in what I call the "radioactive food group"
In a closing note, the whole "X" family is willing to travel to Bikini Atoll as consultants should P. Allen Smith, or the original cast of the "Victory Garden" like to shoot a radiological gardening episode.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Red Feather canned butter from New Zealand
Another little known gem to stock up on- Red Feather canned butter from New Zealand. It also happens to be my favorite butter.
The benefits:
It has a near indefinite shelf life if properly stored.
New Zealand herds typically have a better casein makeup.
It literally is my favorite butter.
Since it does not require refrigeration, it is ready to eat and cook.
One down side- I am unsure if the can has a BPA liner.
I do NOT have a Red Feather link on my blog site, because quantities appear to be limited, and prices vary from site to site.
My suggestion is to do a Google shopping search for
“red feather canned butter”
The benefits:
It has a near indefinite shelf life if properly stored.
New Zealand herds typically have a better casein makeup.
It literally is my favorite butter.
Since it does not require refrigeration, it is ready to eat and cook.
One down side- I am unsure if the can has a BPA liner.
I do NOT have a Red Feather link on my blog site, because quantities appear to be limited, and prices vary from site to site.
My suggestion is to do a Google shopping search for
“red feather canned butter”
Monday, April 11, 2011
IOSAT and other Iodine solutions available again! Act Quickly
New batches of Iodine products have become available on Amazon.
I have linked to several of the products on the left side of the blog page under "risk mitigation". All the items under the risk mitigation tab are items I either own or have recently purchased.
If you have any interest in iodine products now is the time to stock up before the second and third waves of demand hit. It is also better to stock up now because there will be some future potential risk that iodine products themselves may become contaminated at the time of manufacture, as radioiodines spread across the northern hemisphere; That is why I have not listed any plant or animal sources of iodine on the risk mitigation page.
Note that I have NO control over which vendors the Amazon link selects; once the link takes you to Amazon make sure you check for the most reliable vendors. I would also suggest not buying medical products from non-medical vendors. Please remember to check with your Physician before taking/using/applying any medical iodine! And please don't feel under any obligation to buy through my links, buy local if possible.
I have linked to several of the products on the left side of the blog page under "risk mitigation". All the items under the risk mitigation tab are items I either own or have recently purchased.
If you have any interest in iodine products now is the time to stock up before the second and third waves of demand hit. It is also better to stock up now because there will be some future potential risk that iodine products themselves may become contaminated at the time of manufacture, as radioiodines spread across the northern hemisphere; That is why I have not listed any plant or animal sources of iodine on the risk mitigation page.
Note that I have NO control over which vendors the Amazon link selects; once the link takes you to Amazon make sure you check for the most reliable vendors. I would also suggest not buying medical products from non-medical vendors. Please remember to check with your Physician before taking/using/applying any medical iodine! And please don't feel under any obligation to buy through my links, buy local if possible.
EPA RadNet detects I132! Where are the bovine thyroid tests?
EPA RadNet has detected levels of Iodine 132 in their AIR filter tests. This is concerning because I132 has a short half life of approximately 2 hours. And given that I132 may be much more concentrated in rainwater, it is just another example of why only your thyroid will know what killed it. What valid excuse could the EPA have for not testing cows for thyroid health and reporting the results of such tests? The thyroid health of cattle in fallout areas should be monitored and reported, as a potential indicator of human health. And, that is especially the case for dairy cows that already have had their milk test positive for longer lived radioiodines.
4/11/10 Leading edge storm radiation readings
I have taken two radiation measurements on the 4/10-4/11 midnight storm here in Saint Louis. The samples were taken from a piece of sheet metal left in the rain.
The first rain fall 11:30 pm, reading was approximately 0.026 mR/hr (2x background).
The second 12:15 am reading was approximately .05 mR/hr (5x background).
Update: I took additional readings around 1:30am and the radioactive fallout readings had dropped back to roughly the values measured in the first reading.
The storm lasted on and off for a few more hours, but sleep finally called and enough was enough. It is unfortunate that I have to stay up and do this work; may be I should deduct the cash value of my efforts from the April 15th payment I am getting ready to send out.
The first rain fall 11:30 pm, reading was approximately 0.026 mR/hr (2x background).
The second 12:15 am reading was approximately .05 mR/hr (5x background).
Update: I took additional readings around 1:30am and the radioactive fallout readings had dropped back to roughly the values measured in the first reading.
The storm lasted on and off for a few more hours, but sleep finally called and enough was enough. It is unfortunate that I have to stay up and do this work; may be I should deduct the cash value of my efforts from the April 15th payment I am getting ready to send out.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Use your car's engine and cabin filters to track your fallout exposure
If you are concerned about radioactive exposure, please go purchase new engine and cabin air filters (if equipped) for your car. Record the installation date(s); keep track of how many miles and how many days you have on it; when it comes time to replace it, bag it in a zip lock and store the data with it. This may provide a historical record for your exposure to radioactive fallout particulate.
If you have a Geiger counter, test those air filters for contamination based on a repeatable sampling cycle. For example, test the filters every 250 miles and every 7 days. If you are not detecting any fallout, increase the intervals to every 500 miles and every 14 days. If you start noticing an increase in contamination start checking using a more frequent cycle.
It also would not hurt to keep a few spare filters on hand for your vehicles in case they do get contaminated.
Fortunately, for some unknown reason I have been keeping my old air filters and can establish a pre-Fukushima baseline. On my current post Fukushima engine air filter, I did find one small hot spot which read 0.015 mR/hr. The rest of the filter had readings between 0.006-.010 mR/hr.
The best way I have found to check a filter is to slowly run over its surface looking for spots that can be repeatedly detected on the Geiger counter. After those locations have been noted they should be tested for a longer duration. Ideally one would use a Geiger counter with a large pancake sensor for those purposes.
If you have a Geiger counter, test those air filters for contamination based on a repeatable sampling cycle. For example, test the filters every 250 miles and every 7 days. If you are not detecting any fallout, increase the intervals to every 500 miles and every 14 days. If you start noticing an increase in contamination start checking using a more frequent cycle.
It also would not hurt to keep a few spare filters on hand for your vehicles in case they do get contaminated.
Fortunately, for some unknown reason I have been keeping my old air filters and can establish a pre-Fukushima baseline. On my current post Fukushima engine air filter, I did find one small hot spot which read 0.015 mR/hr. The rest of the filter had readings between 0.006-.010 mR/hr.
The best way I have found to check a filter is to slowly run over its surface looking for spots that can be repeatedly detected on the Geiger counter. After those locations have been noted they should be tested for a longer duration. Ideally one would use a Geiger counter with a large pancake sensor for those purposes.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
A reasonable risk mitigation strategy for radioactive rain and storms
It is difficult to draw risk conclusions about the two larger radioactive drizzle and thunderstorm events here in Saint Louis Missouri. There is too little data to make my analysis much more than a SWAG (Scientific Wild Assed Guess). The data that are there point in different directions; and the SWAGs I have to make to pull those different directions together all have troubling connotations [updates to come].
A reasonable risk mitigation strategy for those troubling connotations are:
(1) Don't expose skin to the rain
(2) Don't bring rain soaked items into a closed environment
(3) Don't drive into heavy rain, or in areas where recent rain is being aerosolized by car/truck tires
(4) Don't leave the car's environmental controls on fresh air if it is raining.
(5) Triple the efforts to avoid the above scenarios if there is an Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejection.
A reasonable risk mitigation strategy for those troubling connotations are:
(1) Don't expose skin to the rain
(2) Don't bring rain soaked items into a closed environment
(3) Don't drive into heavy rain, or in areas where recent rain is being aerosolized by car/truck tires
(4) Don't leave the car's environmental controls on fresh air if it is raining.
(5) Triple the efforts to avoid the above scenarios if there is an Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejection.
4/9/11 Video: Saint Louis, Missouri Radioactive Thunderstorm
Stay out of the rain! If you have to drive through a fallout laden radioactive thunderstorm, make sure your vehicle's ventilation system is set to 'recirculate'.
All rights reserved, please no copying or mirroring without express written permission.
4/9/11 Radioactive fallout from the trailing edge of a thunderstorm moving through Saint Louis Missouri. The reading was taken from a paper towel used to wipe off a small amount of rain from the hood area. The readings stabilized at 0.2 mR/hr. A sheet of plastic and piece of sheet metal where used as filters to determine if Alpha, Beta, or Gamma radiation were present. The primary form of radiation appeared to be Beta. At 11am, the sample had no detectable radiation above background.
The thunderstorm squall line moved in at approximately 4:30 am and moved out at approximately 6:30 am. The rain stopped and started three times during that time period; My samples correlate to that pattern. Samples were taken at the start, mid, and end points of the storm. The methodology was to wipe raindrops off of a metal surface with a paper towel, and then test the dampened paper towel for radioactivity.
The first reading was taken at ~5am from a piece of metal left outside; the readings maxed at roughly 0.05 mR/hr. The second reading was taken @ 5:30 am by driving the truck through a 2-3 mile loop; that reading maxed at roughly 0.05 mR/hr. The third sample exercise started with the truck’s hood and windshield clean and dry (from the second round of tests). No radiation was indicated on the hood at the start of the third test. The third test started at approximately 6:15 am and followed the same 2-3 mile loop as the second test. The third test sample maxed and stabilized at approximately 0.2 mR/hr. At 11am, that sample had no detectable radiation above background. The fallout appears to be primarily a source of Beta radiation
Stay out of the rain. If you have to drive through a radioactive fallout out thunderstorm, make sure your ventilation system is set to 'recirculate'.
updates and more info will be forthcoming on the blog site
updates and more info will be forthcoming on the blog site
http://pissinontheroses.blogspot.com/
[Breaking ALERT] 4/9/11- Backside of Thunderstorm Radioactive @ 0.2 mR/hr
I took additional readings between 6am and 7am on 4/9/11; the trailing edge of the Thunderstorm that moved through had reading of roughly 0.2 mR/hr. I detected Beta and possibly some Gamma radiation from the sample by using a sheet of plastic and some sheet metal as filters. Video to hopefully follow later in the day.
4/9/11 5am rain fall @ 0.05 mR/hr
The thunder storms started here in Saint Louis around 4:30 am. I took a quick drive around 5:15 am and wiped down the hood of the truck. The result was a maximum reading 0f around 0.05 mR/hr. This reading was approximately 5 times greater than background. But, it was also 4.5 times weaker than the readings I took on 3/29/11
More test to follow as the rain continues.
More test to follow as the rain continues.
Friday, April 8, 2011
4/8/11 Daytime baseline Geiger Counter Readings
4/8/11 Daytime baseline Geiger Counter Readings
(1) Outside, on my belt & in its case, sensor facing away from body: 90 minutes, 2435 counts, 0.0077mR/hr
(2) Outside, in its case, sensor pointed skyward: 63 minutes, 2360 counts, 0.017 mR/hr
(3) Outside, in its case, sensor pointed at south horizon: 89 minutes, 2626 counts, 0.00843 mR/hr
*because of sensor geometry there is a bias fore and aft of the direction it is pointing.
(1) Outside, on my belt & in its case, sensor facing away from body: 90 minutes, 2435 counts, 0.0077mR/hr
(2) Outside, in its case, sensor pointed skyward: 63 minutes, 2360 counts, 0.017 mR/hr
(3) Outside, in its case, sensor pointed at south horizon: 89 minutes, 2626 counts, 0.00843 mR/hr
*because of sensor geometry there is a bias fore and aft of the direction it is pointing.
Better to pee on the lawn than vote third party
Since we don't shy away from the "p" word around here, this tidbit of American psychosis caught my attention.
Very recently, Jesse Ventura, professional wrestler, hardcore governor and scion of deep dark secrets, dropped by the View for a chat.
The conversation went something like this:
Jesse: America, take a good look at your beloved Republicans and Democrats. They're nothing but hideous space reptiles!
Whoopi: But what are we going to do about it? Protest? Call someone? Pee on the lawn?
Jesse: Vote for a third party candidate!
Joy: What! Throw my vote away?
Oh er, wait. That's not exactly right. You know how it is when you see something that was exactly like something else you saw once before? Kind of like when Neo saw the black cat, then he saw the black cat again and they all knew something had gone horribly wrong?
Like this: (starting about 3:30 but it's all good)
(start about 7:06, but it's all good)
That Simpson's episode ran 15 years ago. Reminds me of the old saying, 'the more things change the more they stay the same.'
What's the half-life of freedom?
Very recently, Jesse Ventura, professional wrestler, hardcore governor and scion of deep dark secrets, dropped by the View for a chat.
The conversation went something like this:
Jesse: America, take a good look at your beloved Republicans and Democrats. They're nothing but hideous space reptiles!
Whoopi: But what are we going to do about it? Protest? Call someone? Pee on the lawn?
Jesse: Vote for a third party candidate!
Joy: What! Throw my vote away?
Oh er, wait. That's not exactly right. You know how it is when you see something that was exactly like something else you saw once before? Kind of like when Neo saw the black cat, then he saw the black cat again and they all knew something had gone horribly wrong?
Like this: (starting about 3:30 but it's all good)
(start about 7:06, but it's all good)
That Simpson's episode ran 15 years ago. Reminds me of the old saying, 'the more things change the more they stay the same.'
What's the half-life of freedom?
3,300 rems per hour & Japan loses power to additional nuclear sites
Japan already having taken a beating is getting more punishment from aftershocks and has lost outside power to other nuclear sites.
The scariest thing out of that link is not 3,300 rems per hour coming out of Fukushima, but the external power losses at additional reactors sites. The Japanese have a greatly diminished response capability already, to have more nuclear sites go down in different parts of the country is troubling. And, there is more earthquake plus potential Tsunmai action to come for them. Japan can expect one 8.0 after shock, ten 7.0 aftershocks, and one hundred 6.0's.
Japanese fortitude, perseverance, and open supply lines are the only things keeping a serious portion of the Japanese nuclear generation capability from spinning out of control.
If there is a future for nuclear energy in Japan (their only other choice is to become an Imperial superpower, or be married to one) it has to be a thorium based reactor. These two links lay out the economics, and current state of the technology.
The scariest thing out of that link is not 3,300 rems per hour coming out of Fukushima, but the external power losses at additional reactors sites. The Japanese have a greatly diminished response capability already, to have more nuclear sites go down in different parts of the country is troubling. And, there is more earthquake plus potential Tsunmai action to come for them. Japan can expect one 8.0 after shock, ten 7.0 aftershocks, and one hundred 6.0's.
Japanese fortitude, perseverance, and open supply lines are the only things keeping a serious portion of the Japanese nuclear generation capability from spinning out of control.
If there is a future for nuclear energy in Japan (their only other choice is to become an Imperial superpower, or be married to one) it has to be a thorium based reactor. These two links lay out the economics, and current state of the technology.
4/8/11 Goodnews, little to no detectable radioactivy in overnight drizzle
There was a small amount of rain/drizzle last night.
I was not able to test the rain samples until this morning at 8am.
The Geiger counter indicated only an occasional hint of tiny bits of contamination; on average, the readings did not appear to above background levels.
I was not able to test the rain samples until this morning at 8am.
The Geiger counter indicated only an occasional hint of tiny bits of contamination; on average, the readings did not appear to above background levels.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
4/7/11 "Cloud Shine" measurements
Today was slightly cooler and more overcast, so I took some outside readings to see if I could pick up any evidence of radioactive "cloud shine". No conclusions can be drawn yet, more data will be required to establish baselines. ( Because of the geometry of the sensor, there is a directional bias)
Reading #1 (unit inside its case, sensor pointed skyward)
79 minutes total
2979 counts total
Average= 0.01077 mR/hr
Reading #2 (unit inside its case, sensor pointed at southern horizon)
71 minutes total
2200 counts total
Average = 0.00885 mR/hr
Reading #1 (unit inside its case, sensor pointed skyward)
79 minutes total
2979 counts total
Average= 0.01077 mR/hr
Reading #2 (unit inside its case, sensor pointed at southern horizon)
71 minutes total
2200 counts total
Average = 0.00885 mR/hr
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
4/6/11 Good News: No detectable fallout outside
I took cumulative outside readings on the Radalert Inspector for 71 minutes.
It was a warm, windy, partly sunny day.
The unit was worn nerd like inside of its case located on my belt.
The sensor was facing away from my body.
The cumulative reading was 1888 counts.
That averages to 0.0075 mR/hr.
It was a warm, windy, partly sunny day.
The unit was worn nerd like inside of its case located on my belt.
The sensor was facing away from my body.
The cumulative reading was 1888 counts.
That averages to 0.0075 mR/hr.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Only your thyroid will know what killed it
There is a news report today that the Missouri Department of Health has just had no luck finding any radioactivity in the Missouri rain falls, and Illinois has found only miniscule amounts. I, on the other hand, have found radioactivity in the rain and snow fall here each and every time it has fallen since I started testing on March 26 2011. During the March 29th test I found roughly 19 times background radiation in just a few drops of water wiped off an SUV (see video here).
So one has to ask, why is it so easy to for me to find the radioactivity in the rainfall when the trained professionals at the Missouri Department of Health cannot? Why would the Missouri Department of Health communication director Jacqueline Lapine say: "there is nothing to worry about. The amounts found around the country are hundreds of times below the regulation limit." ? I hope at worst that it is just a case of incompetence on their part; and that they have not considered that the fallout contamination might just have a short half life which would lead to their samples degrading before the testing eventually gets completed. No matter what the cause, getting yourself, your kids, or your pets soaked in the radioactive rain fallout that fell in Saint Louis on 3/29/11 is definitely something to worry about. The fact that the same sample had undetectable levels of radiation just two days after it fell means that only your thyroid will know what killed it.
So one has to ask, why is it so easy to for me to find the radioactivity in the rainfall when the trained professionals at the Missouri Department of Health cannot? Why would the Missouri Department of Health communication director Jacqueline Lapine say: "there is nothing to worry about. The amounts found around the country are hundreds of times below the regulation limit." ? I hope at worst that it is just a case of incompetence on their part; and that they have not considered that the fallout contamination might just have a short half life which would lead to their samples degrading before the testing eventually gets completed. No matter what the cause, getting yourself, your kids, or your pets soaked in the radioactive rain fallout that fell in Saint Louis on 3/29/11 is definitely something to worry about. The fact that the same sample had undetectable levels of radiation just two days after it fell means that only your thyroid will know what killed it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Below is a reply I received to my youtube video of the 3/29/11 fallout rain
-----------------------------------------------------
It's raining now (on 4/8) here in Pennsylvania, and after wiping off the hood of my car with a paper towel I'm getting 5x the background count using a pancake geiger tube. Over a 3hr. period I watched the reading drop from 250 counts/minute down to about 50 counts/min.(normal background). The readings drop too quickly to be due to decay or half-life. Possible explanation: It could be nuclides like Iodine131and Xenon133 in gassous form dissolved in the water, and evaporating away with it.