Nuclear Engineer: Radiation Levels ‘Much Higher’ In Areas Of Fukushima Plume Headed To West Coast Than Models Show

Nuclear Engineer: Radiation levels “much higher” in areas of Fukushima plume headed to west coast than models show — Radio: Concern “other isotopes” besides cesium to cross Pacific (AUDIO) (ENENews, April 11, 2014):

NPR, KQED Forum, March 10, 2014 — Dan Madigan, Stony Brook University adjunct assistant professor (at 18:45 in): The models that predict the spread across the Pacific Ocean reaching the Eastern Pacific at some certain time is pretty much totally agreed upon, as in some amount of radioactive cesium and potentially other isotopes will cross the Pacific Ocean. The question is in the amounts. […] I want to point out I’m not saying that, or suggesting that, it won’t necessarily be problematic at all. But so far, all the information that’s been put forth has suggested that — I think a lot of people don’t know — in many ways this is a unique thing to happen to the Pacific Ocean, so people weren’t sure what they’d measure. >> Full broadcast here

IdeaSphere, Public Radio Exchange, March 26, 2014 (at 8:15 in):

  • Guy Rathbun, host: Speaking of the San Onofre nuclear plant, the reading for iodine-131 was much higher than what thought possible 5400 miles away from the site of the Fukushima accident.
  • David Lochbaum, trained nuclear engineer and director of the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Nuclear Safety Project: That’s true. I think what you’re seeing is the computer models assume that radiation particles are uniformly distributed in the air or water and therefore get transported across US shores. In reality there are particles that are not broken up evenly. It’s not like sugar dissolving in water. It’s more like particles that are suspended in water, and also there’s particles in the air, that cause local hotspots or high readings — much higher than the overall plume which seems a much more homogenous or uniform mixing. The computer models are good but they don’t account for the hotspots that people sometimes detect.

Full interview available here

1 thought on “Nuclear Engineer: Radiation Levels ‘Much Higher’ In Areas Of Fukushima Plume Headed To West Coast Than Models Show”

  1. As we face our own extinction, does anyone have any advise? Our fool leaders surely don’t, they deny all truth, so they cannot be trusted.
    Where do we go from here? Here, in CA, we are literally surrounded by nuclear accidents. Fukushima directly to the west, Washington State to our north, New Mexico to our east, and San Diego to our south………
    Dying from radioactive poison is very painful, one cooks from the inside out…..similar to being microwaved. What can we take to end our own lives before it gets bad? You would think they would provide that much information……..
    Any suggestions?

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.