Basic questions ??

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2011-03-25 17:40

Hello Thanks for taking the time to perform this testing and setting up this forum.

I am not a scientist and live in the Bay Area. My basic questions are:

1) Are the amounts of radiation/elements that we are seeing here in the Bay Area harmful on a long-term basis? I see all these numbers and formulas but have no idea what they mean. If we keep breathing this stuff consistently over a long-term period, isn't it going to be a problem?

2) If all of these elements from Japan (which everyone is saying are not harmful) accumulate in the ground water/drinking water, could they ever accumulate to a level that would be considered harmful?

3) Do I really need to go out and buy a carbon or reverse osmosis water filter now??

I just feel really lost in all these news reports vs. super-technical nuclear studies. You guys are doing great work.

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Simply put, the risk to

Submitted by dchivers on Fri, 2011-03-25 18:23.

Simply put, the risk to breathing the air and drinking the water with these trace elements are extremely low.

Basis/Data?

Submitted by WH (not verified) on Sat, 2011-03-26 14:39.

One thing great about this project is that it's based on quantifiable data. That being said, what studies/data are out there in the scientific literature supporting the above statement that "the risk to breathing the air and drinking the water with these trace elements are extremely low."

Is there any data out there that really looks exposure from the trace amounts continuing to build up in our rainfall, resevoirs, etc? I'm sure everyone following the situation would appreciate data along these lines.

Thanks,
WH

Very few, if any, studies

Submitted by dchivers on Sat, 2011-03-26 19:48.

Very few, if any, studies show correlation to low levels of radiation exposure like we experience everyday and health effects. I am not a physician or a health physicist so I am not up on every publication on this, but, I do know the natural radiation levels we are exposed to and this gives us context and should calm our fears. Please see my response to this post for more along these lines.

dangers of low level radiation exposure

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 2011-03-26 16:30.

One good resource for studies on the dangers of low level radiation exposure is the Radiation and Public Health Project at radiation.org. They have been doing a study on the presence of strontium 90 in baby teeth.