Panic
Looking through all these threads has been very confusing and frustrating. People talk about certain reasons to run into a fallout shelter if you live in the West Coast of the U.S, and either give no links, give links to websites full of emotional language instead of logic, or sources that perhaps need more clarification.
Meanwhile even Dr.Chivers claims he's not exactly an expert in radiation effects on health, and we really could use someone with more info on this here.
Meanwhile the Health Physics Society says not to take any precautions YET there will be an increase in cancer risk over the next decade.
Meanwhile, the very model used to evaluate danger may or may not be accurate.
Meanwhile, there are sites claiming relatively huge amounts of Iodine-133 in rainwater compared to drinking water, as much as 3,300% which contradicts the data gathered by Berkeley, and I hit a dead end when it comes to sources.
This is all very confusing, and I hope things can get straightened out better.
This is the most straight
This is the most straight out article I have read. And believe me, I have learned more about nuclear reactors, reactions, isotopes, neutrons etc than I want to know.
The thing is with nuclear accidents, they are all different in some ways. And even though an accident may have some similarities,things that can be called facts......there are elements that there is no data or studies on.
What is different about Fukushima is that it is multiple reactors and the radiation,isotopes are being released over a long duration. The fact that there was a storm going over that area a peak time of release changes the whole picture. Also, that we did not know how much was being released for about 4 days I think it was. How high the stuff goes in to the air is another factor. And like I said, there has never been an accident that has released huge amounts in to the air for days and days.
And EPA has been just as bad as Japan and Tepco with transparency. Also, remember 9/11. They did lie and they will do it again in mho.
http://www.plamero.com/2011/03/dr-mark-sircus-flying-blind-japan-nuclear...
http://fairewinds.com/
Section 5.0 Effects of Nuclear Explosions
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq5.html
Tons of stuff here, links
http://www.sipri.org/library/links/reference
All I can suggest is that you read up on it from a variety of diff sources and use your own judgement.
HPS Propaganda
http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/radiationnuclearpower.html
"No, there is no need for concern. The information we have now tells us that no harmful levels of radioactivity will arrive in the United States"
The facts: "harmful level" = any presence of fission products.
Can you provide link to statement about health physics society
Can you please provide a link to the health physicist statements that there will be an increase in cancer risk the next decade? Could not find it on their website.
There is no official sorce
There is no official sorce that can give a complete or accurate update on radiation levels and health risks. This maybe to avoid a panic, or because everybody is just guessing at this point. The nuclear industry knows they will be shutdown if the public demands it,trillions of dollars lost. Also there wouldn't be enough electricity. I would suggest a good quality geiger counter to test food over the next years. This is being downplayed as not as bad as chernobyl. This accident is possibly the most catastrophic in human history. The oceans and air are a radioactive soup. You cannot be to safe. The epa and fema do not respond to disaster effectively. Everyone on this planet has seen fallout from Japan. If you are worried, you are aware. Do your best to prepare against the worst. Its been over 3weeks no end in sight.