Cesium in the tap water? Not okay.
Cesium increases in food chain and tap water, despite the "leveling off" summaries are not okay. Neither is uranium in our air samples:
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/docs/rert/radnet-cart-filter-final.pdf
I'd officially call this a "level of concern" even for chronic illnesses beyond the morbidly high threshold of deadly cancer set by respective agencies for economic considerations. Low dose phenomena and exposures to ingested beta radionuclides are a "concern."
Where is the "Precaution Principle?"
I am concerned
I am concerned. I don't *know* if these extremely low levels are dangerous, but I do not like the idea of it in my air, food etc.
More importantly, the levels are much higher in Japan and if things go south at Fukushima Daiichi Japan could be in big trouble. And here in CA or the US in general we could suffer from a similar 'black swan' event. The question is this: what to do with your concern? Write your reps and the administration and urge them to rethink the nuclear energy option. Pester your friends. Write the newspapers. Get a dialog going. Most people have their heads buried in the sand.
This regards tritium risk,
This regards tritium risk, but the general points on ingested beta radionuclides by multiple pathways applies to our situation in human health sciences:
http://iicph.org/health-effects-of-tritium-appendix-2
Respectfully, my deepest thanks and appreciation for testing to the BRAWM team.
Tritium
I'm not here to say there is no tritium release in our Nuclear Power Plants, but there is none coming from Fukushima. Pick door #3 instead. The levels of cancer risk dissappear into background. 37-44 percent of people get cancer, Period. I don't want to give up my iphone, laptop or refridgerator. Give me electricity by the most in-obtrusive means possible. But let me look at the science, the peer reviewed studies, Don't ask me to rely on someones Opinion.
The article is using general
The article is using general medical studies on ingested beta radionuclides ( iodine, cesium, uranium) to make a point about tritium, but these points and studies apply to internal emitters. Yes, in addition to other legacies of contamination already in epidemic. Even if you're one of the lucky Fukushima survivors of 5% aggregate US population (15,501,000 2010 census not including population growth and undocumented residents) receiving a fatal cumulative dose of 1Sv during your lifetime, that doesn't address the other expensive quality of life reducing ailments from cardiovascular and thyroid disease to developmental and neurological impairment to diabetes. Respectfully, I feel you're missing the point. It warrants nightly news and "Precaution Principle."
Over 15 million aggregate fatalities plus related ailments are a "level of concern." Cesium in your tap water? Not acceptable. Not safe. There, I said it.
Yes, and most of those
Yes, and most of those cancers (particularly the ones in children) are a result of man made chemicals and radioactive isotopes that have been pumped into our environment for decades. It's a bit disgusting to hear people say that we shouldn't sweat an additional 11,000 cancers nationwide simply because so many people are already dying of cancer, when most of that is ALSO the result of the nuclear industry (and coal, pesticides, chemicals, etc).
I don't want my 5 year old to get thyroid cancer because you can't stop your overconsumption
iphone
I have an opinion about where you should put your iphone.
"Don't ask me to rely on
"Don't ask me to rely on someones Opinion."
Why are you here then, reading this public forum chock full of peoples opinions? Shouldn't you be over at the internet solid FACT forum?