BRAWM: Once again what is in the "caves" and what results can we expect soon? (from Bill)

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2011-04-25 08:46

I am particularly interested in spinach, soil, rainwater, and milk.

Delays in reporting do, I think, cause concern in many of us and I realize it has been a holiday weekend and you all do have real lives outside the labs, but for those of us who are making our decisions based a lot on what your testing shows (because the EPA has been shamefully slow and inconsistent and late with their reports)

Finally: I would really appreciate an answer to this question:

Does anyone on the BRAWM team have an opinion or is there consensus on why there aren't any reports on radio-Strontium from ANYWHERE, it seems? The EPA posted samples from two places very early on (no detection reported), but what does the BRAWM team believe is the reason that there is so little tested for or reported anywhere?

Is it because Strontium is not likely to be in these plumes because it is too heavy to travel ?

Is it because the "background" levels of pre-existing (pre-Fulushima) radio-strontium are so high that the tests would be meaningless?

Is it just too difficult or expensive to test for them (and I realize BRAWM does not have the resources/equipment to do it right now)?

AND

is the presence of radiocesium and radioiodine likely an indicator that there MAY BE radiostrontium in the plumes which are depositing radionculides on the west coast?

and what should those of us who care about this DO to try to get such info on radiostrontium?

Thanks for responding and for all the work you are doing.

Posted by Bill

‹ Does anyone know a legit lab where you can take food to be tested for radiation for a fee? Perspective On The EPA's Slow Reporting ›

Hi Bill, Just to let

Submitted by dchivers on Mon, 2011-04-25 11:58.

Hi Bill,

Just to let everyone know that most of us are at a conference this week and there may be delays in reporting. We have a senior grad student holding things down at the lab and we can make updates remotely. I will be pushing to get the backlog posted in the next 48 hours. Thanks for your continuing support.

Thanks for this. But due to the seaweed results I worry..

Submitted by Bill (not verified) on Mon, 2011-04-25 20:06.

I read what you posted re: seaweed in another thread and do worry about the spinach, milk, etc results which I think are key to having some comfort IF we begin to see levels go down BUT based on the seaweed results it looks like due to runoff certain levels are increasing SO I hope you get us some of the bioaccumulation results asap.

It is REALLY reassuring to know that you are there and responsive. But it is also disconcerting to know that levels in milk and produce may be increasing and without you folks we have no way of knowing.

You folks rock for sure, but I sure wish you could rock faster, better and stronger on these food tests.

BTW - re: Strontium 89 and 90: there is a post in the Forbes blog (Jeff McMahon) saying EPA has measured both of these in California SO my request for further info stands on the strontium AND I wanted to know if you folks had any baseline info on Strontium pre-Fukushima. I will keep requesting this info from you folks so I hope you can find someone who can respond.

The strontium worries me as it causes bone cancer among other things and a friend of my kids, a teenager who grew up downwind from a nuke plant, told us today he has bone cancer. It is an insidious radioisotope which most commerical plants are releasing regularly and NO ONE seems to be testing for it or publishing data EXCEPT for the Radiation and Public Health Project ( www.radiation.org ) but they are testing for it in baby teeth and NOT spinach and milk.

any help when you can oin this would be appreciated.

Thx