Posted on 10/15/2011 7:56:09 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Radioactive strontium found in Yokohama gutter
October 15, 2011
By YOSHIKAZU SATO / Staff Writer
YOKOHAMA -- Radioactive strontium has been found in a street gutter in Yokohama, appearing to confirm that the radioactive isotope has spread far beyond districts close to the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Sediment in the gutter in the Okurayama district of Kohoku Ward contained 129 becquerels of radioactive strontium-89 and strontium-90 combined per kilogram, city officials announced on Oct. 14. The results follow an earlier report that deposits of strontium had been found on a nearby apartment building's rooftop.
"We believe (the deposits) were caused by the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant," a city official said. "We cannot judge potential risks. We want to consult with the central government."
Radioactive cesium of 39,012 becquerels per/kg was also detected in the sample from the gutter but it is the presence of strontium that makes the Yokohama reports exceptional. There had previously been no reports of strontium contamination beyond 100 kilometers of the Fukushima plant.
Although Kohoku Ward is about 250 kilometers from the Fukushima plant, the concentration found in the gutter is higher than the 77 becquerels per kilogram detected in soil in Fukushima city between April and May.
Dirt at the bottom of a dry fountain in the Shin-Yokohama district in Kohoku Ward was also found to contain 59 becquerels/kg of strontium and 31,570 becquerels per/kg of cesium.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajw.asahi.com ...
P!
do civilian power plants use strontium and cesium??
Only 15 miles or so from the big U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka.
First discovery of strontium is from roof top of some building, not in the drain. Airborne particulates settled on it by wind or rainfall.
Cesium and Strontium, and a load of other molecules and isotopes are the byproducts of nuclear decay. Its likely that it did come from Fukushima somehow in the water supply. The dangers are low, and likely few, but no one really knows until a thorough study is done. The exact isotopes from Fukushima should be able to be determined through markers due to the characteristics of the fuel and how much of it was used. Its also possible that these hot spots are just due to normal activity, such as medical byproducts, industry, etc. The rates of decay are still extremely low, but it is interesting.
Radioactive bird shit from Fukishima. Get over it.
It is when elephants fly that it becomes a problem.
I’m curious to know if any Japs are getting stopped by our border security because they are setting off our nuclear radiation detectors.
I love Yokohama tires, I wonder if they are made there and be radioactive in the future?
Frankly, I’m getting suspicious here. They seem to be finding isotope traces in the oddest of places. I really think if were actual particulate fallout from Fukushima it would have to be more evenly distributed. Wasn’t it just a few days ago that they tracked one hotspot to some ancient, dirt-filled bottles in someone’s basement?
And just what the eff is a “becquerel” anyway? I can’t keep track of all the rads, rems, roentgens, and sieverts as it is.
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