Hysteria! The Fukushima readings were taken immediately offshore from the incident. The Chernobyl and Bikini measurement were taken from hundreds of miles away, hence the lower level readings. And one “particle” means they can count a single emission of an alpha, beta or gamma ray. Hardly something to be concerned with.
I agree. The media and the hair on fire folk love a good nuclear disaster.
That said, the arrogance of the Japanese and their superiority complex allowed this mess to happen.
A good example of lying with statistics.
There was no significant airborne release of radiation from Fukishima as there was from the nuclear bomb tests or the Chernobyl disaster so the actual total volume of radioactive materials released into the environment were much higher for the nuclear tests or especially Chernobyl compared to Fukishima.
Virtually all of the release was in water that leaked into the Fukishima Bay or was pumped into the bay to cool the reactors. As such the radiation was highly concentrated in the leaked water and the elevation of Cesium was effect very localized to the Fukishima Bay.
As a reality check, here is a report from Oct 13 2013 that shows that the water contamination at the mouth of Fukishima Harbor, which is directly adjacent to the damaged reactors, may be reaching what are considered upper limits for normal Cesium 134 and 137 radiation in water.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201310130062
The ocean is a big place and Cesium 134/137 levels in Tokyo Harbor may be slightly elevated, but I doubt there is even much of a measurable elevation in Tokyo, much less all around the world.
Also note that the measurement threshold ( the ability to detect even the slightest level of radioactive Cesium) is really not that low - on the order of 10% of what is considered the the “safe” or normal levels for background radiation.
I would really like to see the tracking number for radioactive Cesium right off the landing of the Woods Hole Research Center to determine the world wide impact of Fukishima.
I seriously doubt there has been a measurable increase.
This has created a low level plume of radiation that has spread and, among other locations, is actually nearing the Eastern US Coast.
Very diluted levels but that poison tends to bio-accumulate in sea life getting more concentrated as it nears the apex predators like tuna, swordfish, salmon, and all those tasty fish and crustaceans we generally like to eat.
Yeah, but Fukushima’s been the gift that keeps on giving...