Monday, May 16, 2011

Air Radiation Level In Tokyo, Unofficial Version

As this blog has reported both in English and Japanese, the official number for the air radiation level in Tokyo is measured at only one location in Shinjuku, on top of the building about 18 meters from the ground.

However, there are many unofficial numbers, i.e. measured by concerned citizens and residents at the level where most people live and work - 1 meter above the ground.

Here is a Japanese site, "Environmental radiation monitoring by volunteers who are engaged in radiation and nuclear science". The site name says it all.

Looking at the numbers in different locations in Tokyo (PDF file for download), the radiation level varies significantly. To measure only at the Shinjuku location and tell the residents in Tokyo that the radiation level in Tokyo is back to normal range is highly misleading.

Here's some numbers from the "Environmental radiation monitoring" latest PDF file that exceed the "official" number (0.0629 microgray/hour, or microsievert/hour, 5/17/11)

Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku: 0.124 microsievert/hour, 100 cm above the side walk, 5/10/11

Kyobashi, Chuo-ku: 0.071 microsievert/hour, 100 cm above concrete, 5/10/11

Hongo, Bunkyo-ku: 0.14 microsievert/hour, 100 cm above asphalt, 5/10/11

Kanamachi, Katsushika-ku: 0.359 microsievert/hour, 100 cm above sand, 5/10/11

Shimo-Shakujii, Nerima-ku: 0.074 microsievert/hour, 100 cm above dirt, 5/6/11

Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku: 0.114 microsievert/hour, 100 cm above asphalt, 5/10/11

Nihonbashi Nakasu, Chuo-ku: 0.111 microsievert/hour, 100 cm above asphalt, 5/10/11

Kitano-maru Park, Chiyoda-ku: 0.085 microsievert/hour, 100 cm above dirt, 5/10/11

Fuchu City: 0.091 microsievert/hour, 100 cm above asphalt, 5/10/11


The number in Kanamachi, 0.359 microsievert/hour, would translate to more than 3 millisieverts per year. (8.61 microsieverts per day x 365 = 3.142 millisieverts per year)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Robbie001 sez:

I'm sure this kind of official detection bias is happening everywhere. Authorities are probably looking for the lowest readings they can find in any area they sample and publishing it as "the number". The same thing is going to happen to the Fukushima 5000. TEPCO didn't want all of their Bio-Robots to have proper dosimetery during the the "hottest" portion of the accident so they could shine on the world with their ridiculously hopeful "road map to recovery". For all we know all of the early Fukushima responders have topped out their 250mSv "safe" exposure limit.

The fact that the IAEA has gone along with TEPCO's dose estimates even though TEPCO broke the law by allowing workers to be exposed without dosimeters goes to show how much of a industry lapdog the IAEA is. They should have publicly condemned TEPCO's actions and called for blood tests to determine actual exposure. The Japanese nuclear industry was supposedly read the riot act after the Tokaimura criticality accident. New laws were put in place to protect workers only to be tossed out the window at the first opportunity. The IAEA should also be calling TEPCO on their use of inadequate radiation measuring equipment months after the accident. "Over 1000 mSv" isn't a number it is and indictment of TEPCO's guilt and failure.

Radiation exposure blood tests:

"Results of research that led to the development of the test, described as a "life-long wide-range radiation biodosimeter," appear in the December issue of Health Physics."

http://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/archives/vol31/vol31n18/n8.html

Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have developed a new blood test to rapidly detect levels of radiation exposure so that potentially life-saving treatments could be administered to the people who need them most."

http://www.news-medical.net/news/2007/04/04/23094.aspx

Maybe the Japanese workers need something like the "Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (RESEP) Clinic". If the IAEA came up with something like this maybe they wouldn't be seen as such an industry pet. But then again the program would just be co-opted by the nuclear industry's deep pockets and political connections.

http://www.nationaljewish.org/programs/prevention/miners-clinic/resep-clinic.aspx

Anonymous said...

Robbie001 sez:

Here's a nice little basic history of TEPCO and it's cozy relationship with the government. It seems TEPCO may be in the ranks of companies "too big to fail". I didn't realize Chairman and former discredited TEPCO President Tsunehisa Katsumata took over for current President Masataka Shimizu when he got "sick".

Back in 2007 during Mr. Katsumata tenure as president a 6.8-magnitude earthquake caused a fire and small radiation leaks that lead to the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant closing for 21 months. The quake damage forced Tepco to post its first financial losses ever.

"Bad Katsumata san now you have to be Chairman of the company as punishment for your failure!"

We are thoroughly DOOMED when failure is rewarded the human race is programmed for self destruction.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110517i1.html

Anonymous said...

Could you tell me where you posted about this in Japanese?

I could only find sth. comparable in English here:

http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2011/04/radiation-in-japan-its-safe-governments.html

Thank you!

arevamirpal::laprimavera said...

@anon 7:21PM, here's my Japanese post on the subject:

http://ex-skf-jp.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-post_16.html

Anonymous said...

http://www.infiniteunknown.net/2011/05/20/tokyo-experts-detect-5-times-higher-radiation-levels-than-announced-by-japanese-government/

Tokyo radiation level 5 times more than officials claimed.

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