Higher Levels of Fukushima Cesium Detected Offshore (Best Coast)

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Drifters

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Scientists monitoring the spread of radiation in the ocean from the Fukushima nuclear accident report finding an increased number of sites off the US West Coast showing signs of contamination from Fukushima. This includes the highest detected level to date from a sample collected about 1,600 miles west of San Francisco. The level of radioactive cesium isotopes in the sample, 11 Becquerel’s per cubic meter of seawater (about 264 gallons), is 50 percent higher than other samples collected along the West Coast so far, but is still more than 500 times lower than US government safety limits for drinking water, and well below limits of concern for direct exposure while swimming, boating, or other recreational activities.
Goes onto say
“These new data are important for two reasons,” said Buesseler. “First, despite the fact that the levels of contamination off our shores remain well below government-established safety limits for human health or to marine life, the changing values underscore the need to more closely monitor contamination levels across the Pacific. Second, these long-lived radioisotopes will serve as markers for years to come for scientists studying ocean currents and mixing in coastal and offshore waters

Bolded interesting parts.

Link: http://www.whoi.edu/news-release/fukushima-higher-levels-offshore

Pacific Rim me if old.
 
This includes the highest detected level to date from a sample collected about 1,600 miles west of San Francisco.

godzill2014-01.jpg
 
Seems like a very bad thing has some silver linings. That the radiation (which is, again, well below amounts dangerous to us) could be used in ocean research is unexpected fruit.
 
The levels of radiation are still ridiculously low (500x below safety concern levels), so nothing to be afraid of.
 
Seems like a very bad thing has some silver linings. That the radiation (which is, again, well below amounts dangerous to us) could be used in ocean research is unexpected fruit.

We still use the decade of wide spread nuclear testing by the US and USSR as a marker for many medical experiments. Most recently it has been used to help determine the lifespan of certain cells in the human body.
 
Seems like a very bad thing has some silver linings. That the radiation (which is, again, well below amounts dangerous to us) could be used in ocean research is unexpected fruit.

Given that the isotopes don't fade for 30 years, this will be very interesting to watch to see if they are transferred in anyway from ocean to air during the rain making process.
 
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