Nuclear fall out from Japan

[surmick]

This is crazy that we even have to think about it. Bt this could very well happen! The one tried and true way to protect yourself is with the iodine shot but will there be enough for everyone? They gave it to people in Chernobyl and japan during the last radiation problem and it was 100% effective which is great but dang ain't it scary!

[meeg124]

I am flipping out about this but trying not to think about it too much otherwise I would just go off the deep end.

[surmick]

I know, I am trying to just breathe and say let's deal with it when it gets here. It might not so no use getting freaked out.

[brookiesmom]

I am flipping out about this but trying not to think about it too much otherwise I would just go off the deep end.

:yeah

Really scary!

[floridamom]

I just feel like they really need to prepare folks if this IS going to happen. I can grab my shit and disappear for a few days if necessary - but they need to give us enough of a heads up so we are all not sitting in traffic! Dude - say the word and I am off! LOL

[Lynette]

:tmi

[Lorah]

Ummmm you guys SHOULD be worried.... I have a friend in Korea... and well, what we aren't being told is that there IS and HAS BEEN a leak for DAYS NOW! It's just a matter of time really.... and that's if things haven't already gone from bad to "oh sorry, shits hit the fan ..yesterday" already.

You can get the liquid drops, but you probably wont find them now because we have shipped all we had over to Japan already. If you do find some, you're stoked.

Being the way our jetstream flows....we will be affected to one degree or another if a full melt down occurs. It's just how it will be. Obviously the more east it flows the less radiation you'll get. But even after that we will have to worry about the foods we eat.

I'm trying to not have a full anxiety attack... but knowing what is going on over there....I'm not happy, and I pray my children wont have to suffer with the effects for years to come. :(

[Lorah]

I just feel like they really need to prepare folks if this IS going to happen. I can grab my shit and disappear for a few days if necessary - but they need to give us enough of a heads up so we are all not sitting in traffic! Dude - say the word and I am off! LOL

I know the feeling. Being two plants now have either leaked or have had explosions, or purposefully released the radioactive steam into the air I'm sure they WONT be giving any heads up.....as they KNEW it was leaking when the back up generator didn't come on, and they KNEW they were intentionally releasing steam to help reduce the pressure, and they KNEW by doing that it would probably cause an explosion, and they KNEW that if there were an explosion the casing would be destroyed and even potentially cause a full meltdown if the rods were exposed (THANK GOD THEY WEREN'T at that time)..... and all the while all they did was tell the public there is an issue, but it's under control, no need to panic........ and yet they keep increasing the evacuation radius .... Hmmmm Yep, I'm thinking no one will get warning.

[Lorah]

In case you aren't sure what exactly a melt down is:
"A true meltdown is defined as the occurrence of nuclear fuel melting through a reactor's innermost chamber but not through the outer containment shell."

Here is what a top official has to say about what has already happened:
"A top Japanese official seems to be confirming the worst-case scenario that in fact, the rods of at least two of the reactors seem to have had a (partial) meltdown."

Such joyous thoughts.

BUT....if you want some happy news.... I did find this... LA Times says we wouldn't have to worry too much (:rolleyes not sure if I buy that):
http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-radiation-us-threat-20110314,0,6112226.story

[floridamom]

Yes - I am concerned about them throwing the word 'melt-down' around.

From what I understand they are "fighting a melt-down" not throwing in the towel and accepting one. (Thank God) This page seems to explain it in pretty simple terms....

http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2011/03/fukushima_crisis_anatomy_of_a.htmley (http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2011/03/fukushima_crisis_anatomy_of_a.html)

Another article that made me feel a 'bit' better...
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/03/nuke-fallout-risk/

I am sort of freaked out that the week before Spring Break, my class in Environmental Science was debating nuclear energy and if the US should phase it out over the next 30 years. It is interesting to see how many folks are backpedaling on the issue this week!

My first concern was to ask - what is the lifespan of radioactive steam? (Article 1 seems to suggest the steam could never survive past 7 days or 2000 miles, but I want to confirm that.)

Second - what about all this sea water and boric acid being thrown on the rods? This would be a much more concentrated exposure, so the dumping of THAT into the ocean for months to come is much more concerning.

[khanson]

:tmi

:lol :yeah

I try not to worry about things that are out of my control. On the other side...you probably don't want to be near me when the Apocalypse comes. So not going to be prepared. Stick me in my car and I'm (hopefully) good to go.

[becky]

OMG I have no been keeping up on the news these past couple days and now I realize I should have. This is sorta freaking me out just a little. Ya I would love a warning cuz I would be in my car so fast to get the hell out of here. Flying would be faster but I am sure all flights will be over booked

[momtoM&D]

A friend of mine posted this today and I thought it was interesting. Apparently the main concern is effects on the thyroid. Since I already take meds for my thyroid, I wonder how I will be effected?

http://ljkboerner.wordpress.com/2011/03/12/why-give-iodide-for-radiation-poisoning/

[ladybish]

My understanding is that we don't need to be worried until containment vessels are compromised - at that point it would be a nuclear melt down and significant radiation would be an issue, potentially even for us across the Pacific - and that the vessels are still intact now.

What I've read is that if nuclear melt down happens, it would take 24-36 hours for radioactive fall out to reach us via the jet stream.

[surmick]

My understanding is that we don't need to be worried until containment vessels are compromised - at that point it would be a nuclear melt down and significant radiation would be an issue, potentially even for us across the Pacific - and that the vessels are still intact now.

What I've read is that if nuclear melt down happens, it would take 24-36 hours for radioactive fall out to reach us via the jet stream.

That is what I was thinking about the time it would take to get here. I have a call into my doctor for a prescription of potassium iodine just in case. I went to cvs and they had a list of people for it all ready. My doctor will probably say no but then again he does not my hubby well so maybe not. I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.

[surmick]

Anybody know how long it takes to dissipate and how far away you would have to drive to get away?

[KaisaG]

Oh super... My ignorant ass had no idea what was going on.... Been too busy really to keep up with the news, which I usually try and avoid anyway.

[MamaLaura]

That is what I was thinking about the time it would take to get here. I have a call into my doctor for a prescription of potassium iodine just in case. I went to cvs and they had a list of people for it all ready. My doctor will probably say no but then again he does not my hubby well so maybe not. I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.

How long does it protect for, do you know? Like is it a good idea to get it now as a just in case, or wait until something actually happens.

[becky]

Anybody know how long it takes to dissipate and how far away you would have to drive to get away?
Ya I was wondering that too
Oh super... My ignorant ass had no idea what was going on.... Been too busy really to keep up with the news, which I usually try and avoid anyway.
:yeahThat is me exactly

[surmick]

The doctor gave us the prescription so Chad will pick it up tomorrow! Better be safe than sorry.

[floridamom]

Is this something that has to be prescribed?

[surmick]

apparently even though it is a supplement and not an actual medicine. I read on AOL where the state has mass amounts stockpiled for just this thing though. In Poland they gave over 17 million people the supplement. I am sure we have to be covered.

[Brookepanda]

I've spent the last hour going store to store...nobody has any....

[Luckylove]

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110314/ARTICLES/110319714/1350?p=1&tc=pg

I wasn't paranoid about it until I started reading this thread!

[KaisaG]

I called my sis who is a physician's asst with the VA, and she was cracking up when I told her it is sold out at every pharmacy around... Made me feel better.

[surmick]

I definitely would not take anything until it was on our coastline.

[CrystalD]

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110314/ARTICLES/110319714/1350?p=1&tc=pg

I wasn't paranoid about it until I started reading this thread!

:yeah. Plus I had no idea since I don't have cable.

[floridamom]

I definitely would not take anything until it was on our coastline.

ITA Susan! It just seems to be a nice precaution to have on hand in case something major happens and you can't get East fast enough... :(

ughhhh - so depressing!

[Luckylove]

So I briefly read up on nuclear fallout, potassium iodine, several nuclear incidents and testing and the jet stream patterns.

Potassium iodine has a lot of nasty side effects. It only protects against thyroid cancer and is typically given to people within 10 miles of the fallout area.

I don't know the exact number but Japan is about 6500 miles away. If you look up the jet stream patterns they don't directly go over us. It curves north right before the San Francisco area.

We didn't have a nuclear fallout here from Hiroshima. Our government has tested several nuclear weapons in the 1940s in the Marshall Islands just west of Hawaii. That includes the largest nuclear bomb the US has ever used. The Marshall Islands are halfway between US and Japan and we never heard of fallout here from that. There was also the three mile island incident on US soil that had a 10 mile fallout radius.

I would hope that US has stockpiles of potassium iodine on hand for a crisis.

I am just trying to use logic so I don't freak myself out and I thought if I shared my logic that it might help someone else stay calm. I also looked where the nearest nuclear power plant is if there was another earthquake here and two are near San Luis Obispo.

[MamaLaura]

I definitely would not take anything until it was on our coastline.

So you're keeping it on hand just in case?

[surmick]

If I can get it. I am sure there are a lot of things that will never happen that I have precautions set aside for. It was basically a ," well it can't hurt to ask the pharmacist and then it cant hurt to ask the doctor.". I am sure we wont need it but it cant hurt to have.

[howardvm]

I am not spending any time worrying about this at all. The reactors all have containment vessels, and those will most likely handle most of a meltdown, like ours did at 3 Mile Island. Right now, my immediate thoughts and concerns are about the Japanese people. I cannot think about a million "what ifs" knowing that there are thousands that are dead already over there, many others injured, others who may still be alive right now and waiting to be rescued.

[Lynette]

Good point Venessa :(

And thanks Kathleen for the info, like Kim said I try not to worry about things I can't control but sometimes they creep and nag at the back of my brain.

[MamaLaura]

I agree that what is happening over there is INCREDIBLY devastating. I don't think anybody denies that or considers it less of a concern than the possible effects on our country. However, there is nothing that I can do about what has happened there, except pray for Japan as a whole. But I can take steps to make sure that my own family is as protected and prepared as possible, should our lives be even slightly at risk due to the radiation or anything else. I don't feel that I'm doing anyone any harm by wanting to make sure my family is taken care of, nor do I feel I'm doing any sort of disservice to the Japanese and the tragedy that has consumed their nation. I feel that doing SOMETHING to prepare my family is a lot better and more respectful to what they're going through than sitting on my couch each night eating ice cream while watching all of the news coverage, because I personally cannot do anything for them directly. I don't imagine any of the Japanese would be upset at people in other countries taking precautions to keep our families even slightly safer from such tragedies, even if we can't do much, and even if an event like this is a "what if".

[howardvm]

There is a lot we can do for Japan. Many organizations are seeking donations to assist Japan right now. Monetary and goods.

[Lorah]

So I briefly read up on nuclear fallout, potassium iodine, several nuclear incidents and testing and the jet stream patterns.

Potassium iodine has a lot of nasty side effects. It only protects against thyroid cancer and is typically given to people within 10 miles of the fallout area.

I don't know the exact number but Japan is about 6500 miles away. If you look up the jet stream patterns they don't directly go over us. It curves north right before the San Francisco area.

We didn't have a nuclear fallout here from Hiroshima. Our government has tested several nuclear weapons in the 1940s in the Marshall Islands just west of Hawaii. That includes the largest nuclear bomb the US has ever used. The Marshall Islands are halfway between US and Japan and we never heard of fallout here from that. There was also the three mile island incident on US soil that had a 10 mile fallout radius.

I would hope that US has stockpiles of potassium iodine on hand for a crisis.

I am just trying to use logic so I don't freak myself out and I thought if I shared my logic that it might help someone else stay calm. I also looked where the nearest nuclear power plant is if there was another earthquake here and two are near San Luis Obispo.

After talking with Travis last night, and doing more research we learned/read much of what you posted here as well.

We have the San O plant about 35 minutes north of us. So that worry's us. But it's even more concerning for my family who is about 10-15 minutes away from it. :( PRAYING we never have to worry about it though.

[Luckylove]

I feel that doing SOMETHING to prepare my family is a lot better and more respectful to what they're going through than sitting on my couch each night eating ice cream while watching all of the news coverage, because I personally cannot do anything for them directly. I don't imagine any of the Japanese would be upset at people in other countries taking precautions to keep our families even slightly safer from such tragedies, even if we can't do much, and even if an event like this is a "what if".

Our good friends who own Myles Ahead Fitness in Cotati are collecting care packages this week to send over. I will post another thread with details on what the packages should consist of and where to drop them off. I'm not at home but will post when I get there just in case someone is looking for a donation location.

[Kellie_MO5]

I'm not going to worry about the iodine tablets/shots unless a catastophe like that happened a LOT closer to home. As far as what we'd do if it does start to come over here in harmful amounts, we're prepared. We have our bug out bin together, a 4wd truck and a plan ;) We have a few places east we can go. My biggest concern would be getting everyone together to go anywhere to start with. Matt is currently working in San Fran, so him getting here would be an ordeal in itself, though I'm sure I could manage kid collection of anything happens during the school day.

[MamaLaura]

There is a lot we can do for Japan. Many organizations are seeking donations to assist Japan right now. Monetary and goods.

A lot that may be able to be done in general, but when you're living on less than $600 a month on TANF, you cannot afford to give to other countries. I'm doing what I can for my daughter and I, and that isn't much, but it's all that I can do.

[wyattsmama]

Just heard this on the news and thought you ladies might find it interesting. Berkeley's head of nuclear science (or something like that) was talking about how we really don't need to fear because of how far we are. The likelihood that anything will reach us is very small. He also recommended against taking any iodine. They said the chance of having a very bad allergic reaction to it is greater than the chance that even if a smaller amount of radiation did reach us, that it would do damage. I can't figure out a good way to say that. Basically the threat of damage from the iodine is greter than the threat of damage from the radiation.

[CrystalD]

We don't have cable so I am only getting updated in here and the Internet so please excuse my ignorance.

At this point the amount of radiation will not harm us What if there is a melt down then what happens? How much will make it to the US?

[howardvm]

I was just thinking, what the heck motivates those workers to keep working on the Fukushima plant? Thank God they keep working. But I mean you know radiation levels are already elevated, now you have to go in and continue to try to repair this reactor. What keeps you motivated to keep going in and not flee for safety with your family? If it were me (though can't imagine I would ever get a job at a nuclear power facility), I just don't know how I could keep myself going into work on this thing, knowing that I am constantly exposing myself to all of this radiation and am most likely going to get cancer or die or radiation sickness or something.

[Brookepanda]

I was just thinking, what the heck motivates those workers to keep working on the Fukushima plant? Thank God they keep working. But I mean you know radiation levels are already elevated, now you have to go in and continue to try to repair this reactor. What keeps you motivated to keep going in and not flee for safety with your family? If it were me (though can't imagine I would ever get a job at a nuclear power facility), I just don't know how I could keep myself going into work on this thing, knowing that I am constantly exposing myself to all of this radiation and am most likely going to get cancer or die or radiation sickness or something.

I have been thinking about that today too, and my only logical thoughts come back to the fact that these people have to *know* what they are doing to themselves, but they are trying to protect their fellow man.....They are basically sacrificing themselves (their health) for the greater good....

[surmick]

I know I am glad that they are there! They make movies about those types of people.

[MamaLaura]

I have been thinking about that today too, and my only logical thoughts come back to the fact that these people have to *know* what they are doing to themselves, but they are trying to protect their fellow man.....They are basically sacrificing themselves (their health) for the greater good....

:yeah

So respectable and selfless.

[floridamom]

I have been thinking about that today too, and my only logical thoughts come back to the fact that these people have to *know* what they are doing to themselves, but they are trying to protect their fellow man.....They are basically sacrificing themselves (their health) for the greater good....


ITA. They have to know how important this job is. :(

[howardvm]

Elijah just woke up so I missed part of it, but on CNN they are saying the Prime Minister is holding a press conference saying they have suspended operations at Fukushima??????

[meeg124]

I just read that online that they have suspended operations because the radiation leak is too great and it's unsafe for the workers.

[Brookepanda]

The aftershocks are what are *crazy* to me....the aftershocks are so powerful...just another tonight reported at 6.2....madness!

[surmick]

This is not good.

[MamaLaura]

The aftershocks are what are *crazy* to me....the aftershocks are so powerful...just another tonight reported at 6.2....madness!

:yeah They've had HUNDREDS of aftershocks!

[howardvm]

See this morning that the workers were called back, but am now watching Pinky Dinky Doo so will have to catch up on CNN later (or online I guess).

[meeg124]

See this morning that the workers were called back, but am now watching Pinky Dinky Doo so will have to catch up on CNN later (or online I guess).

Pinky Dinky Doo isn't giving nuclear updates? What good is she??

[howardvm]

Pinky Dinky Doo isn't giving nuclear updates? What good is she??

:lol The nerve!

[surmick]

I even went to the News report on Sprout and they had some kid that learned to ride his bike! All that got me was a little girl that know wants a freaking bike! :giggle

[wyattsmama]

I even went to the News report on Sprout and they had some kid that learned to ride his bike! All that got me was a little girl that know wants a freaking bike! :giggle

Darn GiANT didn't have any better news for us?

[Luckylove]

Experts: Why US wont feel health effects from Japan

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/16/experts-u-s-wont-feel-health-effects-from-japan/?hpt=T2

[surmick]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/16/science/plume-graphic.html?ref=science

Shows you the path but states that "at worst, would have extremely minor health consequences in the United States. " not sure what they consider minor.

[mommanat]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/16/science/plume-graphic.html?ref=science

Shows you the path but states that "at worst, would have extremely minor health consequences in the United States. " not sure what they consider minor.

Oh wow, so, it's "here" (in CA) right now in a small percentage.

[Lorah]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/16/science/plume-graphic.html?ref=science

Shows you the path but states that "at worst, would have extremely minor health consequences in the United States. " not sure what they consider minor.

:yeah

I basically saw this info this morning also... and I'm seriously wondering WTF are "minor health consequences"???? Come on people, can't we just get some straight info. I'm tired of the stupid games already. Thanks.

[Lorah]

San Diego news:Radioactive Plume from Japan Reaches Southern California Friday; Not Expected to be Harmful
http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/story/Radioactive-Plume-from-Japan-Reaches-Southern/Bwtbc82QsE-cbWqKEq7kMQ.cspx


One does wonder..... how can you say Radioactive Plume from Japan Reaches Southern California Friday...AND.... Not Expected to be Harmful in the same sentence?!?! Hmmmmmm

[Lorah]

From another article.... "United Nations scientists say it won't be dangerous (to Southern California), but they do expect it to cross into Utah, Nevada and Arizona."

[Lorah]

Pretty sure I'm just being a shit disturber right now.... :rolleyes

Honestly, after reading dozens and dozens of reports and statistics, etc. I'm not worried.... at this point anyway.... There seems to be no cause for any concern. NO need to do anything really..... at least at THIS point.

I'm actually finding all the information interesting.

I do wonder what we will find in years to come how this affected everything though.

[wyattsmama]

When you think about it we're exposed to small amounts of radiation every single day and we haven't been worse for the wear at least in the short term. I'm sure in the long run it will be linked as yet another cause for rising amounts of cancer or something like that, but it seems like everything these days leads to something potentially harmful.

[Lorah]

Oh for sure..... how often do we just allow xrays of our HEADS at the dentist??!?! well,not me....but many people have no problem with that.... way more risk with that.

[howardvm]

I've thought about Elijah. In the hospital he had an xray every single day. And then its funny when we went to the ER at Kaiser this last time before they transported him back to UCSF, they didn't want to do an xray there because of radiation, but UCSF has no problem doing them everyday. Poor kid has had so much radiation, and it does scare me, but I don't really have a choice in the matter when it comes to his xrays because those are so important in determining if he's having heart failure...but it freaks me out all of the time.

[Lorah]

I've thought about Elijah. In the hospital he had an xray every single day. And then its funny when we went to the ER at Kaiser this last time before they transported him back to UCSF, they didn't want to do an xray there because of radiation, but UCSF has no problem doing them everyday. Poor kid has had so much radiation, and it does scare me, but I don't really have a choice in the matter when it comes to his xrays because those are so important in determining if he's having heart failure...but it freaks me out all of the time.

That would freak me out too!
WHen I was younger I got SO MANY Xrays and CTscans and a few MRIs too. Thinking back on that.... oh my!

But the thing is with xrays for stuff like that.... is this way you can help him have a LONG life! Yeah, radiation is bad.....but then it would be worse to have his heart not working correctly! I'd worry, yes, but HANDS DOWN, I'd be doing the same thing you have been doing!

And then there's the whole radiation being good too you know... to help fight cancers!

Soooo interesting how it all works huh.

[surmick]

It is one of the reasons that they space my moms tests so far apart. They don't want the scans to detect her cancer to GIVE her cancer!

[brookiesmom]

Dont they say waves of radiation come off the microwave too while something is being cooked and not to stand in front of it while on?.

[Lorah]

Dont they say waves of radiation come off the microwave too while something is being cooked and not to stand in front of it while on?.

yep!

and tube TVs and old computer monitors too.


One theory why I was born with over 50 capillary hemangeomas (strawberry birthmarks) was that my mom worked in an assisted living home making heated microwave meals all day long for the people..... she always stood right there as it was belly high heating the foods..... the idea is that it really messed with my developing cells.

Each of my siblings have fewer than I do....and my mom worked fewer hours each pregnancy.... until my youngest brother when she didnt work there.... and guess what..... he doesnt have any!

[ladybish]

I'm not really stressed about myself or the girls, but I wonder what their "low levels" of radiation really mean, and how it'll affect a developing fetus, especially one less than 15 weeks gestation.

[ladybish]

"After a few weeks into the pregnancy, the earliest traces of organs begin to develop. According to the CDC, exposure between weeks 2 and 15 is most dangerous, and can result in birth defects, brain damage and stunted growth. But it would take a dose of radiation above the equivalent of about 500 chest x-rays to raise the risk of birth defects or brain problems, the CDC says. Below that, the only elevated risk is a slightly higher risk of cancer later in life — something like an increase of two percentage points above the normal expected risk of about 40% to 50%.

After the 16th week of pregnancy, radiation exposure is unlikely to produce the same kind of problems, unless the dose is equivalent to about 5,000 chest x-rays, the CDC says. And after 26 weeks, the fetus “is no more sensitive to the effects of radiation than are newborns,” with birth defects unlikely and “only a slight increase in the risk of having cancer later in life expected,” the CDC says. But very high doses of radiation would have the same ill effects as they would on a baby."

[howardvm]

That would freak me out too!
WHen I was younger I got SO MANY Xrays and CTscans and a few MRIs too. Thinking back on that.... oh my!

But the thing is with xrays for stuff like that.... is this way you can help him have a LONG life! Yeah, radiation is bad.....but then it would be worse to have his heart not working correctly! I'd worry, yes, but HANDS DOWN, I'd be doing the same thing you have been doing!

And then there's the whole radiation being good too you know... to help fight cancers!

Soooo interesting how it all works huh.

I know, its crazy! Some radiation causes cancer, another helps it. Don't quite get it all!

[howardvm]

"After a few weeks into the pregnancy, the earliest traces of organs begin to develop. According to the CDC, exposure between weeks 2 and 15 is most dangerous, and can result in birth defects, brain damage and stunted growth. But it would take a dose of radiation above the equivalent of about 500 chest x-rays to raise the risk of birth defects or brain problems, the CDC says. Below that, the only elevated risk is a slightly higher risk of cancer later in life — something like an increase of two percentage points above the normal expected risk of about 40% to 50%.

After the 16th week of pregnancy, radiation exposure is unlikely to produce the same kind of problems, unless the dose is equivalent to about 5,000 chest x-rays, the CDC says. And after 26 weeks, the fetus “is no more sensitive to the effects of radiation than are newborns,” with birth defects unlikely and “only a slight increase in the risk of having cancer later in life expected,” the CDC says. But very high doses of radiation would have the same ill effects as they would on a baby."

Sounds ok for now!

[Lynette]

The sun gives off radiation too and then you have irradiated foods which they say are safe but :dunno but the organ most susceptible to radiation is the thyroid which is why xray vests have that neck collar now. And cancer radiation isn't good, its just targeted to kill the cells that make up a tumor but you still feel like crap and your thyroid could still end up damaged.

At the end of the day, we never really know what hurts us or not. Experts give their best guesses and often we don't find out until years later, "Uhhh.....you know that medicine/procedure/exposure that we said was safe? About that....." such as asbestos, lead paint, groundwater contamination, too many medicines to out, DDT, etc. I just saw a news story about how things were adapting and there was life at Chernobyl which the experts thought would just be lifeless for decades longer so all they can do is make an educated guess. Then they balance that out with the effects of widespread panic and what that would do to safety, the economy, etc. and they very well could lying to us right now or truly think we will be ok...and be right or wrong :dunno

How's that for shit disturbing Lorah? :D

[Lorah]

The sun gives off radiation too and then you have irradiated foods which they say are safe but :dunno but the organ most susceptible to radiation is the thyroid which is why xray vests have that neck collar now. And cancer radiation isn't good, its just targeted to kill the cells that make up a tumor but you still feel like crap and your thyroid could still end up damaged.

At the end of the day, we never really know what hurts us or not. Experts give their best guesses and often we don't find out until years later, "Uhhh.....you know that medicine/procedure/exposure that we said was safe? About that....." such as asbestos, lead paint, groundwater contamination, too many medicines to out, DDT, etc. I just saw a news story about how things were adapting and there was life at Chernobyl which the experts thought would just be lifeless for decades longer so all they can do is make an educated guess. Then they balance that out with the effects of widespread panic and what that would do to safety, the economy, etc. and they very well could lying to us right now or truly think we will be ok...and be right or wrong :dunno

How's that for shit disturbing Lorah? :D

:clap

Well done! Well done! :giggle

Exactly my thoughts. :thumb

And the not really knowing until years down the road thing is EXACTLY why when today at N's appointment I said "um no thank you we will wait!" when told there was a NEW (as in the last 18 months) pneumoniacoccal (sp?) vaccine that now covers 13 strains not just 7.... r i g h t like i'm going to allow my kid to be the guinea pig.... no thank you... that older vaccine that covered 7 strains for the last many many years she already got ...and all the boosters too even.....I will wait on the one that's not even as old as she is. :thumb

[Lorah]

I saw this:

http://www.sandiego6.com/news/national/story/Source-Nuclear-fallout-reaches-U-S/q_6bqYVAw0mqsuueS3XDWg.cspx

This morning....

Gotta love that there are NO numbers, NO statistics, NO sources really cites, NO names, etc. LOVE how this gets published as news.... Maybe i'll call in myself and say I'm from some special agency, but ask that my name not be given because we dont publish out data, and just tell them some sort of silly somethingerother. :lol

[mommanat]

Then they balance that out with the effects of widespread panic and what that would do to safety, the economy, etc. and they very well could lying to us right now or truly think we will be ok...and be right or wrong :dunno



I was thinking about the whole economy thing and OF COURSE California wouldn't want to admit it even if we were getting hit with "dangerous" levels of radiation contamination, can you even imagine what that would do to the agricultural industry?! It would be a disaster for the state's economy if people stopped eating/drinking things we grow here and export, it would pretty much cripple the state. Lovely thought I know.

[Lorah]

I was thinking about the whole economy thing and OF COURSE California wouldn't want to admit it even if we were getting hit with "dangerous" levels of radiation contamination, can you even imagine what that would do to the agricultural industry?! It would be a disaster for the state's economy if people stopped eating/drinking things we grow here and export, it would pretty much cripple the state. Lovely thought I know.

was just thinking that too.

[Lynette]

I was thinking about the whole economy thing and OF COURSE California wouldn't want to admit it even if we were getting hit with "dangerous" levels of radiation contamination, can you even imagine what that would do to the agricultural industry?! It would be a disaster for the state's economy if people stopped eating/drinking things we grow here and export, it would pretty much cripple the state. Lovely thought I know.

Or the tourism industry or property values or if everyone just stopped working and left? California did (not sure if it still does with the economy the way it is) have the 6th largest economy in the world, larger than most independant countries and we are just one state so imagine what would happen to the entire world's economy if they thought California was now glowing in the dark??

[surmick]

Well now glowing in the dark sounds kind of cool. At least then Amelia would not be able to hide behind the couch and scare me like she likes to do...silly kid.

[howardvm]

Well now glowing in the dark sounds kind of cool. At least then Amelia would not be able to hide behind the couch and scare me like she likes to do...silly kid.

:lol Caitlin wants to glow! She loves the girl in Mosters vs Aliens when she starts glowing green at her wedding :lol

[Lorah]

So, not sure when you all up North are getting the front side of the radioactive air... but we had ours come in overnight...."they" are saying it's even less than they originally suspected....

Which I have to say is ever so silly! It's not just arriving here on a plane or bus or something.... it's in a steady stream flowing over here.... it's like a ribbon of continuous radiation spiked air that will have heavier and lighter concentrations based on what has been released...

And basically since it took a week to get here, it will continue for about a week after all the leakage over there has ceased.

And of course today wouldn't be too bad... DUH, because that was what leaked on the first day there! So fast forward to their worst day... what was it.... about day 3 that it started to get really bad.... well, so in about 3 days our levels will also go up.....

It's like the dumb media coverage of the Tsunami... they kept saying it will hit us here at 8:41am... so everyone flocked to the beach (morons :rolleyes) and at about 8:45 everyone left thinking "it" was over.... when really that's when the first effects would have hit our shores, but really it continued for hours and hours....

anyway....
So what I was originally going to say... was we were outside in the garden...and Travis started sneezing and having a horrible allergy attack and says "I think I'm really allergic to the radioactive air" :giggle

Which was only followed by about half hour of my breathing the air right after opening the window and saying...."man this radioactive air smells so fresh today" :rolleyes


In all seriousness, I really do pray we dont ever need to worry about this. For now, and seeing how things are at the moment, I'm alright, but knowing the worst of it hasn't reached us....I'm still skeptical.

[Lorah]

Rainfall is expected over California this weekend, and it is likely that the rain will wash radioactive particles out of the air to the surface in quantities that will be detectable at several locations. I want to strongly emphasize that the radioactivity from Japan arriving over the U.S. over the next few days poses absolutely no threat to human health, and is present in only miniscule quantities.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html

Pretty informational stuff from weather underground.