Tuesday, August 16, 2011

FUKUSHIMA RADIATION IN SAN DIEGO



The actual research article and abstract can be found here:

Evidence of neutron leakage at the Fukushima nuclear plant from measurements of radioactive 35S in California  PNAS 2011 ; published ahead of print August 15, 2011,
 
Antra Priyadarshi, Gerardo Dominguez, and Mark H. Thiemens1

Abstract
A recent earthquake and the subsequent tsunami have extensively damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant, releasing harmful radiation into the environment. Despite the obvious implication for human health and the surrounding ecology, there are no quantitative estimates of the neutron flux leakage during the weeks following the earthquake. Here, using measurements of radioactive 35S contained in sulfate aerosols and SO2 gas at a coastal site in La Jolla, California, we show that nearly 4 × 1011 neutrons per m2 leaked at the Fukushima nuclear power plant before March 20, 2011. A significantly higher activity as measured on March 28 is in accord with neutrons escaping the reactor core and being absorbed by the coolant seawater 35Cl to produce 35S by a (n, p) reaction. Once produced, 35S oxidizes to and and was then transported to Southern California due to the presence of strong prevailing westerly winds at this time. Based on a moving box model, we show that the observed activity enhancement in is compatible with long-range transport of the radiation plume from Fukushima. Our model predicts that , the concentration in the marine boundary layer at Fukushima, was approximately 2 × 105 atoms per m3, which is approximately 365 times above expected natural concentrations. These measurements and model calculations imply that approximately 0.7% of the total radioactive sulfate present at the marine boundary layer at Fukushima reached Southern California as a result of the trans-Pacific transport.


MAJIA HERE: I RECOMMEND READING POTRBLOG'S REACTION TO THIS STUDY
http://www.potrblog.com/
Tuesday, August 16, 2011

[EXCERPTED] Thanks to a tip, I was directed to the following abstract from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences "Evidence of neutron leakage at the Fukushima nuclear plant from measurements of radioactive 35S in California"

The abstract shows that radioactive sulfur off-gassing from the SURFACE of the Pacific Ocean around Fukushima reached coastal La Jolla, California on March 28, 2011. Their calculations indicate that roughly 1% of the Fukushima radioactive contamination rapidly reached La Jolla; and that seems to be the focus of their analysis.

Not having yet seen the full paper, I suspect it will be easy to blow holes in their transport model and calculations. HOWEVER, that possibility pales in comparison to their actual detection indicating that SURFACE LEVEL radioactive contamination of the Pacific ocean was rapidly transported several thousand miles to California.

That information is EXCEEDINGLY concerning given the large amount of radioactive materials are still spewing into the ocean from Fukushima. The data portends the rapid uptake and spread of radioactivity into both the aquatic and avian food chains.

Improved environmental risk data may be achievable by using the study's data to extrapolate ocean/atmosphere boundary layer radioactivity spread across known fishing and migration routes. The resulting data would provide location data to sample plankton uptake of radioactive sulfur, and as a result possibly confirm the study's back calculations of neutron leakage at Fukushima.... "














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