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Where to Find Reliable Information about Radioactivity from Fukushima
Wednesday, May 6th, 2015Find informed answers to your questions about radiation from Fukushima on the following websites:
InFORM (based in British Columbia)
Integrated Fukushima Ocean Radionuclide Monitoring (InFORM) Network:
A collaborative radiation monitoring network to determine and communicate environmental risks for Canada’s Pacific and Arctic Oceans from the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear accident.InFORM consists of a group of citizen scientists collecting water samples in coastal areas of British Columbia which they submit for testing to a lab at the University of Victoria and other international testing facilities.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
The world’s largest independent, not-for-profit ocean research and testing facility. Based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
The WHOI website is a great source of information regarding radioactivity from Fukushima.
Topics covered include:- I have a Geiger counter. Can I use it to detect radiation from Fukushima?
- Are there other ways to detect Fukushima radiation in the ocean?
- Where does radiation from Fukushima go once it enters the ocean?
- How far can radiation travel?
- Is radiation exposure from the ocean and beach a concern?
- How long is the radiation from Fukushima a risk to humans and the environment?
- What is the normal background level of radiation?
- How will the radioactive material released in Japan affect humans?
- What is the state of fisheries off Japan and along U.S. West Coast?
- Are fish such as tuna that might have been exposed to radiation from Fukushima safe to eat?
- Is debris washing ashore on the US/Canadian West Coast of concern?
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Concerns about Radiation from Fukushima in Our Waters
Wednesday, May 6th, 2015We continue to receive questions about possible radiation in our local water supply due to radiation from Fukushima. It is important to distinguish between air borne and ocean driven contaminants, and between inland and coastal waters.
No Detectable Radioactive Contamination from Fukushima in Our Tap Water Sources
Our tap water in Metro Vancouver comes from mountainous fresh water sources; open reservoirs that could be subject to air borne contamination. However, Metro Vancouver continues to test these tap water sources for radioactivity as well as for hundreds of other possible contaminants. The only radionuclides that continue to be observed in our water reservoirs at levels above the detection limit are those associated with the local erosion of mineral deposits, a natural activity typical of most areas on planet Earth.
Radiation from Fukushima Detected at Ucluelet Shoreline
Our coastal waters are a different story. Although the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami at Fukushima occurred more than 4 years ago, “massive amounts of radioactively contaminated water continue to flow into the Pacific Ocean.” The first North American shoreline sample testing positive for radiation from Fukushima was collected on our coastline at Ucluelet, BC on February 19, 2015.
Although current assessments anticipate minimal negative impact for British Columbia and North America, the situation calls for ongoing monitoring. Find out more about InFORM, the BC-based group of citizen scientists that is monitoring and reporting radiation from Fukushima in our coastal waters in collaboration with a lab at the University of Victoria, the internationally acclaimed testing facility at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Health Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and is funded by MEOPAR, a National Centre of Excellence. See our article about InFORM.
Updated December 22nd, 2015: Health Canada has just released (Dec 2015) a Summary Report on Fukushima Accident Contaminants in Canada (link to Health Canada, PDF available on page) and a technical report Special Environmental Radiation in Canada Report on Fukushima Accident Contaminants (links to PDF hosted by Fukushima InForm. For additional copies see instructions on Health Canada’s Summary Report page). Fukushima InForm has commented as follows (Dec 21st, 2015) regarding this report:
The Impact of the Fukushima on Canada: Health Canada Reports
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