Fukushima radiation alarms doctors

[marmar]

Scientists and doctors are calling for a new national policy in Japan that mandates the testing of food, soil, water, and the air for radioactivity still being emitted from Fukushima's heavily damaged Daiichi nuclear power plant.

"How much radioactive materials have been released from the plant?" asked Dr Tatsuhiko Kodama, a professor at the Research Centre for Advanced Science and Technology and Director of the University of Tokyo's Radioisotope Centre, in a July 27 speech to the Committee of Health, Labour and Welfare at Japan's House of Representatives.

"The government and TEPCO have not reported the total amount of the released radioactivity yet," said Kodama, who believes things are far worse than even the recent detection of extremely high radiation levels at the plant.

There is widespread concern in Japan about a general lack of government monitoring for radiation, which has caused people to begin their own independent monitoring, which are also finding disturbingly high levels of radiation. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/08/201181665921711896.html

[DCKit]

1. I thought the rest of the headline was going to be "in the American West". nt

[Denninmi]

2. And, based on what is reported here, its Fuku What???

Don't hear a peep about this important world event. We do, however, get to hear all of the trivial details of the upcoming Kardashian weeding, which disgusts me, or what Princess Kate had for dinner, or Charlie's latest antics. I guess I have my priorities wrong.

Cesium 137 ... it's nutritious and delicious!

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Here is story that melted core may be moving underground:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1765552

[valerief]

4. Damn! 29 atomic bombs!

According to Dr Kodama, the total amount of radiation released over a period of more than five months from the ongoing Fukushima nuclear disaster is the equivalent to more than 29 "Hiroshima-type atomic bombs" and the amount of uranium released "is equivalent to 20" Hiroshima bombs.