Radioactive strontium found on Yokohama condo rooftop
YOKOHAMA —
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology said Wednesday that radioactive strontium 90 has been found in sediment on the roof of a condominium in Yokohama.
According to a TBS report, the level of radioactive strontium was 195 becquerels, which is 95 becquerels per kilogram above the government standard.
This is the first time that radioactive strontium with a level higher than the government benchmark has been found so far from the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, TBS reported.
Yokohama is about 250 kilometers from the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Strontium 90 is a radioactive isotope of strontium, with a half-life of 28.8 years. Its presence in bones can cause bone cancer, cancer of nearby tissues and leukemia.
The science ministry said it has not yet determined where the strontium in the sediment came from.
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44 Comments
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1
goinggoinggone
So when is it time for the government to admit that if you choose to live in NE Japan you have an increased risk of cancer and birth defects?
-1
Utrack
Wind and rain is spreading the radiation, be careful folks cause I fear there may not be a way to halt the spreading of the radiation
2
NetNinja
Kohoku area. That means Shin-Yokohama. Next time you go shopping at IKEA there you're sure to be radiated.
J-Govt never wanted to see a mass exodus. The country would have been in chaos. They had to lie in order to control you.
4
JapanGal
Put orange and white cones around it and it will be safe.
1
badmigraine
Let's think of all the things we can say about this discovery:
"No harm to humans has been detected".
"There is no evidence of any harmful exposure."
"We have not detected elevated strontium levels anywhere else in Yokohama".
"The level detected is comparable to background levels of strontium and is of no special concern."
-2
NeverSubmit
Here's what happened...
The guy drove up to the edge of the Fukushima evacuation zone and tossed some dirt in the trunk of this car.
He then spread the dirt on his rooftop.
Now he's going to claim reduced property values and mental suffering against TEPCO.
Or maybe he's legit. Who knows. But the lab would be smart to test if the sediment is actual dirt that would be expected on an apartment rooftop.
5
Christina O'Neill
Dont know where the radioactive strontium came from says Science Ministry, how about taking a wild guess
4
pawatan
Well you don't for the most part. Look at reputable health sources - it would take exposure to a lot more than this amount of strontium for a long while before you would see an increased risk of cancers and birth defects. And don't trust the government on that, go look at independent sources.
2
pawatan
Of course nobody wants ANY exposure to radioactive materials above legal limits, myself included for sure.
0
ExportExpert
It's all over the place, the roof of one Yokohama building is not the only place.
If you find this hard to deal with then you should have left within the first week of the disaster, too late now so you might as well just grin and bare it.
1
Darren Brannan
Actually one of the assemblymen in Yokohama suggested just that..that the Strontium had somehow been brought back from Fukushima on purpose.I won't say that that is impossible because the Yakuza love little scams like that..but I can't see any normal person wanting that kinda stuff on his roof.The question does beg to be asked why he sent the samples off to be tested in the first place.We have to assume he has a geiger counter that was going crazy. The news was broken by an independent journalist who was then kept out of the official conference to the press club.Slap on the hand.
0
kurisupisu
Maybe the ministry should be checking other roofs?
My wild guess is that radiation would be found there too.
It is spreading and all around........
On a windy day it will blow off the roof and circulate through the air landing on and being ingested by us It will be taken into our homes on our clothes and find its way into cracks in the tatami upon which you may sleep and be irradiated at night whilst sleeping
The reactors are still leaking and discharging radioactive products-it is still ongoing
Japan is in trouble!
3
Riffraff
Nobody is dying….nobody is showing symptoms…why are you concerned?…..what is there to worry about? The nice thing about radiation is it takes a long time for the cancer, birth defects and related illnesses to show up in the general population. By that time the people will have drunk enough of the government sponsored Cool-Aid to have forgotten the initial concern. Sure there may be a new round of concern from the public when the symptoms do start to become apparent, but by then there will be another generation of politicians in power to deal with it.
1
Utrack
Apologies Moderator: In future I will try to convey what information I would like to share on a topic with a minimum of cut and paste Excerpts from the sources of said information.
For me to understand Strontium-90, I had to break the element down to neutrons and protons. Each atom consists of neutron radiation and protons aproximately 38 protons an 52 neutrons. The neutron radiation in the Strontium-90 is the kicker it penetrates deeply past lead so the human body is just like air we can easily absorb strontium-90 or and other type of element that consists of neutron radiation.
I don't think anyone would knowingly handle contaminated soil. This stuff is really serious.
0
jforce
I think we need to start posting jobs outside of Japan in these comment boxes.
0
Riffraff
Rooftops are a great place for airborne particles to settle and remain relatively undisturbed and undetected. There is another story today on JT about a hot spot that was caused by water dripping from a roof. Does make one wonder just how much stuff is being deposited and where.
1
techall
Maybe somebody just forgot to bring in their strontium after playing with it on the roof.
3
tokyokawasaki
So based on all the floating cesium and strontium in the air, is it advisable to hang your clothes inside to dry, rather than leaving them outside on the balcony all day acting as a radiation collection device?
-3
It"S ME
tokyokawaski.
Bad post. Unless you got a major filtration system in your home(like a level 3 lab) the air outside is the same as inside.
Might be time to pack your bags?. ;)
0
It"S ME
Truth facts.
Anyone that didn't leave soon after 3/11 has been exposed(we don't know the degree, etc). Leaving now won't change that fact nor reduce that existing exposure.
Time to come to realise the facts and stop panicking, IMO, and deal with the data that we know off.
2
smithinjapan
"The science ministry said it has not yet determined where the strontium in the sediment came from."
Hmmm... I wonder...
0
It"S ME
Sure, because Strontium is ONLY generated inside a Nuclear plant and can ONLY come from one source?
0
tokyokawasaki
Probably came from all the "Honestly it's SAFE" food that has been shipped down from Tohoku and consumed.
3
Darren Brannan
there were two samples.One was the original sample provided by the resident I think.This article is referring to that sample which had a combined cesium isotope count of 63,434 Bq/KG in addition to the Strontium. The other sample taken by Yokohama city, supposedly showed higher cesium. The tests for Strontium in Japan have only been available recently and the cost is nearly 70,000 yen per test.Not cheap! An assemblyman from Yokohama City said on his blog today that the local housing near this area (on the US base) was practically empty.Are they on rotation?
1
Spidapig24
It"S ME
Sorry to rain on your parade there but your statements are ridiculous.
Actually yes that is correct.
You do realize and a little check would have showed you Strontium-90 (which is what was found) is a non naturally occurring element that is formed through nuclear fission.
-2
It"S ME
Yeah, sure.
Ever checked the total amount of test-reactors inside most major cities that can expel it. You might get a surprise as most Universities got one of those.
Lots of reactors in japan and many way closer than fukushima where it could come from. Scared now?
0
It"S ME
Until we can compare pre-3/11 levels(when little to no testing happened) we know very little. Same as for any location overseas.
Old proverb. The time when guards are on their most vigilant is after an attack and they will come up with a lot of data. Use the ol noggin I say.
Who checked that location for the last 5, 10, 20yrs?
0
Spidapig24
It"S ME
Yeah and how many of them have had a meltdown lately? Just out of curiosity?
Scared nope, maybe once l stop laughing at the comment you made. What was it again? Oh thats right "Sure, because Strontium is ONLY generated inside a Nuclear plant and can ONLY come from one source?"
As pointed out yes Strontium of this type can only come from a nuclear reaction. Not nature as you then went on to claim.
EPIC FAIL there...
-3
It"S ME
Nothing erroneous here.
The US claimed they found radioactive stuff that they traced to fukushima, etc months ago. All that stuff got a signature similar to DNA, so if it can't be identified .... Take from that what you want.
Personally In don't believe in the Illuminati, etc conspiracies that are rampant here and on the Net.
I take a way more down to earth approach. Where I want clarification of statements and that includes online posters that claim X but never quote how they got to X measurements, what equipment, etc was used.
I don't see any poster here more reliable/credible than ANY goverment in their statements/facts. Call me paranoid.
1
It"S ME
To give a further point.
How do I know that the meat and sausages I buy from TMG, etc are truly imported and not repackaged/processed local stuff. It is all about trust. :)
No slight on him as I trust him and order often as we love his stuff.
0
Spidapig24
It"S ME
Ya think? Seriously.
First you say claim the strontium can be generated outside of a nuclear plant. WRONG, it is the product of nuclear fission reaction. As for the statement about University reactors, there are a total of 3 operating in the whole country. Also Strontium - 90 is mainly found in spent fuel and radioactive waste and fallout from tests or accidents. Any bells ringing there, maybe the plant that went kaboom.
Then you compare what is on the roof to a village in Scotland where natural strontium is mined. Wrong again. Natural strontium in non toxic non radioactive. So the comparison between radioactive strontium - 90 and non radioactive natural strontium is what exactly?
And you talk about credibility. Maybe check facts before posting would be suggested
Sure, because Strontium is ONLY generated inside a Nuclear plant and can ONLY come from one source?
The US claimed they found radioactive stuff that they traced to fukushima, etc months ago. All that stuff got a signature similar to DNA, so if it can't be identified .... Take from that what you want.
Personally In don't believe in the Illuminati, etc conspiracies that are rampant here and on the Net.
I take a way more down to earth approach. Where I want clarification of statements and that includes online posters that claim X but never quote how they got to X measurements, what equipment, etc was used.
I don't see any poster here more reliable/credible than ANY goverment in their statements/facts. Call me paranoid.
0
Charles M Burns
"We have not detected elevated strontium levels anywhere else in Yokohama".
Umm, you gotta test it to identify it. The Government hasn't even tested for Strontium in Tokyo, perhaps they are afraid to ask a question that they can't stand the answer to.
0
Samantha Zoe Aso
This would make a great comedy movie if it wasn't involving real people with real risks involved. I don't even know why I register any surprise anymore as each new 'titbit' unfolds. Japan's future is looking even more brighter.....
0
Heda_Madness
90Sr is a product of nuclear fission. It is present in significant amount in spent nuclear fuel and in radioactive waste from nuclear reactors and in nuclear fallout from nuclear tests.
Which is not to say that this came from anywhere other than Fukushima but it would be incorrect to claim that it can only come from a nuclear reactor.
0
Spidapig24
Heda_Madness
You are correct with your statement, logic would say it came from Fukushima, but it could have came from a nuclear test and been sitting there for the last x many years.
However the other poster was also comparing and claiming it to be a natural element similar to what is found in the Scottish village he named. Which is what l was pointing out to be incorrect.
-2
It"S ME
And who claimed it could ONLY come from Fukushina. Try a mirror. As for the other side you are well aware of it, only 2 sites to JT.
0
Spidapig24
It"S ME
Actually tough guy were did l say it could only come from Fukushima.... Hey!
At least l know the difference between naturally occuring strontium and strontium - 90. OOPS.
Guess you didnt like getting picked up on that little fopaux
1
Doomed_To_Repeat_It
Just to clarify some matters: 90Sr is a beta(-) emitter, it decays with a half-life of the abovementioned 28pointsomething years to 90Y. Therefore, the human body is not like air, beta radiation does a pretty good job ionizing everything in its path. The upside: One can easily block it with e. g. lead shielding. As for the toxicity: This is a chemical effect, so it is not influenced by which isotopes are present. Basically, it messes with neurotransmitter release, you can consider it a neural toxin if applied in high enough doses. The main problem with 90Sr, though, is the fact that it tends to replace Calcium in bones - once it's in there, you cannot remove it by any known means.
2
oberst
may be bird droppings? Those critters do fly/migrate and shit.............................
0
Reinaert Albrecht
@johnygogogo Where are you now?
-1
Gilberto Nino Yanguas Mori
I am quite sad that every radioactive chemical detected in a place was somewhat always link to "Fukushima". Isn't that unfair?
Nuclear weapon testing can be a source of this phenomenon also and other factors in which science can only explain.
Don't you know guys that strontium 90 can be found in all human beings regardless of age and geographical location?
1
Reinaert Albrecht
@Gilberto
Sure, but not in those quantities...
-2
ssway
I suppose they will find that someone had been keeping bottles of Strontium on their rooftop? Sounds plausible, yes?
1
kurisupisu
The stuff on the roof has been incinerated and come down to settle -the stuff in Tokyo, that could be the J govt just screwing with y'all here .............
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