Re: [tlug] Measuring radioactivity at TEPCO Fukushima plant

[Pier Fumagalli <pier@example.com>]

On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 04:30, Stephen J. Turnbull <stephen@example.com> wrote:
> Darren Cook writes:
>
>  > I noticed reports of radioactivity detected in Tokyo water [1], though
>  > still within safe limits apparently.
>
> "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."  That's not quite
> true here, but it was even less true when FDR said it.
>
> There is *always* radioactivity in water, from natural tritium if
> nothing else.  What has been detected is *somewhat* elevated levels.
> These levels have been detected because it's physically possible to do
> so, and reported because FUD sells newspapers.  They're entirely
> medically irrelevant (as Kalin's calculations demonstrate).  More
> relevant is the number of square cm of skin you expose when outdoors
> on a cloudy day, or breathing Tokyo air.  But reporting that doesn't
> sell newpapers.
>
> Please, *study* those calculations until you understand them.  If you
> don't do that, having a personal Geiger counter will do nothing except
> enable you to FUD yourself.

+1, well said!

    Pier