I have read so many people in the news talking about the Japanese nuclear emergency that my brain is starting to fog over. While the Japanese government is telling everyone to not worry, other nuclear experts are saying that the situation is quite serious indeed. So what is the real story?
I have selected two resources that provide the best overview of the radiation threat from the Japan nuclear crisis. The first article is written by Dr. Ira Hefland.
“As the radioactive contamination of food, water, and soil in Fukushima, Japan worsens, the media is continuously reassuring us that these levels are “safe.” But there is no safe level of radiation…The press is reporting that 100 millisieverts (mSv) is the lowest dose that increases cancer risks. This simply isn’t true. According to the NAS, if you are exposed to a dose of 100 mSv, you have a one in 100 chance of getting cancer, but a dose of 10 mSv still gives you a one in 1,000 chance of getting cancer, and a dose of 1 mSv gives you a one in 10,000 risk.”
Dr. Hefland also urges us to consider four main points…
“First, the total dose is the most important factor, not the dose per hour…
Second, there’s a big difference between external and internal radiation…
Further, if you ingest radioactive particles, the dose isn’t spread evenly over your entire body. It concentrates where the particles lodge…
Finally, it makes a big difference who gets irradiated. Children are much more vulnerable than adults…”
I encourage you to read the entire article. Also, read this PDF from the “Physicians for Social Responsibility”. Both of these articles will give you a great overview of the current situation and how it may after the health of your family.
Leave a Reply