Still 12 μSv/h detected in Minamisoma city

On 6/2/2015, a Japanese citizen posted his radiation test video on Youtube. The measurement was implemented on the same day.

This person has been posting his measurement videos since 2 years ago.

The location is Haramachi-ku, Minamisoma city (map attached below). The radiation level was 1.1 μSv/h at about 1m above the ground (estimated) but it jumps up to over 12 μSv/h on the ground.

A city nursery school is only 200m from the measurement place. It is not known if the school is still open.

According to the municipal government, 2 of 5 public nursery schools are still open and 5 of 8 public kindergartens are also still open.

About 50,000 of 72,000 residents are still living in Minamisoma city. Financial institutions are in the normal operation.

From the live monitoring data of NRA (Nuclear Regulation Authority), the radiation level is only 0.093 μSv/h (50cm from the ground) at a near elementary school, where is approx. 1km from the measuring point.
http://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/portal/26-3.html

http://www.city.minamisoma.lg.jp/index.cfm/10,853,58,html

http://radioactivity.nsr.go.jp/map/ja/area2.html

June 5, 2015 - Posted by dunrenard | Japan | Fukushima continuing, Fukushima Radiation

2 Comments »

This 12 microsieverts per hour is 105 mSv per year, which is over 100 x the maximum “recommended” by the ICRP and 5 x the yearly max average recommended for nuclear workers . According to the US National Academy of Sciences BEIR report, out of a population of 100,000, this would mean that one out of one hundred would probably get cancer or leukemia from this dose. The number is higher for women and children. For unborn children 10 mSv poses a serious risk of later cancer. Even pregnant nuclear workers are only allowed 1 mSv by the ICRP which is probably too much. In some cases risk is higher for males (I think leukemia). The risk is different for Japanese but this should give people some sense of the serious repercussions of this amount. The BEIR report may be obtained or read online for free. Interesting that they tell people to test one meter above the ground.
BEIR report is criticized by many as underestimating risk and by the nuclear industry as overstating risk because BEIR adheres to the no-safe-dose linear concept where risk increases with dose.

Comment by miningawareness | June 5, 2015 | Reply
I just realized that maybe it’s not clear in my comment above that the one out of hundred is for one year of 100 mSv. After 10 years it is 10 out of one hundred and on up higher each year. This would be from the external radiation only and excludes risks from food and water and medical exposures. It excludes previous exposures. Over a lifetime it is pretty much a guarantee of cancer or leukemia considering these other factors, especially for women and children.

Comment by miningawareness | June 5, 2015 | Reply