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Costly radiation remediation at Port Hope

Port Hope radiation: $464,615 spent to remediate $130,000 house thestar.com  October 05, 2012 PORT HOPE, ONT.—It started in the attic. Wally Davis wanted to build a room in the attic of his house. Since he lives in Port Hope, he couldn’t just go ahead and do it. He went to the Low Level Radioactive Waste Management Office, a federal agency, requested the file on his property and asked them to test for remnants of historic radioactive waste.

“There was contamination in the roof, on the floors, in the walls . . . everywhere in the house,” said Davis, 75, a retired Ontario Hydro employee.

In July 2011, Davis and his wife, Carole, were relocated to neighbouring Cobourg as agency staff started remediation work. The couple returned to their two-bedroom, 1,000-square-foot home this July and discovered that except for the outer walls, it had been essentially rebuilt.

“They did a superb job,” Davis said.

They did indeed. The waste management office spent $464,615 to clean up the house Davis bought a decade ago for $125,000 — or $130,000, he can’t remember.

“We didn’t have a clue how much they spent,” said Davis when the Star told him that almost a half-million dollars had been used to remediate his home.

“They didn’t tell us,” he said. “That is a lot of money.”The Davis home on Bruton St., in a leafy old part of town, is about two kilometres from the waterfront. It has a red-brick façade, an attached garage and a large front and back yard. There’s a shed in the back and a Canadian flag fluttering on a tall post.

Port Hope, the picture-pretty lakeside town about 110 kilometres east of Toronto, will soon see the biggest cleanup of historic radioactive waste in Canadian history. Fifty years of radium and uranium refining at the Cameco refinery, formerly Crown corporation Eldorado Nuclear Ltd., has left contamination spread around the town…. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1267186–port-hope-radiation-464-615-spent-to-remediate-130-000-house

October 5, 2012 Posted by | Canada, environment, Uranium | Leave a comment

Global warming causing rapid decline in Arctic sea ice

Norwegian Arctic Summers Warmest in 1,800 Years
Summer temperatures on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard in the High Arctic are now higher than during any time over the last 1,800 years, including a period of higher temperatures in the northern hemisphere known as the Medieval Warm Period, according to a new study. In an analysis of algae buried in deep lake sediments, a team of scientists calculated that summer temperatures in Svalbard since 1987 have been 2 to 2.5 degrees Celsius (3.6 to 4.5 degrees F) warmer than during the Medieval Warm Period, which lasted from roughly 950 to 1250 AD. Scientists say this year’s record declines in Arctic sea ice extent and volume are powerful evidence that the giant cap of ice at the top of the planet is on a trajectory to largely disappear in summer within a decade or two, with profound global consequences. http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/45024

October 1, 2012 Posted by | climate change, oceans | Leave a comment

Water use by nuclear power plants – another climate change problem

 Millstone shutdown is a sign of broader power problem caused by climate change, CT Mirror, September 24, 2012, By Jan Ellen Spiegel  …..   Water consumption   – some view raising the plant’s operating temperature as a Band-Aid for the real problem — the amount of water the nation’s 19,000 power generating units, including 104 nuclear ones, use. They consume 100 billion gallons a day — three times what cascades over Niagara Falls in the same time frame.

“U.S. power plants are at risk from not enough water due to situations like drought, too much water because of sea level rise and flooding, or water that is simply too warm,” said Steve Fleischli, acting director of the Natural Resources Defense Council‘s water and climate program. “From our perspective, what power plants can do to protect the grid is not rely so much on water.”

Most of the cooling water is returned to its source and then re-used, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which documents fresh- and saltwater use every five years. Since 1965 most water withdrawals have gone for thermo-electric power generation. In 2005 (2010 data is not available yet), that figure was 40 percent nationally.

But in Connecticut it’s 82 percent. Among freshwater withdrawals, 24 percent goes to power plants. Of the saltwater withdrawals here, 99 percent goes to power plants.

At Millstone, Unit 2 uses 450,000 gallons of water per minute, and Unit 3 uses twice that amount. Coal plants like that in Bridgeport, which also takes its water from Long Island Sound, withdraw nearly the same amount of water as nuclear plants per megawatt hour. Gas and oil plants — similar in their water needs — require less than nuclear and coal. Conventional plants, however, generally can use warmer water than nuclear plants because without radiation concerns, their safety systems are less critical…… http://www.ctmirror.org/story/17512/millstone-shutdown-sign-broader-water-power-conflicts-climate-change

 

October 1, 2012 Posted by | USA, water | 1 Comment

Mushrooms containing radioactive cesium sold in Western Japan

Cesium from mushroom made in Kyushu, sold in west coast of Japan
http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/09/cesium-from-mushroom-made-in-kyushu-sold-in-west-coast-of-japan/ by Mochizuki on September 30th, 2012 · According to the report of  Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, cesium was measured from mushroom made in Ohita prefecture, in Kyushu of western Japan. It was sold in Niigata prefecture, west coast of Japan.

Also, cesium was measured from mushroom made in Shizuoka prefecture, in central Japan. It was also sold in Niigata prefecture, west coast of Japan.
Sample 1
Product : Dried mushroom
Date : 9/24/2012
Cs137 : 5.9 Bq/Kg
Production : Ohita
Sample 2
Product : Dried mushroom
Date : 9/24/2012
Cs137 : 6.3 Bq/Kg
Production : Shizuoka

October 1, 2012 Posted by | environment, Japan | Leave a comment

Never mind the radioactive waste under the Arctic sea: Shell is keen to drill there

Shell still optimistic about Arctic drilling
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/breaking-news/shell-still-optimistic-about-arctic-drilling/story-e6frf7ko-1226485643427   AP October 01, 2012   THE stars lined up – almost – for Shell Oil to drill exploratory wells this year in waters off Alaska’s north coast.
The Arctic Ocean was on record pace for low sea ice. The Obama administration gave a qualified green light to drilling. Two drill ships and a flotilla of support vessels were staged off prospects.

But as the open water season wound down, Shell announced last week it would limit drilling to time-consuming preparation for an offshore well. The final straw for the decision: damage during testing September 15 to an undersea containment dome, a key to the company’s spill response system.

Environmentalists cheered the setback. Shell Oil President Marvin Odum says he considers it a temporary impediment in the long-term quest to open a petroleum frontier.

October 1, 2012 Posted by | oceans, safety | Leave a comment

High levels of radiation on Lanyu (Orchid Island)

“Two Japanese academics have found unusual levels of radiation at more than 10 locations around Lanyu, with the level at one location as high as 500 times more than the environment background value — this shows that the issue of radioactive pollution is very serious on the island,”

Activists demand survey of Lanyu radiation levels, Taipei Times, 29 Sept 12, PARADISE LOST? Professors warn that radiation levels pose a threat to both residents and visitors of the island and may cause cancers and cardiovascular diseases By Loa Iok-sin  /  Staff reporter Environmentalists yesterday called on the Atomic Energy Council (AEC) to conduct a thorough survey around Lanyu (蘭嶼, also known as Orchid Island) as a report released by Japanese academics shows that an unusual amount of radiation has been
found on the island and that the nuclear waste storage facility on the island may be leaking. Continue reading →

September 29, 2012 Posted by | environment, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Danger as oil companies plan drilling in nuclear waste ocean dump

The Kara Sea is so remote that the Soviet Union used it as a dumping ground for radioactive material for more than 25 years. The two oil companies have avoided calls for the nuclear waste, estimated to consist of over 17,000 barrels of radioactive waste, worn-out reactors, and even an old nuclear submarine, to be cleared up before any exploration takes place.

The most dangerous item down on the sea floor in that area is the K-27 nuclear submarine, which was dumped their by the Soviet navy in 1981. The NRPA said that any significant corrosion could damage the ships reactor and cause an environmental disaster.

Exxon, Rosneft eye oil in nuclear wasteland http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/0927/Exxon-Rosneft-eye-oil-in-nuclear-wasteland
Exxon Mobil and Rosneft are planning to drill for oil in the Kara Sea, which the Soviet Union used as a dumping ground for radioactive material for more than 25 years, according to OilPrice.com. By James Burgess,   September 27, 2012 It has been well documented that oil majors from around the world are looking at oil exploration in the Arctic, where they believe that some of the largest untapped fields in the world still lie.

Environmentalists have been fighting efforts to start exploring for oil, fearing that any serious oil spill could mean the destruction of one of the last pristine wildernesses on the planet. Continue reading →

September 28, 2012 Posted by | oceans, Russia, safety, USA | 1 Comment

Radioactivity from Fukushima nuclear accident detected in Lisbon,
Portugal http://sciencealerts.com/stories/2015645/Radioactivity_from_Fukushima_nuclear_accident_detected_in_Lisbon_Portugal.html#.UGX5NpjA9
The radioactivity released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear
accident was transported around the globe by atmospheric processes.
Several artificial radionuclides were detected and measured in
aerosols and atmospheric surface depositions in the Lisbon area during
late March and early April 201The highest concentrations measured in
aerosols were those of particulate 131I, 1.39 ± 0.08 mBq m-3.
Cesium-134, 137Cs and 132Te were also determined but at lower
concentrations. The total atmospheric depositions on the ground were
higher on the first week of April with values for 131I, 134Cs, and
137Cs of 0.92 ± 0.11, 0.59 ± 0.06, and 0.62 ± 0.12 Bq m-2,
respectively. The four artificial radionuclides measurable, 131I,
132Te 134Cs, and 137Cs, caused little radiation exposure to the
members of the public, that was five orders of magnitude lower than
the ionizing radiation effective dose limits for members of the public
for one year (1 mSv y-1). Radionuclides from Fukushima nuclear
accident were measured in aerosols at Lisbon, Portugal. Cesium-137 and
iodine-131 were measured in atmospheric precipitation. Radiation dose
to members of the public was much lower than dose limit of 1 mSv/y.

September 28, 2012 Posted by | environment, EUROPE | Leave a comment

Deformities in butterflies – effects of Fukushima radiation

More images of deformed butterflies after Fukushima — Wings folded over, rumpled, much different sizes (PHOTOS) 
 September 21st, 2012 
By ENENews 
The biological impacts of the Fukushima nuclear accident on the pale grass blue butterfly
Scientific Reports
Volume 2;  2012 See more photos here

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3414864/figure/f1/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3414864/figure/f2/

September 24, 2012 Posted by | environment, Japan | 1 Comment

China still has poor record on nuclear safety, uranium environmental damage

Should China be involved in the UK’s nuclear energy infrastructure? Guardian UK, Paul Dorfman, 21 Sept 12“….In Tibet, the Chinese nuclear industry is engaged in a determined effort to secure uranium deposits located in Amdo, where leaching and open pit extraction are reported to have resulted in significant environmental contamination. Regulation of safety oversight mechanisms is relatively weak in the Chinese nuclear industry, and according to a recent Nuclear Materials Security Index report, China ranks 29th among the group of 32 nuclear nations in terms of nuclear security and materials transparency. Although it’s to be hoped that greater corporate social responsibility and sensitivity to vulnerable industrial communities is evolving in both Russia and China, it’s still troubling to reflect on their respective human rights situations, documented by Amnesty International……http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2012/sep/21/nuclearpower-energy?newsfeed=true

September 22, 2012 Posted by | China, environment, safety, Uranium | Leave a comment

Radiation Maps of Children of Belarus

Children Radiation Maps, Blog by Jan Hemmer April 14, 2012 by Mikkai

妊娠中の日本人女性の避難すぐ  On April 5th I went to BELRAD Institute (http://belrad-institute.org/) in Belarus (got 72% of the Chernobyl fallout), with a friend and translator, to get important data about their work. Here I present with the permission of vice director Mr. Babenko of BELRAD, the Children radiation maps of Belarus . First, some background on the data: We see here 17 regions of Belarus:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/15770206/NesterenkoBelrad Continue reading →

September 22, 2012 Posted by | Belarus, environment | Leave a comment

Radioactivity at high levels in Louisiana sinkhole

Testing of total alpha and total beta radiation showed that these were at levels about twice the natural background.

The State of Louisiana found much higher levels of radiation in deeper parts of the sink hole than the place where we received our surface sample

Sinkhole: Radioactivity at 5,900 picocuries per kilogram from uranium and thorium floating on surface, about double background — “Much higher levels of radiation” down deeper — Residents’ frustration growing (VIDEO)
 September 21st, 2012
By ENENews Title: Sampling Continues at Bayou Corne as Sinkhole Expands   http://enenews.com/sinkhole-surface-radioactivity-at-5900-picocuries-per-kg-from-uranium-and-thorium-about-double-background-levels-much-higher-levels-of-radiation-down-deeper

Source: Louisiana Environmental Action Network
Author: Wilma Subra
Date: Sept 22, 2012 Continue reading →

September 22, 2012 Posted by | environment, USA | Leave a comment

Radioactive air, water, marine life, debris from Fukushima to USA West Coast

reports of radioactive air, water, marine life, and weather reaching the US Pacific Coast in such significant quantities 

Impact to US West Coast from Fukushima disaster likely larger than anticipated, several reports indicate, Bellona 21 Sept 12,  Part of:  Nuclear meltdown in Japan   The massive release of anthropogenic – or non-naturally occurring radionuclides such as cesium 137 and cesium 134 – by the meltdowns and explosions that rocked Fukushima Daiichi occurred in the five days following the beginning of the accident, according to a new report. www.greenpeace.org
Non-naturally occurring radionuclides from the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant’s triple meltdown last year radioactively contaminated the entire northern hemisphere within days and the US west coast bore a significant brunt of so called hot particles, an independent scientific paper released yesterday claims. Charles Digges, 19/09-2012

US government environmental monitoring agencies have either declared as safe, refused to comment on, or – say several independent researchers – vastly understated what impacts, if any, this could have for America’s western coastal population. Significant omissions in data reporting and hobbling of radioactive monitoring systems, say many, make it seem unlikely that hard government facts will be forthcoming to support evidence presented by independent researchers. Continue reading →

September 21, 2012 Posted by | environment, USA | Leave a comment

Sea ice at record low – climate change nears crisis point

What the scientific community understands is that Arctic ice is melting at an accelerated rate — and that humans play a role in these changes.

includes VIDEO Arctic Sea Ice Levels Hit Record Low, Scientists Say We’re ‘Running Out Of Time’, HUFFINGTON POST  Joanna Zelman  James Gerken 
09/19/2012 As Arctic sea ice levels hit a new record low this month, scientists and activists gathered to discuss how to bridge the gap between scientific facts and the public’s limited understanding that we are, in their words, “really running out of time.”

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)  released preliminary findings Wednesday suggesting that on Sept. 16, Arctic ice covered just 1.32 million square miles — the lowest extent ever recorded. This minimum is 49 percent below the 1979 average, when satellite records began. Continue reading →

September 21, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, climate change, oceans | Leave a comment

Caesium-137 – toxic decay products underground,a Chernobyl hazard

Chernobyl zone in Belarus reduced, Charter 97 Mirror,  “……….Meanwhile, according to the head of Kyiv coordination and analytical centre of Ecology and Health, Professor Yury Bandazheuski,
in case a radioactive counter do not trace radiocaesium on the surface of the ground, it simply means that radioactive elements had migrated into the earth stratum and are at the level of the root system. The expert says that transformation of radioactive elements into the ones more dangerous for human health occurs.

For instance, Caesium-137 decays into barium, and barium is very toxic for a human being. People at “conditionally clean” territories get it with plants and animals’ meat.
http://charter97.mirror.tengu.ch/en/news/2010/8/3/31033/index.html

September 21, 2012 Posted by | environment, Ukraine | Leave a comment

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