Update on Setagaya 7.356 Microsieverts/Hr Spot: Only Horiba Survey Meter Detects

The person who posted the 7.356 microsieverts/hour spot at the gate post in front of a high-rise apartment in Setagaya-ku has an update.

He says when the measurement was done again with the Setagaya-ku government people on the same spot, only his survey meter, HORIBA Radi PA-1000 , responded. The Setagaya-ku government used "NHC7" made by Fuji Electric.

Their temporary conclusion is that for some reason the HORIBA Radi PA-1000 was picking up some electrical source inside the gate post.

Tweet

Another Hot Spot in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo? 7.356 Microsieverts/Hr in Front of High-Rise Apartment

1 hour ago on Twitter, from someone who actually measured it with his HORIBA Radi PA-1000. It seems he has already notified the city hall.

Picture on his tweet:

In his later tweets, he identifies the location as the front entrance of a high rise apartment building ("mansion" in Japanese). This one.

Tweet

#Radiation in Japan: Small News and Baseless Rumors

Loose ends of small news and "baseless rumors" at the end of the weekend. Links are mostly in Japanese. Sorry English readers...

The case of the high-radiation supermarket in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo:

The contractor hired by the government dug up the location in the parking lot with 110 microsieverts/hour radiation, and found a glass bottle 40 centimeter below the surface. The radiation on that spot was the Fuku-I Nuke Plant level radiation of 40 millisieverts/hour. After removing the glass bottle, the radiation dramatically dropped to 25 microsieverts/hour (which is still very high, actually). The bottle allegedly contained radium-226, again. There are 15 locations in the supermarket compound (including inside the store) that are emitting high radiation, and it will take several weeks at least to dig up those locations to see what's buried. (From various sources: Nikkan Sports 11/2/2011, FNN News 11/3/2011, Nikkei Shinbun 11/2/2011, etc.)

They also dug up the location with 65 microsieverts/hour radiation and found a piece of glass with a small amount of radium from 20 centimeter below the surface. Once the glass was removed, the radiation dropped to 4 microsieverts/hour. (Mainichi Shinbun Japanese, 11/6/2011)

The case of acute lymphocytic leukemia:

No, not in a young child in a high radiation spot that is often talked about on Twitter. A 63-year-old TV newscaster has been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia and is now hospitalized, getting ready for chemo. He felt a strange lump in his neck on October 28, he says. (Various news sources including: Zakzak 11/7/2011, Yomiuri Shinbun 11/6/2011)

In his morning program on Fuji TV he's been promoting Fukushima produce by eating them in the show. He also happened to be in Fukushima in March 15. Just a coincidence. Never mind that ALL is predominant in small children, and an adult case is one in 100,000 annually in Japan.

The case of Japan's Imperial Family getting sick:

The 9-year-old daughter of the crown prince and princess was hospitalized for a few days for mycoplasma pneumonia (NHK News 11/5/2011). The empress has been ill with aches and pains in the arms and legs (Sankei Shinbun 10/12/2011). Now the emperor himself is being hospitalized for bronchitis (Mainichi Shinbun 11/6/2011).

The areas surrounding the imperial household in the center of Tokyo in Chiyoda-ku has elevated radiation levels. The foodstuff that is used in the imperial household - vegetables, milk, egg, beef - comes from the imperial farm in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture (Imperial Household Agency, announcement on 7/21/2011) where the radiation is even more elevated and where the meat cow nearby was found with high level of radioactive cesium. (This link goes to my English blog post.)

The daughter of the crown prince and princess spent her summer vacation in Nasu. (This link is also in English.) The Kan administration sent the emperor and empress in April and May to cheer up the quake/tsunami victims in Chiba, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Fukushima, Iwate, 7 weeks in a row. They ate food in Fukushima, and bring some home for their sons' families.

The case of radioactive rice in Yokohama City:

The public park where 2770 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was found from the dried shiitake mushrooms, most of which had been fed to the public including 256 small children also grew rice in the rice paddies. The rice was found with 13 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium. Oh such a minute amount, no effect on health!

But the contamination level of Yokohama rice seems no different from the rice grown and harvested in Fukushima and southern Miyagi, two of the most contaminated prefectures. If you calculate the soil contamination level from the radioactive cesium in the rice and the transfer coefficient (the real one, between 0.01 and 0.001, not the one (0.1) used by the government for political reasons), the contamination of the rice paddies could be 1,300 becquerels/kg of cesium (coefficient 0.01) or 13,000 becquerels/kg (coefficient 0.001). (If you read Japanese, go to my post in my Japanese blog.)

Start of yet another week where financial and political shenanigans in Europe will dominate the headlines. Greece's Papandreou (G-Pap, a la Zero Hedge) is being replaced by Lucas Papademos (L-Pap) as the prime minister, and the world tries to muddle through yet another week. L-Pap may have a better chance of muddling through, as he is a favorite of the US Federal Reserve. Well, he worked in the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston as a senior economist.

Gold is going up in Asia. Gold spot at US$1771 (kitco.com).

Tweet

Setagaya, Tokyo's High Radiation Supermarket: It's Radium Again, Emitting 40 Millisieverts/Hr Radiation

According to the Ministry of Education and Science, a glass bottle was found 40 centimeters below the surface, which was emitting 40 millisievert/hour radiation. Radium-226 is suspected.

(How many more radium-226 bottles are there buried in Setagaya-ku?)

From Yomiuri Shinbun (11/1/2011):

東京都世田谷区八幡山のスーパー敷地内外から高い放射線量が検出された問題で、文部科学省は１日、放射線の原因は地中の「ラジウム２２６」の可能性が高いと発表した。

Regarding the high radiation detected inside the supermarket compound and in the vicinity in Hachimanyama in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, the Ministry of Education and Science announced on November 1 that the cause of the high radiation was likely to be "radium-226" buried in the soil.

また深さ約４０センチの地点で毎時４０ミリ・シーベルト（４万マイクロ・シーベルト）の高い放射線量が測定されたことを明らかにした。４０ミリ・シーベルトは一般住民の平常時の「年間被曝線量限度」の４０倍に相当する。

At 40 centimeters below the ground surface, 40 millisieverts (or 40,000 microsievert) per hour radiation was measured, according to the Ministry. 40 millisievert is 40 times the annual radiation exposure limit [still 1 millisievert, though it is likely to change very soon] for the general public [not engaged in radiation work].

　文科省によると、地表から約４０センチ掘ったところに薬瓶が１本あり、この地点の放射線量が毎時４０ミリ・シーベルトあった。その真上の地表では同１ミリ・シーベルトだった。放射線量が極めて高いため慎重に作業を進めており、瓶は２日以降に取り出す。

According to the Ministry of Education, there was a glass bottle at 40 centimeter below the surface, and the radiation on the spot was 40 millisieverts/hour. The radiation on the ground surface there was 1 millisievert/hour. The work is proceeding very cautiously because the radiation level is extremely high. The bottle will be removed on November 2 or after.

The Ministry and the Setagaya government have been saying "There is no effect on health". Really. (1 millisievert/hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we would be talking the radiation exposure in sievert.)

Tweet

Setagaya, Tokyo's 170 Microsieverts/Hr Supermarket: Europium-152??

While we wait for the digging to start (October 31 Japan Time) in the supermarket compound in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo where extremely high radiation has been detected, nuclear experts and lay people chime in with the theories as to why the radiation is so high.

One theory, offered by Professor Masahiro Fukushi of Tokyo Metropolitan University, is that a radioactive material called "europium" must be buried in the soil, according to TV Asahi (10/30/2011). He has been appearing on TV since March 11 to offer his expert opinions on radiation matters.

Professor Fukushi's theory is based on the fact that there used to be a agricultural junior college on the same land where the supermarket is now, up till 38 years ago. He says europium-152 (half life 13 years) may have been used to analyze how the fertilizer was mixed in the soil.

A big flaw in his theory: TV Asahi interviewed a graduate of this agricultural college who said, "It was the economics division of the college. We didn't do any experiment at all." Oops.

We'll find out soon enough. The Ministry of Education and Science is going to dig up the high radiation spots in the supermarket compound in the afternoon of October 31 (Japan Time).

Radium, europium, anything would be welcome except for radioactive materials of Fukushima origin for Setagaya residents. (After all, you do not want to have your home value to decline because of invisible radiation.)

Tweet

More on Setagaya-ku High Radiation Supermarket: Max Is 170 Microsieverts/Hour

The Ministry of Education and Science is really quick when it comes to Tokyo.. (Or should I say Setagaya-ku?)

It looks like the shoppers at this particular supermarket have been zapped with high radiation for at least 11 years, if what the Ministry says is true (that there is the radiation source buried).

A small problem, though. The same radiation source should be also buried beneath the sidewalk, which measured 110 microsieverts/hour on the surface.

Additional information of the high radiation supermarket in Setagaya-ku. (See my previous post for more.)

From Jiji Tsushin (5:29AM JST 10/29/2011):

東京都世田谷区八幡山のスーパー敷地で高い放射線量が検出された問題で、文部科学省は２９日未明、最大で毎時１７０マイクロシーベルトの放射線量が計測されたと発表した。同省は、土のうを積むなどして周囲の放射線量を下げる措置を取った上で、スーパーの経営者に土中にあるとみられる放射線源の調査を依頼した。近く、調査が行われる。

Regarding the detection of high radiation in the supermarket compound in Hachimanyama in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, the Ministry of Education and Science announced in the early hours of October 29 that the maximum 170 microsieverts/hour radiation was detected. The Ministry ordered a temporary measure to reduce radiation in the surrounding areas by piling sandbags, and asked the owner of the supermarket to investigate the radiation source which is considered to be in the ground. The investigation will be done soon.

　文科省や区によると、毎時１７０マイクロシーベルトが計測されたのは、店舗から約６０センチ離れた植え込み付近の地表。同じ場所の高さ１メートルの地点でも同４．７マイクロシーベルトを記録した。また、約１０メートル離れた店舗の出入り口付近でも、地表面で同１１０マイクロシーベルト、高さ１メートルで同１０マイクロシーベルトが測定された。

According to the Ministry of Education and Setagaya-ku, 170 microsieverts/hour radiation was detected on the ground surface near the shrubs about 60 centimeters away from the supermarket building. At 1 meter off the ground, the same spot measured 4.7 microsieverts/hour. At the entrance of the supermarket, about 10 meters away from the high radiation spot, 110 microsieverts/hour radiation was detected on the ground surface, and 10 microsieverts/hour radiation at 1 meter off the ground.

　敷地は、１９６１年以降駐車場として使われ、２０００年に現在の店舗が建てられた。放射線量が高かった２カ所のほか、店舗内の床面でも最大で同２．５マイクロシーベルトと周辺に比べて高い線量の場所が数カ所あるため、文科省は何らかの放射線源が敷地内に埋まっているとみている。

The compound was used as a parking lot since 1961, until the current supermarket was built in 2000. In addition to the two spots with high radiation, there are several locations inside the building on the floor that had the maximum 2.5 microsieverts/hour radiation, higher than the surrounding areas. The Ministry of Education thinks there must be the source of high radiation buried in the compound.

Tweet

#Radiation in Tokyo: Setagaya-ku Has 110 Microsieverts/Hr Super-Hot Spot

On par with the radiation near Koriyama JR Station in Koriyama City in Fukushima (80 to 120 microsieverts/hr spot, see my post from yesterday).

Setagaya-ku is where the tubes of radium were found to have been emitting strong radiation. The radiation level was 4.7 microsieverts/hr.

The Ministry of Education and Science, again very quick to act, suspects something radioactive is buried on the spots. There are two spots, one is emitting 110 microsieverts/hour radiation on the sidewalk, the other 30 to 40 microsieverts/hour at the supermarket entrance. They are both paved with asphalt.

The photograph is from Sankei Shinbun, of the 110 microsieverts/hour spot on the sidewalk. As you can see, it's just an ordinary stretch of a sidewalk.

From Sankei Shinbun (10/29/2011):

東京都世田谷区は２８日、同区八幡山のスーパーの敷地内と近くの歩道の地表部分で、最大毎時１１０マイクロシーベルトの高放射線量を検出したと発表した。文部科学省は現場の状況から、東京電力福島第１原発事故による放射性物質の可能性は低いとみている。

Setagaya-ku, Tokyo announced on October 28 that maximum 110 microsieverts/hour radiation was detected in the supermarket compound and on the sidewalk surface near the supermarket in Hachiman-yama in Setagaya-ku. The Ministry of Education and Science doesn't think the high radiation is caused by radioactive materials from the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident, judging from the situation on the scenes.

　区によると、同１１０マイクロシーベルトが検出されたのはスーパー裏手の歩道の植え込み付近。地上１メートルでは同４・７マイクロシーベルトだった。また、正面入り口近くの敷地内の地表では同３０～４０マイクロシーベルトを検出した。

According to Setagaya-ku, 110 microsieverts/hour radiation was detected near the sidewalk shrub on the backside of a supermarket. It was 4.7 microsieverts/hour at 1 meter from the ground. 30 to 40 microsieverts/hour radiation was detected from the surface of the ground in the supermarket compound near the main entrance.

　２８日午後に区民から「高い放射線量が検出された」と情報提供があり、文科省が測定した。店側は区に「心当たりはない。なぜ高い数値が出たのか分からない」と説明したという。

On October 28 afternoon, a resident informed the Setagaya government that high radiation was detected, and the Ministry of Education and Science went to measure. The supermarket told Setagaya-ku that it had no idea why the radiation was so high.

　区は、２地点に土嚢（どのう）を積み上げるなどして人が近付かないようにした。

Setagaya-ku piled sandbags at these 2 locations so that people would not go near.

　文科省によると、２地点ともアスファルトで整地されており、放射性物質がたまりやすい側溝や土壌の堆積物が周辺にないという。このため、何らかの放射性物質が埋まっている可能性が高いとしている。

According to the Ministry of Education and Science, both locations are paved with asphalt, and there were no side drains or soil sediments nearby where radioactive materials were likely to accumulate. Therefore, the Ministry has concluded that it is likely that certain radioactive materials are buried there.

　同区では今月１２日、民家前の区道で高放射線量が確認され、その後、民家の床下からラジウム入りの瓶が見つかっている。

In Setagaya-ku, high radiation was measured on the road in front of a private home on October 12. Later, bottles with radium were found from under the floor of the home.

Two locations, paved with asphalt, nowhere near the drain or pile of dirt. What could that be this time?

Tweet

(UPDATED) New Twist on 4.7 Microsieverts/Hr Radiation in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo: Radium??

(UPDATE: They say it was most likely radium-226, the surface radiation was 600 microsieverts/hour.)

From Tokyo Shinbun quoting Kyodo News (10/14/2011):

東京都世田谷区弦巻の区道で局地的に高い放射線量が検出された問題で、保坂展人区長は１３日夜、区役所で記者会見し、区道沿いの住宅の床下にあった瓶の付近から毎時３０マイクロシーベルト以上の高い線量が検出されたと発表した。

Regarding the localized hot spot location on the municipal road in Tsurumaki, Setagaya-ku in Tokyo, the Mayor of Setagaya-ku, Nobuhito Hosaka, held a press conference on October 13 evening that over 30 microsieverts/hour radiation was detected from the bottles found from under the floor of the house that borders the road.

　区から通報を受けた文部科学省は瓶の中の物質を調査し、ラジウムとほぼ特定。原発から放出される放射性セシウムなどとは異なるため、同省は東京電力福島第１原発事故とは関係ないと断定した。

The Ministry of Education and Science analyzed the content of the bottles, and almost identified it as radium. Since it was not one of the nuclides released from a nuclear reactor such as radioactive cesium, the Ministry concluded that it had nothing to do with the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident.

　区や文科省によると、瓶はガラス製とみられ、高さ約７センチ、直径５～６センチ程度のものなど数十本が木箱に入っており、中身は粉状。

According to Setagaya-ku and the Ministry of Education and Science, the bottles look to be made of glass, about 7 centimeters long and 5 to 6 centimeters in diameter. There are several tens of bottles in a wooden box. The content of the bottles are powdery.

The radiation was so high that the survey meter that they brought couldn't measure as it went overscale. No one is currently living in that house.

Whether people believe the government is another matter. Some simply do not. I am rather shocked to see the Ministry of Education, of all people, responding so quickly, even releasing the photo above so quickly. That ministry is the last one I'd expect to respond to ordinary people's concern. How ironic.

(Oh wait... The radiation near the surface of the side walk (5 centimeters off) was rather high at 1.34 microsievert/hour, according to Mainichi Shinbun (10/13/2011). Radium in the bottle under the house cannot explain that, can it??)

In the meantime, more radiation "hot spots" (often several microsieverts/hour) have been discovered in the Tokyo metropolitan area. More later.

Tweet

#Radiation in Tokyo: Over 2.7 Microsievert/Hr in Setagaya-ku on a School Route

That is the air radiation. NHK News says the number happens to be much higher than the current air radiation in Iitate-mura (2.1 microsieverts/hour at the village office) in Fukushima Prefecture, where all the villagers have had to evacuate.

Just like in Yokohama City, a citizen measured the air radiation, and alerted the municipal government who then went and measured. At least the municipal governments have started to at least respond.

The result was 2.8 microsieverts/hour. The Setagaya-ku government power-washed the 10-meter stretch of the side walk, and the radiation came down to ... (hold your breath)... 2.71 microsieverts/hour.

Setagaya-ku is one of the special wards of Tokyo that located at the western end of the 23 special wards on the east Tokyo. It borders Kanagawa Prefecture to the south. (Setagaya-ku is marked in deep purple in the map, where the special wards are marked in light purple.)

From NHK News Japanese (10:58PM JST 10/12/2011):

今月初め、東京・世田谷区の区道で１時間当たり最大で２．７マイクロシーベルトという高い放射線量が検出され、世田谷区は、この場所に立ち入らないよう呼びかけるとともに今後の除染を検討しています。

2.7 microsieverts/hour radiation was detected on a municipal road in Setagaya-ku (special ward) in Tokyo earlier this month, and the Setagaya-ku government is asking people to avoid the location while it considers the decontamination plan.

高い放射線量が検出されたのは、世田谷区弦巻の区道の歩道の長さおよそ１０メートル、幅およそ１メートルの部分です。世田谷区によりますと、今月３日、区民から「放射線量が高い場所がある」という情報が寄せられたため、区が測定したところ、１時間当たり最大でおよそ２．８マイクロシーベルトと周辺に比べて特に高い放射線が検出されたということです。

The high radiation was detected in the 10-meter long, 1-meter wide stretch of the side walk in Tsurumaki in Setagaya-ku. According to the Setagaya-ku government, a resident informed the government on October 3 that there was a location with high radiation. When the Setagaya-ku government measured, the radiation was 2.8 microsieverts/hour maximum, much higher than the surrounding area.

このため高圧の洗浄器を使って歩道部分の洗浄を行いましたが、放射線量はあまり下がらず、１時間当たり最大で２．７０７マイクロシーベルトが検出されたということです。原因について世田谷区が専門家に聞いたところ、問題の場所は雨水が集まって放射線量が高くなったことが考えられるということです。

The Setagaya-ku government used the pressure washer to wash the stretch of the side walk, but the radiation level only came down to 2.707 microsieverts/hour. The expert whom the government consulted with said the radiation level there may have become elevated because of the rainwater collecting there.

ただ、今回の測定では地表より高い場所でより高い数値が出るなど、通常あまり見られない結果が出ていることから、世田谷区では原因を詳しく調べることにしています。

However, the measurement revealed that the air radiation was higher off the ground than on the ground, and the Setagaya-ku government is planning to investigate further to identify the cause of this unusual result.

この区道は小学校の通学路にもなっていることから、区は、１２日朝からこの場所をコーンで囲って立ち入らないよう呼びかけるとともに今後の除染を検討しています。世田谷区は、ことし７月から８月にかけて区内の小中学校や保育園、それに幼稚園で放射線量を測定しており、その際、高い放射線量は検出されていませんでした。世田谷区は、子どもへの影響を重視し、今月下旬から区内の砂場がある２５８か所の公園について調査することにしています。

This municipal road is a designated school route to an elementary school. Setagaya-ku has put up the road cones to alert people not to enter the area, and is considering decontamination. Setagaya-ku measured the radiation in elementary schools, middle schools, kindergartens and nursery schools in July and August, but there was no high radiation detected at that time. It plans to measure the radiation of 258 parks later this month to ensure safety for small children.

世田谷区環境総合対策室の斉藤洋子室長は「現場は小学校の通学路で、近くには幼稚園や保育園もある。心配する保護者の方がいると思うので、専門家とも相談してできるだけ速やかに除染などの対応をとりたい」と話していました。

Yoko Saito, head of the Setagaya-ku environmental office said, "This is a school route to an elementary school, and there are a kindergarten and a nursery school nearby. I think there are parents who may worry. We will respond as quickly as possible, such as decontamination, after we consult with experts."

Who wouldn't be worried? From what I have heard from an acquaintance, the majority of the parents. They are more worried if their toddlers can get into a prestigious kindergarten. (She is considering moving to Australia with her children.)

How is Setagaya-ku going to "decontaminate", anyway? Power-washing failed. They may have to remove the side walk altogether, and take down part of the yard that borders the sidewalk. I wonder if they are testing the soil or sediment on the side walk. There is no news or announcement at the Setagaya-ku government website.

Looking at the NHK video clip that accompanies the article, the particular stretch looks no different from any other stretch. It is bordering somebody's yard with plants. According to the Ministry of Education and Science aerial survey map of contamination for Tokyo, there should be hardly any contamination for Setagaya-ku.

Tweet