A "don't panic" reminder from the daughter of a nuclear engineer
For what it's worth, my dad, a nuclear engineer, sent this in email today. I'm not here to tell you that nuclear power is 100% safe and clean or anything like that, but I do hope to help you do what the Hitchhiker's Guide helpfully reminds you to do: namely, DON'T PANIC. For panic, there is no need. Here's my dad's message:
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For more reliable info and status of Japan's nuclear plants, see:
1. Nuclear Energy Institute: http://www.nei.org/newsandevents
Click on the "information on the Japanese earthquake and reactors in that region"
This also gives links to other sites.
2. World Nuclear Association: http://www.world-nuclear.org
Also see their info sheets, such as 'nuclear power plants and earthquakes'
3. Japan Industrial Forum: http://www.jaif.or.jp/english
They give reports on the plant status of each plant.
Radiation measurements: 1 Sievert= 1 Sv= 100 rem, or 1 mSv = 100 mrem.
Normal background doses for a person in the US is around 500-600 mrem/year.(5-6 mSv/yr)
A dose of 40 rem (400 mSv) or less produces no detectable effects, such as increased cancer incidence.
Doses above 40 rem increase your cancer incident rate proportional to the dose. A dose of 100 rem increases your cancer incident rate by about 5%, and a dose of 200 rem increases the cancer incident rate by about 10%.
A dose of about 100 rem (1000 mSv or 1 Sv) would induce radiation sickness. Most people would recover from such a dose with treatment.
A dose of about 400-500 rem (4000-5000 mSv) would be lethal to about 50% of the people.
The Japanese plants do have a problem, but it is pretty localized to the plant site and to a lesser extent the area within about 10 miles of the plant. Any radiation reaching the US should be negligible and produce no effects. There's a lot of space and dilution between us and Japan, along with decay of the radioactive material.
Hopes this helps understand the situation.
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Molly's addendum: Japan, you are strange and unique and beautiful, and I love you! I'm so sorry for all that has happened to you lately. I also applaud the infrastructure and engineering you had in place beforehand, which kept these disasters from being much, much worse. You'll pull through this just fine, because you're awesome that way. Much love, your buddies on the other edge of the Ring of Fire.
---
For more reliable info and status of Japan's nuclear plants, see:
1. Nuclear Energy Institute: http://www.nei.org/newsandevents
Click on the "information on the Japanese earthquake and reactors in that region"
This also gives links to other sites.
2. World Nuclear Association: http://www.world-nuclear.org
Also see their info sheets, such as 'nuclear power plants and earthquakes'
3. Japan Industrial Forum: http://www.jaif.or.jp/english
They give reports on the plant status of each plant.
Radiation measurements: 1 Sievert= 1 Sv= 100 rem, or 1 mSv = 100 mrem.
Normal background doses for a person in the US is around 500-600 mrem/year.(5-6 mSv/yr)
A dose of 40 rem (400 mSv) or less produces no detectable effects, such as increased cancer incidence.
Doses above 40 rem increase your cancer incident rate proportional to the dose. A dose of 100 rem increases your cancer incident rate by about 5%, and a dose of 200 rem increases the cancer incident rate by about 10%.
A dose of about 100 rem (1000 mSv or 1 Sv) would induce radiation sickness. Most people would recover from such a dose with treatment.
A dose of about 400-500 rem (4000-5000 mSv) would be lethal to about 50% of the people.
The Japanese plants do have a problem, but it is pretty localized to the plant site and to a lesser extent the area within about 10 miles of the plant. Any radiation reaching the US should be negligible and produce no effects. There's a lot of space and dilution between us and Japan, along with decay of the radioactive material.
Hopes this helps understand the situation.
---
Molly's addendum: Japan, you are strange and unique and beautiful, and I love you! I'm so sorry for all that has happened to you lately. I also applaud the infrastructure and engineering you had in place beforehand, which kept these disasters from being much, much worse. You'll pull through this just fine, because you're awesome that way. Much love, your buddies on the other edge of the Ring of Fire.
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