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Cs-137 has a half-life of around 30 years, so expect this stuff to hang around for awhile. The probability of isotope ingestion increases significantly with rainfall.
Simply put, we can expect as many as ten Cs-137 atoms disintegrating around our personal space (m3) per second, at any given time. In the process to become stable, each atom discharges an electron (beta ray) in the half-million electron volt range. This is an energetic particle. Though likely attenuated while traveling through air, a particle will easily create ions which have the potential to disrupt DNA until it gives up all of its energy while traveling through tissue.
Assuming the high end (10Bq of activity), we can expect an exposure of 2.014747 microsieverts/hr at a depth of 1 centimeter. Presuming ingestion at constant exposures, I have this coming out to 1.75 rem/year. As of April 5, PNRI numbers are only at 20 microBq, so it would be an interesting exercise to pay attention to future numbers and see if they validate the RIU simulation.
Edit: Note the following Philstar article dated today, April 9th:
"Bernido said the amount of radiation elements coming from the earthquake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant remained low as of last Wednesday. Detected were 47 micro-becquerels per cubic meter of iodine-131, 2.6 Bq/m3 of cesium-134, and 3.1 Bq/m3 of cesium-137. As of 9 a.m. yesterday, radiation level in the country remained normal at 100 to 115 nanosieverts per hour. Bernido said the PNRI would continue testing the radiation levels in the environment and products imported from Japan"
Day | Iodine-131 *(µBq/m3) | Cesium-134 (µBq/m3) | Cesium-137 (µBq/m3) |
March 23 | 33 | 4.2 | 5.7 |
March 24 | 480 | 92 | 120 |
March 25 | 54 | 6.3 | 7.7 |
March 26 | 20 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
March 27 | 47 | 2.6 | 3.1 |
March 28 | 93 | 4.4 | 5.3 |
March 29 | 130 | 4.6 | 5.3 |
March 30 | 210 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
March 31 | 31 | Not detected | 0.7 |
April 1 | 57 | 4.3 | 5.7 |
April 2 | 61 | 9.9 | 12 |
April 3 | 160 | 86 | 100 |
April 4 | 79 | 53 | 79 |
April 5 | 51 | 18 | 20 |
These simulations out of RIU may be more accurate than i thought. Philstar may also have printed their numbers wrong. Will call the PNRI on Monday to clarify what's going on.
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