[arctichomesteader]

Northern Vermont bass test positive for strontium, cesium - Brattleboro Reformer

This is not very good news. Not a major surprise but not nice to hear either. They say the fish is safe to eat, but I think I may still cut back on the trout and perch now...I wonder if any tests have been done in the NEK yet...

[Hopes]

"The results are that cesium-137 and strontium-90 in Lake Carmi fish is in the same range as Connecticut River fish," said Irwin. "We take this as some evidence that all fish in Vermont are likely to have radioactive cesium and strontium at these levels and that, as we've hypothesized, it is from nuclear weapons fallout and the releases of Chernobyl. All of us are glad to have proof and not just conjecture."

Do they really think this is the result of Chernobyl?

When they say "nuclear weapons fallout" do they mean nuclear weapons testing in Siberia?

That blows my mind. If it's true, this can't be limited to Canada and New England. I sure hope other states are testing too.

We're already carefully monitoring our intake for mercury. Now this. It's such a shame.

[FrugalYankee]

According to the article, the results are preliminary. That means, subject to change and quite possibly incorrect. I'd like to see hard numbers before becoming concerned.

And how Irwin comes up with Chernobyl as the cause is beyond me. Almost none of that fallout made it across the Atlantic. Both Cs-137 and Sr-90 are dispersed in the US thanks to testing done here in the 50s and 60s.

I'll be curious to see if they actually manage to get this published in a "scientific journal."

[pauldorell]

Originally Posted by FrugalYankee

According to the article, the results are preliminary. That means, subject to change and quite possibly incorrect. I'd like to see hard numbers before becoming concerned.

And how Irwin comes up with Chernobyl as the cause is beyond me. Almost none of that fallout made it across the Atlantic. Both Cs-137 and Sr-90 are dispersed in the US thanks to testing done here in the 50s and 60s.

I'll be curious to see if they actually manage to get this published in a "scientific journal."

That article looked odd to me too. Cesium-137 and Strontium-90 have half-lives of about 30.2 years and 28.8 years. Chernobyl was 26 years ago, and the last atmospheric nuclear test was 32 years ago, so there shouldn't be much of that left. And I'm surprised the article doesn't mention Fukushima.

[arctichomesteader]

A half life of 30 years means in 30 years, half of it is gone. In another 30 years, half of what's left will be gone, and so forth. It takes a long time for something with a half life of 30 years to go away.

I hope they're doing more testing. I'd always figured fish from someplace as isolated as Lewis or Ferdinand was pretty clean. Now I'm not so sure, if indeed this is everywhere in the state...

[68vette]

The Free Press had an article today. They are saying contamination levels are similar to other waterways in the state with no connection to the CT river. They are now saying It's from nuclear testing years ago as well as Chernobyl.

[pauldorell]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

A half life of 30 years means in 30 years, half of it is gone. In another 30 years, half of what's left will be gone, and so forth. It takes a long time for something with a half life of 30 years to go away.

That's true, but we're now talking about half a trace instead of a whole trace. If the source were Chernobyl, there would have been about twice as much radioactivity from it 26 years ago, and they wouldn't be speculating about it now.

[OhBeeHave]

Massive radiation spikes in B.C. from the recent Fukushima Japan disaster | The Bovine

Is it possible that some is fall out from Fukushima? It they're suggesting Chernobyl, what about Three Mile Island?

[pauldorell]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

Massive radiation spikes in B.C. from the recent Fukushima Japan disaster | The Bovine

Is it possible that some is fall out from Fukushima? It they're suggesting Chernobyl, what about Three Mile Island?

Those peaks in Canada were right after Fukushima, and would have happened here too if there were Fukushima radiation here. I guess the questions are where and when the Vermont Department of Health has been testing for radiation over the last 30 years and what the results were. The article is poorly written because it says nothing about historical radiation levels.

As far as Three Mile Island is concerned, supposedly little or no radiation was released.

[68vette]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

Massive radiation spikes in B.C. from the recent Fukushima Japan disaster | The Bovine

Is it possible that some is fall out from Fukushima? It they're suggesting Chernobyl, what about Three Mile Island?

The NRC tested and found nothing significant from the three mile island site. UNC also did testing and found contaminants or radioactivity ten miles only downwind of the plant. I would say It's possible for contamination to be around from any leak. Once participates get into the jet stream, It's everywhere. Not thinking of nuclear contaminants, but also other pollutants. Look at all the crap in freshly fallen snow.