Once I started adding more and more names to the email send list, some servers mistook it for spam and started rejecting it. So I thought from now on I’d try just posting it on this blog.
I've gone back and added the emails I sent in this series so for those of you who joined in the middle, you can click somewhere on the left and read from the beginning.
It will take me a while to get the kinks worked out so bear with me.
Thank you for joining Team Paul.
We are still doing OK.
As of 11am on 3/24, the recorded amount of radiation
in the air in Shinjuku was 0.138 microsieverts/hour.
The reading for tap water in Shinjuku for 3/23 was
25.8 Bq/kg for iodine-131 and 0.87 Bq/kg for cesium-137.
The recorded amount of radioactive materials in
particles in the air (dust and rain) for 3/23 was
35,700 Bq/meter squared for iodine-131 and
335 Bq/meter squared for cesium-137.
I use the phrase “things continue to improve” a lot
in these emails, but I guess that is relative. Things with
regard to my daily life have improved since the initial
aftermath of the earthquake. But day by day, we are
seeing the radiation detected in food and water
increase. Unfortunately, this is probably only the
beginning. I think the question on everyone’s mind is
how bad will it get.
You’ve probably seen somewhere the headline today
that says something to the effect of “Tokyo tap water
unsafe.” Well, like everything, it’s not quite that simple.
Yesterday, testing at one of the purification plants that
supplies water to Tokyo recorded 201 Bq/kg for
iodine-131. Now, if you look back above, the tap water
in Shinjuku recorded only 25.8 Bq/kg yesterday.
Supposedly, the actual tap water is a mix of water
from several purification plants (I don’t remember
from the news the exact number of purification plants
that Tokyo uses, but it seemed like over ten). Thus,
the lower readings in Shinjuku. But Mayor Ishihara of
Tokyo (Mom, btw, he’s Ishihara Yujiro’s brother)
declared that the Tokyo tap water should not be taken
by infants one year old or younger, if possible, to be on
the safe side. The safety commission standard for
drinking water is a maximum of 300 Bq/kg for
iodine-131. So, for adults, even at 201 Bq/kg, it’s
still considered to be a safe level and will not cause
health problems. And that’s at one purification plant.
As you can see, the actual tap water in Shinjuku was
only 25.8 Bq/kg.
But let’s face it, all of these are really just technicalities.
We can argue these facts ad nauseum right now, but the
real question is how bad is this going to get. That’s what
you really don’t know. So for now, the headlines and lead
stories in the media is something like “Tokyo tap water
unsafe for infants.” And since this was declared yesterday
afternoon, it has created a mini-panic for bottled water in
Tokyo. It’s basically sold out everywhere now. Of all the
things that have happened since the earthquake, this
is the first time I think things in Tokyo have seemed to
get a little “panicky,” if that’s a word. Not a full-on panic
yet, but these are the first steps.
Wow, that was kind of depressing.
-----Original Message-----
From: American Embassy Tokyo
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 10:07 PM
Subject: An Update for American Citizens in Japan
(Updated March 22, 8:30 p.m. JST)
We all recognize the enormous impact that the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as well as the resulting dangerous situation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, has had on Japan. The United States is continuing to do everything it can and should do to support our close friends, the people of Japan, as they respond to this disaster. This includes providing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, technical
expertise as well as equipment as requested. The American people have also opened up their hearts. Many have given generously to support the ongoing relief efforts. As President Obama said on March 17, we are confident that Japan will recover and rebuild because of the strength and spirit of the
Japanese people.
At the same time, this disaster has had a significant impact on the lives of Americans residing in Japan. The Embassy is working to provide the best possible guidance to U.S. citizens in Japan.
Guidance to U.S. Citizens in Japan: With regard to the nuclear situation, which we know is of concern to U.S. citizens residing in Tokyo and other regions relatively close to the Fukushima power plant, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recommends that U.S. citizens who reside
within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant leave the area, or remain indoors as much as possible if departure is not practical. That recommendation is based on the steps that the NRC would recommend if a similar situation had occurred in the United States, in light
of the scientific and technical data that the NRC, the Department of Energy, and other technical experts in the U.S. Government have obtained from the Japanese government and from U.S. collection assets in Japan. Outside of that 50-mile area, we are urging American citizens to carefully monitor both
our guidelines and the guidelines of the Japanese government.
Departure of Embassy Family Members: Given the extraordinary circumstances, the State Department and Department of Defense (DOD) on March 16 authorized the voluntary departure of eligible family members and non-emergency DOD
civilians from Tokyo, Nagoya, Yokohama and the prefectures of Aichi, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Iwate, Kanagawa, Miyagi, Nagano, Niigata, Saitama, Shizouka, Tochigi, Yamagata, and Yamanashi. Separately, voluntary departure was authorized for eligible family members at Misawa AB (Aomori Prefecture). We took this step out of an abundance of caution, and in order
to enable U.S. government officials and the uniformed military to concentrate on the tasks at hand. Our employees remain in country, and we are absolutely open for business - in fact, the number of people working at the Embassy now is much larger than before the earthquake due to the number of experts who have arrived from the United States to augment our operations
in these difficult times. We look forward to our dependents returning to Japan once the situation haseased.
Concerns about Radiation: The situation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Site has naturally raised concerns about how far radioactive contamination might spread, and to what degree. As stated above, the NRC recommends that U.S. citizens who reside within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant leave the area, or remain indoors as much as possible if departure is not practical. Available data indicates that levels of radioactivity at the reactor site itself are variable, but remain very dangerous. Within the 30-kilometer perimeter established by the Japanese government, aerial measurement data shows the degree of radioactive
contamination at ground level varying considerably by location, with the most affected areas thus far stretching to the northwest of the reactor site, well within the 50-mile recommended perimeter.
Farther from the reactor site, radiation monitoring by the Japanese government, U.S. government assets, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) all indicate that levels of radiation measured in Tokyo as well as Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures remain at background levels, well below levels which are dangerous to human health. The Japanese Ministry of education, Science and
Technology is providing regular updated radioactivity measurements by prefecture, available online at
http://www.mext.go.jp/english/radioactivity_level/index.htm . This data appears consistent with measurements generated by WHO, the IAEA and the U.S. government. WHO information is available at www.wpro.who.int and IAEA data at www.iaea.org . U.S. government experts have also continuously monitored
radiation levels on Embassy grounds since March 14, using sophisticated radiation detection meters including high-volume pump samplers that collect information on a 24-hour basis. We have consistently observed normal background levels of radiation.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Travel Health Precaution as of March 19 states that "At this time, the risk of exposure to radiation and the risk of contamination from radioactive materials are believed to be low, especially for anyone outside a 50-mile radius of the nuclear power plant."
See www.cdc.gov for details. The United States government will continue to monitor the situation closely and will advise its citizens of any significant developments.
Potassium Iodide: U.S. citizens can consult CDC guidance on the use of potassium iodide (KI) in the event of a radiological emergency, available online at http://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/ki.asp U.S. citizens are also encouraged to monitor information provided by Japanese authorities regarding the use and availability of KI. On March 21, consistent with NRC guidelines that apply to such a situation in the United States, the U.S. Government
decided to make KI available as a precautionary measure for U.S. Government personnel and family members residing in the areas of Japan for which voluntary departure of family members is also authorized. The recipients of the medicine have been told they should consume it only after specific instructions from the U.S. Government. There is no indication that it will
become advisable to take KI, but it has been provided out of an abundance of caution to be used only upon direction, if a change in circumstances were to warrant. In the event
of a radiological release, sheltering in place or safely departing affected areas remain the most effective means of protection.
For private U.S. citizens seeking information about KI, we advise you to contact your doctor or employer. Should you need further assistance contact the Department of State by emailing JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov
or calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. U.S. citizens are also encouraged to monitor information provided by Japanese authorities regarding KI.
Radiation and Food Safety: Japanese government entities have reported elevated levels of radioactivity found in certain foodstuffs, including milk and certain vegetables, produced in areas relatively close to the Fukushima reactor site. Specifically, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and
Welfare has announced that radiation levels that exceeded legal limits were detected in milk produced in the Fukushima area and in certain vegetables in Ibaraki. The ministry has requested the Bureau of Sanitation at the Fukushima Prefectural Office, after conducting an investigation of the
relevant information, to take necessary measures, such as identifying the provider of these samples and places where the same lots were distributed and banning sales based on the Food Hygiene Law. We expect Japanese authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely and continue to share information publicly, while taking any necessary remedial action. Some useful information on food safety a
spects as well as other related topics in available from the WHO online at http://www.who.int/hac/crises/jpn/faqs/en/index.html .
The Situation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Site: As has been widely reported in the Japanese and international media, the Japanese government is dealing with a significant crisis at the Fukushima reactor site and is putting utmost efforts into taking immediate steps to avoid further deterioration of the site, while preparing for a longer-term process of more
permanent remediation. The United States government will continue to monitor the situation closely and will advise its citizens residing in Japan of any significant developments that could impact health or safety. Leading U.S. experts from the NRC, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. military are in place in Japan, cooperating directly with Japanese authorities to help contain the damage at the Fukushima Dai-ichi reactors. They are monitoring technical aspects and engaging with Japanese officials on efforts to cool the reactors at Fukushima, as well as regarding the health impacts of radiation. We are
sharing critical expertise, equipment, and technology so that the courageous responders on the scene have the benefit of American teamwork and support. Data and ideas are being shared, and we look forward to continuing to work side-by-side with our Japanese partners in helping them deal with this
problem. The situation at the site continues to be fluid; one source of information is press releases from Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency at http://www.nisa.meti.go.jp/english/
Travel within Japan and to Overseas Destinations: Commercial flights have resumed at all major airports in Japan, except Sendai Airport, and commercial seats continue to be available. In Tokyo, most public transportation including trains and subways are operating. Many roads have been damaged in northern Japan, particularly in Miyagi Prefecture where
government checkpoints have been established on damaged roadways. In Iwate Prefecture, toll road highways are restricted to emergency vehicles only. Some information on major highways and other infrastructure is available at
Electricity Supply: Rolling power outages continue in the Tokyo Metropolitan area and areas in northeast Japan affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Please monitor the Tokyo Electric Power Company website at http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/index-e.html and local news media for specific information and schedules for the planned outages. Radio stations in the Tokyo area that have emergency information in English include the U.S. Armed Forces station at 810AM and InterFM (76.1FM).
Assistance to U.S. Citizens in the Affected Areas: The U.S. Embassy deployed consular assistance teams around the Tohoku region, where they worked with local authorities to locate U.S. citizens, visit shelters and assistance centers, and help U.S. citizens identify public and commercial transportation options away from affected areas. U.S. citizens requiring
emergency consular assistance can continue to contact the Department of State via e-mail to JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov or through the emergency contact numbers below. At times like these, U.S. citizens in Japan should be certain to contact family and friends in the United States to confirm their
well-being at the earliest opportunity. Where internet and telephone services are not available, it may be possible to contact people using SMS (Cell text message) or other forms of social media such as Twitter and Facebook.
For the latest U.S. Government information on the situation in Japan, as well as the Department of State's Travel Warning, please go to the Department of State's Consular Affairs website - travel.state.gov. Updated information on travel and security in Japan may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States
and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
Hello. Things here continue to improve.
As of 10am on 3/23, the recorded amount of radiation in the air in Shinjuku was 0.145 microsieverts/hour. It started to increase again last night and reached a peak of 0.160 microsieverts/hour around 10pm. Again, it’s supposed to be mainly due to the wind direction.
The reading for tap water in Shinjuku for 3/21 was 5.25 Bq/kg for iodine-131 and 0.22 Bq/kg for cesium-137. For 3/22 it was 18.7 Bq/kg for iodine-131 and 0.31 Bq/kg for cesium-137.
The recorded amount of radioactive materials in particles in the air (dust and rain) for 3/22 was 32,300 Bq/meter squared for iodine-131 and 5,300 Bq/meter squared for cesium-137. Is it me, or is that starting to look a little high? Haven’t really found a simple way to figure out what that all means. It’s easier for sieverts because you can relate it to things like getting a x-ray. But for bequerels, I haven’t seen anything that describes it better. How do they describe it in the US?
Things continue to become more readily available in Tokyo. While it’s not yet to the point where it’s always available, I have started to see things like toilet paper, tissue, batteries more frequently in stores. One thing about the stores is that many stores/supermarkets are running shorter hours to help conserve energy. Of the three main places to buy groceries in our neighborhood, two of them close at 6pm. That makes it really hard for people who work. I wonder how long these shorter hours will last?
One more comment. I have noticed that one of the popular angles in the US media is about the morality of the Japanese people—how sincere and nice everyone is in the aftermath and how there hasn’t been widespread crime (like looting) that you would tend to see in other places in disasters like this. However, I was watching on TV over the weekend a person in Miyagi being interviewed and he talked about how his brand new TV had been stolen from his home. I also saw somewhere else that personal safes that people kept in offices and homes have been reported missing is some of the disaster areas. So stuff like that is occurring, unfortunately. It may not be as widespread and widely reported like, say, when Hurricane Katrina happened. But it isn’t zero either. Maybe it’s just a few isolated incidents, I don’t know, but just thought I’d mention that.
Also, I noticed last night was the first time that the TV channels (including NHK) were not running a constant ticker at the bottom of the screen with updates. I guess that’s one more sign that things are relatively stable.
However, the thing that is not stable right now is the ground beneath your feet. For some reason, we have had many aftershocks in the last 24 hours. Just when it seemed like things were getting to be quiet on the seismic front, it’s starting to pick up again. So unpredictable. You can’t let your guard down.
I’ll copy at the end the latest email from the US embassy that I got last night. It covers a lot of topics—radiation exposure, radiation in food, evacuation, potassium iodide, rolling blackouts, etc and has a lot of links to stuff. It’s probably a good summary of the current state (of course, from a US point of view).
We are still doing well.
As of 9am on 3/22, the recorded amount of radiation in the air in Shinjuku was 0.127 microsieverts/hour. It reached a peak of 0.148 microsieverts/hour around midnight and has slowly come down since. They were saying in the news that the increased levels was mainly due to wind conditions.
This is no reading listed for yesterday’s tap water. Maybe it hasn’t been updated yet.
The recorded amount of radioactive materials in particles in the air (dust and rain) for 3/21 was 2,880 Bq/meter squared for iodine-131 and 561 Bq/meter squared for cesium-137. (The data listed has now been changed from per kilogram to per meter squared. 1 kg = 1 meter squared. The usual solid to liquid conversion, if I remember correctly from chemistry class.) Both of those are much higher than the previous day. It was raining yesterday and still is raining this morning in Tokyo. Maybe now we can see how these things changes when it rains. Still haven’t had the chance to study what the different readings mean and the levels to be monitoring for. I am just taking for granted all the experts on TV who keep saying it is till safe levels for now.
Yesterday, Miwa and I did some shopping so we did venture out and walk around in the rain. There were just as many people out as there normally would be, so I guess people weren’t too worried about getting wet with the contaminated rain. I also did not see anyone who were wearing any kind of special gear to protect themselves in the rain. Just your typical umbrellas and raincoats. No big deal. We were doing some shopping at Takashimaya and there was a special little section for earthquake goods (things to attach to cabinets to prevent things from falling over, etc) and emergency goods (emergency kits, little gas lamps, etc.) The typical kinds of things you wished you had bought earlier before the earthquake to be prepared—now we’ll buy them and probably never need them again (knock on wood).
One things I haven’t mentioned before is that since the whole nuclear power plant situation started, many of the foreign retail stores have just decided to stay closed and suspend operations for the time being in the Tokyo area. In our area stores like the Gap, Banana Republic, Polo, H&M, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, etc, etc are all closed. The foreign companies are playing it ultra, ultra-safe with the radiation situation, probably influenced by the media coverage in their home countries. It’s actually starting to create a feeling of resentment amongst the Japanese people when they see the difference between the way the foreign companies and media are reacting versus the way the Japanese companies and media are reacting.
This morning was the start of another work week and the trains were pretty crowded again. Those of you who are familiar with the Japanese train system know that things are scheduled out literally by the minute. The train companies are still trying to adjust on the fly so there really isn’t a set schedule yet. Things are pretty fluid. It is taking us Tokyo-ites a little getting used to.
Our office is in an area schedule for a rolling blackout this afternoon. So far, we have yet to lose power. Who knows what will happen this afternoon. It’s starting to get to be like the boy who cries wolf. My experience is probably in the minority on this since I have yet to experience one of these rolling blackouts. It seems like most everyone else has. I guess I am just lucky.
Our office has started to receive FedEx shipments so it looks like they are online again. Not sure about UPS yet, but I would guess they are probably online too.
The people in our office this morning are saying that they still have to wait in lines to buy gas, but it’s getting better. More places don’t have a limit to the number of liters you can buy and now allow you to fill up your whole tank.
That’s it for today.
