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posted by CoolHand on Thursday March 10 2016, @10:29PM   Printer-friendly
from the going-radioactive dept.

[Update:] A new report identifies the source and states that the detected radiation level, though much higher than background level and now since subsided, posed no health risk:

The radioactive cesium 137 detected by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) on the 3rd and 4th of March has now been traced back to the garage and parts of the basement of the building in which STUK operates. The same property complex also houses a company that treats small radioactive waste. The premises in question have been isolated and the measurements continue. Areas in the immediate vicinity of the property will be examined on Wednesday morning by STUK’s own measurements.

“The investigation concerning the source of the radiation is still ongoing. The concentrations measured have been very low and do not pose a threat to health. The staff and people who’ve visited STUK’s premises are not in any danger,” says STUK’s director Tarja K. Ikäheimonen.

Caesium-137 [1] levels in the air of Helsinki, Finland has reached 1000 times normal the normal level The measured value in the air is 4000 μBq / m³. STUK.fi the Finish radiation emergency authority says that it can't yet explain the result, but that it may be an indication that something has happened. They are quick to add it's NOT believed the Cesium came from a nuclear reactor like the Leningrad nuclear plant.

The levels are 10 times higher in Helsinki then what they measured after the Fukushima disaster. However, the levels are just one millionth compared to when people would need to protect themselves. The winds were eastern and southeastern when the measurement was made in Finland.

Also reported by Liveuamap.com and hbl.fi. The site allegedlyapparent.wordpress.com has more data.


[1] [Ed #2. addition] Yes, "Caesium". According to Wikipedia:

Caesium is the spelling recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). The American Chemical Society (ACS) has used the spelling cesium since 1921, following Webster's New International Dictionary. The element was named after the Latin word caesius , meaning "bluish grey". In medieval and early modern writings caesius was spelled with the ligature æ as cæsius; hence, an alternative but now old-fashioned orthography is cæsium. More spelling explanation at ae/oe vs e.

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  • (Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Friday March 11 2016, @03:43PM

    by wonkey_monkey (279) on Friday March 11 2016, @03:43PM (#317047) Homepage

    Go and watch Die Hard.

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