Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Contaminated Mushrooms Out of Belarus


The following story was reported by Reuters. There are two interesting aspects to this story.

First, I find it astonishing and concerning that a disaster that occurred in 1986 is still contaminating local flora and fauna. This take on the story emphasizes the persistence and long-term hazards associated with nuclear accidents. Radiocesium deposited in the soil doesn't stay put but rather is bioaccumulated in plants for DECADES!

Second, an alternative take on this story is that the mushrooms were recently contaminated by the radiation cloud that has enveloped Europe and probably North America. If you read the story, you will see that "officials" claim there is "no link" to the recent Ruthenium 106 pollution (for background see my previous post here).

I find it interesting that this possibility is brought up at all in the article given other news stories over the years that have documented persistent Chernobyl contamination in the environment.

I am reminded of the Shakespearean line that the lady, or official in this case, doth protest too much.

Allegedly Apparent has been monitoring radiation monitoring sites around the world. He has charged that Ruthenium was not the only radionuclide recently released. Moreover, he identifies missing gaps in the EPA's Radnet radiation monitoring data. See his post https://allegedlyapparent.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/phoenix-tucson-seattle-radnet-7-months/

I have no way of knowing what is true other than the indisputable fact that radioactive contamination does not go away but re-surfaces in biological life where it poses persistent risks to exposed populations:
Geert De Clercq (November 30, 2017) France stops large shipment of radioactive Belarus mushrooms. Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-nuclearpower-accidentedf/france-stops-large-shipment-of-radioactive-belarus-mushrooms-idUSKBN1DU1CW?il=0
PARIS (Reuters) ....A spokesman for French nuclear safety institute IRSN said that a few days ago customs officials found that a 3.5 tonne shipment of Belarus mushrooms coming through Frankfurt, Germany was contaminated with cesium 137, a radioactive nuclide that is a waste product of nuclear reactors.
While the contaminated mushrooms did not represent a health threat to consumers, the shipment will be destroyed in a specialized incinerator in coming days, the IRSN said.
“There is no link with the ruthenium 106 pollution,” the official said.

3 comments:

  1. https://www.alternet.org/environment/indian-point-nuclear-plant-blame-soaring-thyroid-cancer-rates-new-york

    ReplyDelete
  2. As each less-than paper-thick veneer of illusion falls away, we see the monster of a totalitarian state. It is becoming quite clear under Trump.

    ReplyDelete
  3. https://nuclear-news.net/2017/12/06/hanford-usa-and-mayak-russia-their-hidden-radioactive-megapollution/

    ReplyDelete

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