Japan planning breast milk radiation tests

Japan planning breast milk radiation tests
By Kyung Lah, CNN
January 12, 2012 -


A doctor checks the level of radiation on a woman at a treatment centre in Nihonmatsu city on March 13, 2011.


STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Mothers in the Fukushima area had expressed concerns about the possible effects of radiation
A government study found traces of radioactive cesium in the breast milk of 7 mothers
Experts say the small amount posed no health risks to babies


Tokyo (CNN) -- Some new mothers in Japan may soon be adding radiation testing of their breast milk to their list of health checkups.


Government officials say they are considering widespread testing of breast milk samples of new mothers in Fukushima Prefecture, home of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.


The details have yet to be finalized, according to a spokesman at the prefecture, who declined to give his name as is customary in Japan. But the spokesman said the prefecture is working out a plan to obtain samples of the breast milk from new mothers in the region.


Mothers in the prefecture have publicly held protests, expressing outrage over possible health effects of radiation from the plant affecting their newborns. About 18,000 babies are born each year in the prefecture. About half of those babies, according to the government, are breastfed.

http://easss.com/baby

A survey conducted in May and June by Japan's national government found traces of radioactive cesium in the breast milk of seven of 21 mothers in Fukushima. Experts say the minute amounts posed no health risks to babies.


The new plan is one of the many safety measures that have been considered after the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011. The disaster killed more than 15,000 people in northeastern Japan and sent plumes of radioactive particles from the damaged nuclear power plant.

12 Nuclear Tourism Destinations: Not Your Typical Vacation

12 Nuclear Tourism Destinations: Not Your Typical Vacation
Thursday, January 12, 2012
http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/eco-tourism/photos/12-nuclear-tourism-destinations/not-your-typical-vacation


Mother Nature Network:
If you're looking for a unique vacation experience, skip the beach this year and check out some of the world's most notorious locations from the Atomic Age. 


http://easss.com/travel


A relatively new trend, nuclear tourism involves traveling to significant sites in atomic history. The headlines -- including those for Japan's Fukushima disaster in March 2011 -- make the concept controversial, but that's also what draws people in to learn more.

Radiation-Tainted Japanese Car Parts Confiscated At Russia's Far Eastern Border

Radiation-Tainted Japanese Car Parts Confiscated At Russia's Far Eastern Border
1/11/2012 


(RTTNews) - Russian police have confiscated dozens of car parts imported from Japan after they were found to be radiation-tainted.


The Far Eastern customs service in Vladivostok said in a press release on Wednesday that customs officers detected 34 'hot' automotive parts including chassis and engines in the first ten days of January alone.


Russia has been maintaining strict vigil at its borders against import of automobiles from Japan since its Fukushima nuclear power station suffered a series of nuclear meltdowns as a result of an earthquake in March last.


http://easss.com/cars


Several cars with radionuclide contamination traces were spotted at the border checkpoints since then, and those with excess radiation were not allowed to cross the border.


In December, a consignment of radioactive tires shipped from Japan was seized at Vladivostok.


Goods found to be radioactive upon arrival in Vladivostok are usually rejected, but a small portion is allowed into Russia after decontamination.



Russian police confiscate radioactive Japanese car parts
Jan 11, 2012
monstersandcritics


Moscow - Police in the Russian Pacific port city Vladivostok confiscated dozens of car parts contaminated by Japan's Fukushima-1 nuclear power accident, port authorities said Wednesday.


'In the first 10 days of January alone, Vladivostok customs officers detected 34 'hot' automotive parts including chassis and engines,' a statement from the Vladivostok customs office said.


The parts were irradiated as a result of a March nuclear power accident in Japan, according to the statement.
In December, a shipping container packed with of radioactive tyres from Japan was seized at Vladivostok. Dozens of Japanese automobiles contaminated by radiation arrived in the port in April and June, according to official statements.


Some of the Japanese cars were found to emit dangerous isotopes at six times safe levels.


Japan's Fukushima nuclear power station suffered a series of nuclear meltdowns as a result of an earthquake.


Goods found to be radioactive upon arrival in Vladivostok are usually rejected, but a small portion is allowed into Russia after decontamination.