Radiation Station Stats

Interior Graph by Dale Ramicone from 7-31-11 to 10-03-11

For half a year since the Fukushima multiple meltdowns disaster began, EnviroReporter.com tallied ionizing events over 10-minute periods then dividing the total by 10 to get a really accurate count per minute or CPM. We began this testing well before any fallout from the Fukushima meltdowns could have impacted Southern California.

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SEE SPECIAL RADIATION STATION TESTING of food, drink, rain, and other media conducted by EnviroReporter.com across Los Angeles and the Southwest United States.

This helped us establish a baseline background range in order to see any possible spikes in radiation should the Jet Stream finally carry the radiation to this area. Having created that baseline, we now are concentrating on specific radiation testing of multiple media in various locations and posting the results. These tests, often videotaped, are now far more important than repeated averaging. Our radiation monitor remains in service 24-7 for immediate and accurate radiation readings in the western area of the Greater Los Angeles Basin.

Our RadAlert Inspector Nuclear Radiation Monitor is located in EnviroReporter.com‘s Santa Monica office on the West Los Angeles border. Elevation 140 feet. The unit is approximately one meter off of the ground in a wood-floored structure built over crawlspace with soil foundation.

The Inspector picks up ionizing radiation and, in the setting you are seeing, is measuring in Counts Per Minute or CPM. Many radiation readings are taken in millirems per hour, or mR/hr. The conversion for the Inspector is 1 mR/hr = 3500 CPM.

SEE RADIATION STATION GRAPHS by Dale Ramicone which show half a year’s worth of Radiation Station tests documenting west Los Angeles Basin and special tests radiation.

We have been measuring in CPM because it is easier for most people to see the difference in radiation levels. The baseline external radiation background we’ve established for this location is 42 to 46 CPM which equals 0.012 to 0.013 mR/hr.

Radiation Station exterior ionization graph by Dale Ramicone

Here are the 10 minute averages we have recorded from our Santa Monica/West LA location from March 15 to September 6, 2011. Following that are exclusive special tests which also rely on 10 minute averages. The normal range is between 42 CPM to 46 CPM (0.012 mR/hr to 0.013 mR/hr) for Exterior readings. On July 13, 2011, after reviewing the data generated since March 15, 2011, we determined that the normal range for Interior readings was/is 35 CPM to 40 CPM.

Watch west Los Angeles Basin radiation readings LIVE at upper right at “LIVE Radiation Station” or refresh this page often to see a screen shot of the current average.

We’ve conducted more than 1,500 radiation readings since Radiation Station went online until the time of this writing, January 5, 2012. We have tested numerous items, substances and sites to determine if Fukushima fallout has impacted them. Those special in-situ multi-media tests, many with video documentation, will continue to be posted here regularly as we report on our findings. EnviroReporter.com‘s Radiation Station continues to operate uninterrupted 24/7 since it began operation on the Ides of March, four days after the March 11, 2011 triple meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors complex in Japan. Check our Live Radiation Station often to monitor radiation in Los Angeles.

Note that none of our readings at Radiation Station Santa Monica are impacted by radon progeny as we discuss in Beta Watch.

5/10/12
7:45pm 10-minute INTERIOR ENGLISH WALNUT POVITICA (2 pound loaf from Strawberry Hill, Lenexa Kansas) average: 46.4 CPM^
7:30pm 10-minute INTERIOR STRAWBERRY POVITICA (2 pound loaf from Strawberry Hill, Lenexa Kansas) average: 45.7 CPM^
7:15pm 10-minute INTERIOR background average: 48.8 CPM^

4/28/12
In Eagle Rock, we secured seaweed samples from Japan, China and Korea that were harvested before the triple meltdowns at Fukushima began. This gave us for the first time a small set of “control” samples. The results were illuminating.

A Japanese Sushi Nori by Eden tested at background as did a Chinese organic raw Sushi Nori by Earth Circle Organics.

Harvested before Fukushima. Testing at background also says no discernible “natural radiation” strongly suggests that at least a significant amount of overage radiation we’ve detected in seaweed we’ve tested from last August and more recently was and is from Fukushima.

We also test a “dried kelp” harvested off the southeast coast of South Korea in Busan that was gathered pre-Fukushima:

8:45pm Eagle Rock 10-minute average INTERIOR SOUTH KOREAN KELP HARVESTED PRE-FUKUSHIMA: 86.8 CPM or 202% of normal.
8:30pm Eagle Rock 10-minute average INTERIOR background: 42.9 CPM^

4/25/12
10:55pm 10-minute INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE from subtropical storm coming up from the south: 47.2 CPM^ which is within the Inspector Alert’s +/- 15% margin of error. Rain reads at background with no radon progeny present.
10:35pm 10-minute INTERIOR background average: 42.8 CPM^

4/23/12
9:00am 10-minute INTERIOR background average of RAIN SAMPLE: 44.0 CPM^ which is less than background. More proof that Radiation Station Santa Monica rain/air readings are not impacted by radon progeny because, if they were, it would show up even in a rain sample like this apparently not impacted by Fukushima radionuclide contamination. Note other below-background rain readings prior.
8:40am 10-minute INTERIOR background average: 47.3 CPM^

4/16/12
2:15pm 10-minute INTERIOR AGGREGATE DUST/DEBRIS OF THREE HEPA FILTERS AFTER 40 DAYS USE: 341.6 CPM or 746% of NORMAL or 7.46 TIMES NORMAL
1:55pm 10-minute INTERIOR background average: 45.8 CPM^

4/13/12
9:25pm 10-minute INTERIOR background average: 39.3 CPM^
9:10pm 10-minute INTERIOR average of April 13, 2012 JAPANESE SEAWEED OUT OF BAG: 76.5 CPM^ which is 94.7% HIGHER THAN SUBSEQUENT BACKGROUND. 17.6% of background exceedance is ALPA. April 13, 2012 background exceedance is 40.9% increase over August 23, 2011 exceedance.
8:50pm 10-minute average of April 13, 2012 JAPANESE SEAWEED IN BAG: 69.6 CPM^ which is 77.1% HIGHER THAN SUBSEQUENT BACKGROUND.
6:30pm 10-minute average of August 23, 2011 JAPANESE SEAWEED OUT OF BAG RE-TEST: 66.8 CPM^ which is 55.0% HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS BACKGROUND. Higher reading out of bag indicates 10.8% of background exceedance is ALPHA.
6:15pm 10-minute average of August 23, 2011 JAPANESE SEAWEED IN BAG RE-TEST: 63.4 CPM^ which is 44.2% HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS BACKGROUND. Aug. 23, 2011 was 54.2% higher than background therefore 10.0% decrease in ionization over nearly 8 months (237 days or 64.93%/year) which translates to 15.4% decrease of the radionuclide(s) per year.
6:00pm 10-minute average: 43.9 CPM^
8:45am 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN REMNANTS: 43.3 CPM^ [Within +/- 15% Inspector Alert margin of error = NORMAL RAIN WITH NO RADON PROGENY]
8:25am 10-minute average INTERIOR: 42.8 CPM^

4/11/12
8:40am 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN REMNANTS: 46.8 CPM^ [Within +/- 15% Inspector Alert margin of error = NORMAL RAIN WITH NO RADON PROGENY]
8:15am 10-minute average INTERIOR: 44.6 CPM^

3/31/12
8:45pm 10-minute average INTERIOR of a SECOND RAINSTORM SAMPLE: 46.6 CPM^ [131% of previous background possibly due to sea spray washout]
8:30pm 10-minute average INTERIOR: 35.6 CPM^
12:45pm 10-minute INTERIOR SPOT CHECK MISTY RAIN SAMPLE: ~176 CPM^ [~506% of prior background HIGHER with NO RADON PROGENY. HIGHEST LOS ANGELES RAIN TO DATE.] (Videotaped – upcoming)
12:30pm 10-minute average INTERIOR: 34.8 CPM^

3/26/12
5:30pm EXTERIOR & INTERIOR 20-minute check of new red 4-door 2012 TOYOTA PRIUS courtesy of a neighbor who allowed full access to the vehicle. Engine, chassis, undercarriage, trunk and interior all carefully checked with NO RADIATION ABOVE BACKGROUND.

3/25/12
11:00am 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 45.1 CPM^ [116% of prior averaged backgrounds HIGHER with NO RADON PROGENY]
10:30am 10-minute average INTERIOR: 40.1 CPM (Combined average of OG and Popper Inspector Alerts): 39.05 CPM
10:30am 10-minute average INTERIOR: 40.1 CPM
10:30am 10-minute average INTERIOR: 38.0 CPM^

3/17/12
7:50pm 10-minute average INTERIOR: 47.4 CPM^
7:35pm 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 46.8 CPM^ [98.7% of subsequent background LOWER which again demonstrates NO RADON PROGENY or the sample would have been hotter than background]
9:55am 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 45.5 CPM^ [107% of previous background higher HOWEVER within the =/- 15% Inspector Alert margin of error which means NO ELEVATED RADIATION and NO RADON PROGENY. This presents another indicator of the fact that Radiation Station Santa Monica is not impacted by radon progeny/daughters - IF we were, we would detect it over the background but, once again, we haven't.]
9:55am 10-minute average INTERIOR: 42.4 CPM^

3/16/12
9:30am 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 59.2 CPM^ [143% of previous background HIGHER - NO RADON PROGENY]
9:10am 10-minute average INTERIOR: 41.5 CPM^

3/07/12
4:45pm SPOT TEST OF HONEYWELL/KENMORE HEPA FILTERS AGGREGATE DUST: ~252 CPM^ or ~668% of previous background HIGHER
4:20pm SPOT TEST OF HONEYWELL/KENMORE HEPA FILTERS: ~142 CPM^ or ~377% of previous background HIGHER
4:05pm 10-minute average INTERIOR: 37.7 CPM^

2/27/12
2:20pm 10-minute average INTERIOR: 48.7 CPM^
2:05pm 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 57.7 CPM^ [119% of subsequent background HIGHER - NO RADON PROGENY]

2/15/12
2:40pm 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 50.2 CPM^ [123% of previous background HIGHER - NO RADON PROGENY]
2:25pm 10-minute average INTERIOR: 40.8 CPM^

2/13/12
10:15am 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 154.5 CPM^ [380% of previous background HIGHER - NO RADON PROGENY]
9:50am 10-minute average INTERIOR: 40.7 CPM^

2/07/12
6:30pm 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 63.8 CPM^ [155% of previous background HIGHER - NO RADON PROGENY]
6:15pm 10-minute average INTERIOR background average: 41.2 CPM^
10:15am 10-minute average INTERIOR background average: 43.8 CPM^
10:00am 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 68.2 CPM^ [156% of subsequent background HIGHER - NO RADON PROGENY]

1/23/12
1:00pm 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 46.5 CPM^ (STATISTICALLY AT BACKGROUND WITH NO RADON PROGENY)
12:40pm 10-minute average INTERIOR background average: 44.5 CPM^
8:55am 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 47.3 CPM^ (EVEN THOUGH LOWER THAN BACKGROUND, STATISTICALLY AT BG WITH NO RADON PROGENY)
8:45am 10-minute average INTERIOR RAIN SAMPLE: 52.3 CPM^

1/22/12
8:00pm 10-minute average INTERIOR background average: 37.2 CPM^
7:45pm SPOT TEST OF HONEYWELL/KENMORE HEPA FILTERS AGGREGATE DUST: ~200 CPM^ or 538% of subsequent background HIGHER (Videotaped – A WHOLE HEPA TROUBLE 1/22/12 #2)
7:00pm SPOT TEST OF HONEYWELL/KENMORE HEPA FILTERS: ~146 CPM^ or 351% of previous background HIGHER (Videotaped – A WHOLE HEPA TROUBLE 1/22/12 #1)
5:50pm 10-minute INTERIOR background average:41.6 CPM^

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