https://youtu.be/v-edIgePbIg


This mask was sent to EnviroReporter.com by a friend of one of our Radiation Nation members. In her letter with the enclosed mask, Yoko N. wrote:

Hi Michael,

My name is Yoko [redacted by editor].

I visited to the U.S.A. and returned to Japan on June 9th, 2011. My friend, [redacted by editor], told me about you and asked me to volunteer for your research.

I wore the filter mask for about 9 to 9 1/2 hours while [on] my flight from LAX to Narita, Japan.

I hope that my work will help your research.

Thank you, Yoko

Indeed, Yoko’s mask read hot with radiation that was not background. We performed three tests on the mask on June 22, 2011, meaning that the shorter-lived radionuclides that may have been present during Yoko’s flight may have totally ionized away by the time the mask reached us. The test results are on our Radiation Station Stats page and reads as follows:

3:00 pm 10-minute INTERIOR average of FACE MASK WORN BY YOKO K. ON JUNE 9, 2011 FOR 9 TO 9.5 HOURS ON FLIGHT FROM LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO NARITA JAPAN: 47.9 CPM WHICH IS 45.6% ABOVE THE IMMEDIATE PRIOR INTERIOR AVERAGE.

9:30 pm 10-minute SECOND INTERIOR average of FACE MASK WORN BY YOKO K. ON JUNE 9, 2011 FOR 9 TO 9.5 HOURS ON FLIGHT FROM LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO NARITA JAPAN: 42.9 CPM WHICH IS 23.3% ABOVE THE IMMEDIATE PRIOR INTERIOR AVERAGE. THIS AVERAGING WAS VIDEOTAPED AND AVAILABLE AT RADIATION STATION VIDEO AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE

11:45 pm 10-minute THIRD INTERIOR average of “SNOUT” OF FACE MASK WORN BY YOKO K. ON JUNE 9, 2011 FOR 9 TO 9.5 HOURS ON FLIGHT FROM LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO NARITA JAPAN: 44.8 CPM WHICH IS 28.7% ABOVE THE IMMEDIATE PRIOR INTERIOR AVERAGE. THIS AVERAGING WAS PHOTOGRAPHED AND AVAILABLE AT RADIATION STATION VIDEO AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE

Yoko on plane w N95 mask
Yoko in Japan w mask & LA Times
Third mask test - N95 mask alone w packaging
Third mask test - N95 mask tested w Inspector

8 Comments

  1. The P-100 respirator that you refer to is a simple low-cost filtering half-mask that is adequate for protection against relatively low levels of some radioactive particulates. The highest protection factor associated with such a device is about a factor of 10.

    The maximum protection factor offered by a somewhat more sophisticated full-face mask (still with negative pressure) with particulate filter is about 50 (e.g., see 10 CFR 20 App. A, Protection Factors for Respirators). If a mask with particulate filter is used in which positive air pressure is maintained within the mask, the protection factor may be up to 1,000.

    SOURCE: http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q7605.html

    * I guess they are talking about a different P-100 than the one I linked below. If so, I believe they are talking about…. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA12E09N2636&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle8&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle8-_-AT+-+Body+Repair+Tools-_-3M-_-9SIA12E09N2636 . I under stand that they are better filters for this mask than the one shown (pink one).

  2. An update to the original story, Yoko has traveled from LAX to Narita Japan once again. The trip was on Saturday April 28th, 2012 and she returned the mask to me 6 weeks later on June 7, 2012. I tested the mask, first inside the plastic bag, and got a count of 419 CPM, I removed the mask from the bag and the left side of the mask measured 443 and the right side measured 453. The background radiation is 350 CPM. So the two out of the bag measurements are 26% and 29% over background. Since the counts are higher out of the bag, it appears there is an alpha component to this air traveler’s mask. This is 6 weeks after the travel from Los Angeles to Japan! If she hadn’t worn the mask, those alpha particles would be in her lungs right now, blasting away at her lung tissue. I’m sure the lesson is obvious, everyone should wear an N95 mask or better during air travel, especially to Japan.

  3. @Chase: I just returned from the foothills in Tulare County. Just for historical purposes, to add to your observations, a dead bird embryo dropped to my car. Sorry folks, its sad and gross, but it happened. I lived in Tulare County for decades, this never happened. I just returned today, and the embryo which dropped dead happened yesterday. Per Endtimes website used for jetstream location, while I was in the foothills, the jetstream was right over that middle section of California. My timing to the foothills nestled against the Sierra Nevada couldn’t have been at a worse time. Amazingly my skeptic husband noted the dark looking (what I call fukushima fallout clouds) were over the hills as well yesterday. Are birds going to start dying? Baby birds? Noted bird scientist stated that the measurements west of the sierras after Chernobyl had many baby birds dying. Today Aug 4th, no jetstream over Ca predicted. I am now in SLO county, wondering about the tornadic storms via Dutchsinse, headed this way… But Chase, is anyone measuring radiation in Tulare County???

  4. HEPA filters are the best…thanks for the tip on something for a car. I’m far from the West Coast, but anything goes these days! 😛

  5. I’m using an upgraded carbon cabin air filter, designed to trap Volatile Organic Compounds (petrochemical VOCs) at the micron level. Granted, some of the radioactive particles could be smaller-even nano size! But, I’ve found that this premium filter for my Toyota helps out, although the dealer had to order mine. It was very affordable. Plus, it offers a little more peace of mind. 🙂 You can order a variety of N95 masks or respirators on Amazon.com. They also carry them in home improvement stores–Lowe’s, etc. (I prefer Lowe’s b/c they donate millions to Environmental causes. 🙂 I’m curious about which mask would be the best? I read that truckers in Fukushima prefecture wear full gas masks. 🙁

  6. @ Mike Blackford: I’ve seen Roomaids HEPA filters as low as $145 that seem solid for your cab and you can take it into any motel, cab sleeper or room at home too. We recommend N95 face masks because they are effective and relatively cheap. We feed water into our Berkey through a countertop reverse-osmosis machine made in Southern California that we liked so much that we became affiliates. If you buy through us, you will not only get the best American unit we’ve seen but we’ll get a commission which goes into Radiation Station and our continuing investigative reporting.

    The kinds of things that radically reduce radiation exposure add up in cost and can be very expensive depending on the lifestyle, number of people to be protected, and site(s) requirements. Given that, there are definite benefits to owning these systems. The use of HEPA filters gives you fresh air that invigorates, the filtered water is exquisite and makes all meals cooked with it better than ever. Growing greens in this environment using tested and/or safe staples has improves diets and lowers consumption of processed food. And, most importantly, it reduces exposure to Fukushima fallout.

  7. Hey Michael,
    Listened to your presentation with Jeff Rense. I live in Iowa some 150 miles from Ft Calhoun, NE, but drive a truck to central California once every couple of weeks. I keep the trucks AC on recirculating interior air versus “fresh” outside air. I regularly change the trucks interior.cabin air filters but they look damned inefficient to me. Any suggestions?
    Also…who makes a good face mask? I carry a stainless Travel Berkey with me. You mentioned during the show you do something to your water prior to using your Berkey. What do you do?
    Thanks for all the invaluable work you do,
    Mike.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *