Removing radiation from water onboard ship

[cb at sea]

thanks for all the good info - especially chengkp75

excellent explanation and puts it all in perspective.

I did look up how they distill water for ship use but

wasn't aware of the particle info.

We come from a generation that was exposed to multiple x-rays

chest x-rays every year for tb, dental, machines in the shoe stores

to see if the bones of the feet fit into the shoe properly, as well as the

medical x-rays over and over.

So now we try to avoid radiation from any source when we can.

 

Don't fly...don't use the microwave...don't buy watches or clocks with glowing numbers....in other words, just living exposes you to radiation. We are adapting to it.

[BruceMuzz]

If worrying about radiation is your thing, you may want to stay away from Niagara Falls, New York. During the 1940's and 50's the US Government dumped tailings from the uranium mining that had been done for the nuclear bombs they built, along the highways in Niagara Falls. It turns out that these radioactive rocks make a very good and solid road bed.

 

After some (too) late research, they discovered radiation levels in some areas there were nearly fatal.

So they solved the problem by posting "No stopping" signs along the highways in the area.

Brilliant.

The radiation is still there (for a few hundred more years). So are the "No Stopping" signs.

 

 

Link to a US Government study done in 1984: http://web.ornl.gov/info/reports/1986/3445601478227.pdf

[zerbot]

Don't fly...don't use the microwave...don't buy watches or clocks with glowing numbers....in other words, just living exposes you to radiation. We are adapting to it.

 

Microwaves don't emit ionizing radiation. What we're talking about here is the other end of the spectrum.

 

When my mother was undergoing radiation treatment for cancer, the doctor counseled her to avoid all unnecessary sources of ionizing radiation, stuff that wouldn't be an issue for most people. That included flying or even traveling to places at high altitude unless it was an emergency. I would hope that people would realize that what might not be of concern to most people could be an issue to some, and not just tinfoil-hat ignorance.

[Mumsysailor]

Just loving this thread. 😶

[Fouremco]

Just loving this thread. 😶

I fail to see the humour or entertainment value. The OP has a legitimate if possibly misplaced concern and is seeking advice.

[Dancer Bob]

Anyone who thinks bottled water is going to be safe should search "Toronto Star" + "Blue Glass Water".

[USN59-79]

I fail to see the humour or entertainment value. The OP has a legitimate if possibly misplaced concern and is seeking advice.

You can enjoy a thread for reasons other than humor or entertainment. I enjoyed learning the facts and science of the aftermath of Fukushima. Altho I do think it is humorous how easily some people panic and refuse to seek the facts.

[Lotsasmiles]

I too am 'loving' this thread - I have learnt new facts and it is nice that a legitimate question has produced some great answers. The fact about Niagara Falls was amazing! Thanks

Edited July 16, 2015 by Lotsasmiles

[Typhoon1]

Let us know if you glow in the dark.

[Fouremco]

You can enjoy a thread for reasons other than humor or entertainment. I enjoyed learning the facts and science of the aftermath of Fukushima. Altho I do think it is humorous how easily some people panic and refuse to seek the facts.

I think it's pretty clear from the wording and the smiley that their enjoyment wasn't based on the the educational aspects.

[Sir PMP]

I fail to see the humour or entertainment value. The OP has a legitimate if possibly misplaced concern and is seeking advice.

 

Well, at least he doesn't have to turn the light on in his cabin...

[Khaos WolfKat]

Oh darn! Have the silly police arrived? Right then.

 

This is all VERY SERIOUS, people!

There is NO place for any sort of joking around about matters of POSSIBLE RADIATION EXPOSURE!!!!111!!one!!11!eleven!

Sarcastic, sciencey comics and irreverent humour laden articles (no matter how relevant and informational) are a completely inappropriate way to approach this highly important matter!

 

Fart jokes, on the other hand, are still totally cool. ;)

Edited July 17, 2015 by Khaos WolfKat

[Sopwith]

Your chances of dieing or becoming seriously injured driving to and from the ship are at least 1,000,000 times higher than the chance of any signifant health risks from radioactive isotopes in the water. Relax and enjoy the cruise.

 

Yes, I forgot to mention the dose of gamma radiation you will receive flying to and from the ship. Again, orders of magnitude higher than anything you'll get from the water.

[xlxo]

who likes bannanas?

http://listverse.com/2013/02/06/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-were-radioactive/

[xlxo]

The residents of Denver Colorado receive higher radiation doses every day of the year (from natural radioactive Uranium in the mountains) than the residents of Fukushima received during their big crisis.

Haven't heard too many dire news reports from Denver lately.

Is that why they are doing so well in MLS.

http://www.coloradorapids.com/standings

[CaveDiving]

I’d like to chime in here and say that I find it amusing, absolutely amazing and a little bit surprising that anyone could actually take this subject seriously. Worry about radiation coming from the water in the middle of the ocean. Come on folks, you’ve GOT to be kidding.

 

I make this statement with a bit of a background in studying the effects of radiation. You see, the title of my published doctoral dissertation in Electrical Engineering was “The Effects on Ionizing Radiation on Semiconductor Devices.”

 

Don’t even think about the radiation coming from the sea water in the middle of the ocean. I believe it is orders of magnitude below anything that we need to consider.

 

Of course, YMMV.:)

 

Scott & Karen

[Mumsysailor]

I think it's pretty clear from the wording and the smiley that their enjoyment wasn't based on the the educational aspects.

 

 

Well I'm so glad you apparently know my mind better than I do and therefore I have no reason to explain why I am loving this thread. I deliberately chose an emoticon with no mouth i.e. Not smiling.

 

Perhaps someone would kindly explain why I'm the only one being flamed for my comment?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[take us away]

Let us know if you glow in the dark.

 

My past DH was a nuclear engineer and was contaminated at a measureable but non-fatal level while in the service. Anyway - he did not glow in the dark (but I kept checking just in case). Would have saved a lot on night lights!

Edited July 17, 2015 by take us away

[DocF]

Just loving this thread. 😶

 

It is a bit different, isn't it?

[richstowe]

 

Perhaps someone would kindly explain why I'm the only one being flamed for my comment?

 

Don't worry (about the crazies). Enjoy the Open .

 

[JJPacer]

The environmental officer on board has the responsibility of monitoring for a number of unpleasant chemicals, radiation, etc. He monitors the ships output into the ocean, as well as safety issues on the ship. He has extensive training in health physics as well as a number of other areas.

 

Here's a definition of a health physicist. Health physics or The Physics of Radiation Protection is the science concerned with the recognition, evaluation, and control of health hazards to permit the safe use and application of ionizing radiation. Health physics professionals promote excellence in the science and practice of radiation protection and safety.

 

Health Physicists & environmental engineers are well trained and are monitoring best practices in radiation source usage, storage, transportation, and monitoring.

 

I hope that helps put your mind at ease.

[Lizzie68]

Just loving this thread. 😶

 

Me too! It sure makes a change from the usual CC stuff. And I've learned some things too.:D

[Hlitner]

So here is a question for the OP and anyone interested. Does anyone ever wonder about the radiation in bottled and tap water? Water supplies are constantly in contact with various radioactive isotopes (many are just naturally in rocks, dirt, etc) and some of these radioactive particles are naturally transferred to all water supplies. A few years ago I was in a University lab where we tested various water products with a very sensitive geiger counter and they all indicated some radioactive properties. Ironically, the commercially bottled waters (do not recall the brands tested) had higher levels then the tap water. And we would add that you can also find radiation in many food products (including milk). So for folks that are really concerned about this issue perhaps they need to invest a very good geiger counter and start testing everything before they put it in their mouth. We suspect they will die from some type of anxiety disorder long before being impacted by radiation, but such is life :).

 

Oh, and being the HAL forum we would remiss if not mentioning that there is radiation in every cigarette. Not only is the smoker exposed to radiation from every puff, but some of this is emitted in the 2nd hand smoke. Cigarettes contain both Lead-210 and polonium-210 which emit mostly alpha and gamma radiation. And since HAL still allows smoking inside their ships (casino) and the ships have a partially closed HVAC system which recirculates air, one can surmise that this radiation will be vented to every place on the ship. Not good.

 

Hank

Edited July 17, 2015 by Hlitner

[cruz chic]

Well I'm so glad you apparently know my mind better than I do and therefore I have no reason to explain why I am loving this thread. I deliberately chose an emoticon with no mouth i.e. Not smiling.

 

Perhaps someone would kindly explain why I'm the only one being flamed for my comment?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Happens all the time on here. Nothing new.

[zerbot]

I’d like to chime in here and say that I find it amusing, absolutely amazing and a little bit surprising that anyone could actually take this subject seriously. Worry about radiation coming from the water in the middle of the ocean. Come on folks, you’ve GOT to be kidding.

 

I make this statement with a bit of a background in studying the effects of radiation. You see, the title of my published doctoral dissertation in Electrical Engineering was “The Effects on Ionizing Radiation on Semiconductor Devices.”

 

Don’t even think about the radiation coming from the sea water in the middle of the ocean. I believe it is orders of magnitude below anything that we need to consider.

 

Of course, YMMV.:)

 

Scott & Karen

 

You are someone with a high level of knowledge about this sort of thing. Did you stop to think that not everybody is? It doesn't help to mock people who are seriously looking for information about something they don't understand. I once ran across a student at an elementary school science fair whose poster board was all about how we shouldn't be microwaving our food because it would make it radioactive and make us sick. Lots of glow-in-the-dark jokes from people wandering by, but no explanations of why microwaves can't make something radioactive.

 

Think about all the confusing messages that non-technical people get. On the one hand, messages about radioactive potassium in bananas and how we shouldn't worry about "natural" radiation. But then we're supposed to worry about radon in our basements, and that is "natural". Warnings about what is dangerous and what isn't have changed over the years as we learn more (the Niagara example, for instance), and many are old enough to have lived through a change from "not dangerous" to "oops, i guess it is" and they're naturally suspicious of "I'm an expert, trust me" proclamations.

 

Even someone who understands that there is normal background radiation doesn't necessarily understand how that measures up against what might be released in an event like Fukushima. They might appreciate hearing an actual fact, like that there is no detectable rise in radiation levels off the coast of North America. They may have heard that "radiation from Fukushima" has been detected off the coast of North America and that is true. Detectable quantities of Cesium-134 can only have come from Fukushima, and has been detected in extremely small quantities in a few locations off the coast of North America. By "extremely small" I mean up to 2 Becquerel per cubic meter of water. A Becquerel is a measure of "disintegrations per second". By contrast, the human body measures (ballpark, depends on where you live, what you eat, and how much you weigh) about 5,000 to 10,000 Becquerel, or in other words, every second, about 5,000 to 10,000 of your atoms disintegrate in a nuclear event. So you can "detect radiation from Fukushima" and at the same time it doesn't cause any detectable rise against background levels.

 

There, isn't that way more reassuring than "trust me, I'm an expert"?