Q: Who Needs Radiation Detection Instruments?
A: The reasons for acquiring a radiation detecting survey meter, Geiger counter and/or dosimeter are as varied as are peoples concerns for the future and the safety of their families in this ever changing world. Radiation threats are unique in that you can't see, smell, taste, hear or feel them, until it's already done its damage and you are suffering the effects. Without a radiation detector you would have to depend solely on the limited resources of the authorities to monitor your location, then determine your risk level, decide the best protective action and then to 'get the word out'.
Exclusively depending on others to monitor, evaluate, warn and advise you, in a rapidly developing nuclear emergency crisis, would surely not be anywhere near as quick or accurate in revealing your current risk as when you are capable of taking your own independent radiation readings. Also, where authorities are warning of radiation fallout not yet arrived, but anticipated to be heading your way, with a radiation meter you'll be able to confirm that the suggested protective action is in fact reducing your exposure and not inadvertently increasing it. (Safe avenues of evacuation and/or designated safe areas can potentially shift as quickly as the wind!)
The specific causes of potential life-threatening nuclear radiation emergencies include...
Nuclear power plant accidents here or abroad (Three Mile Island, Chernobyl)
Nuclear materials processing plant accidents (Tokaimura, Japan)
Nuclear waste (radioactive waste from hospitals, spent fuel and radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, radioactive contaminated materials, etc.) storage or processing facilities mishaps
Nuclear waste transport truck or train accidents
Accidents involving non-waste, but normal daily nuclear materials transport (trucks, planes, trains, couriers) One out every 50 HazMat shipments contain radioactive materials. Approximately three million packages of radioactive material are shipped in the United States each year.
Improper storage of radioactive materials (non-waste) at any point during their normal material life cycle. (Power plants, Medical, Industrial, Academic, etc.)
Lost or stolen radioactive sources (Over the last 50 years, incidents of lost and stolen licensed radioactive devices occur at the rate of once every other day. See Lost and Stolen Nuclear Materials in the United States and NRC Documents Revealing Thousands of Radioactive Source Are Missing.)
Nuclear terrorism here via...
An attack on, or sabotage of, a nuclear power plant. (See Sabotage and Terrorism of Nuclear Power Plants)
Or, a real terrorist atomic bomb detonated here (See Do terrorists really have nukes here?)
Or, much more likely, conventional explosives used to disperse radioactive materials (dirty bomb) to effectively contaminate an area and much within in it. (See Do terrorists really have nukes here?)
Or, food or water supplies could be contaminated with radioactive materials.
Or, a strong radioactive source could be placed in a location adjacent to where large numbers of the public would file past. They would be unknowingly and dangerously exposed to it, such as at a subway que, sports arena or stadium, etc.
Regarding radioactive fallout and minimizing the effects on your family with the use of a radiation meter, Cresson H. Kearny, the author of Nuclear War Survival Skills, Original Edition Published September, 1979, by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a Facility of the U.S. Department of Energy (Updated and Expanded 1987 Edition) states in Chapter 10 - Fallout Radiation Meters:
A survivor in a shelter that does not have a dependable meter to measure fallout radiation or that has one but lacks someone who knows how to use it will face a prolonged nightmare of uncertainties. Human beings cannot feel, smell, taste, hear, or see fallout radiation.
Which parts of the shelter give the best protection? How large is the radiation dose being received by each person? When is it safe to leave the shelter for a few minutes? When can one leave for an hour's walk to get desperately needed water? As the fallout continues to decay, how long can one safely work each day outside the shelter? When can the shelter be left for good? Only an accurate, dependable fallout meter will enable survivors to answer these life-or-death questions.
With a reliable dose rate meter you can quite quickly determine how great the radiation dangers are in different places, and then promptly act to reduce your exposure to these unseen, unfelt dangers. For example, if you go outside an excellent fallout shelter and learn by reading your dose rate meter that you are being exposed to 30 R/hr, you know that if you stay there for one hour you will receive a dose of 30 R. But if you go back inside your excellent shelter after 2 minutes, then while outside you will have received a dose of only 1 R.
Bottom Line: Having on-hand an inexpensive radiation detecting meter in this day and age is cheap family insurance and, like major medical insurance, we can also hope & pray never to have to use it! Also, like any real insurance, it'll be near impossible to get it after the fact!
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