Science officials: No threat of nuclear clouds, acid rain in PH

Many SMS (text messages) are now circulating here in the Philippines regarding the aftermath of earthquake and tsumani in Japan, specifically about the leak from one of the nuclear plants in Japan following an 8.9-magnitude earthquake last week.  That's why I decided to search the latest news regarding this matter.  Here's one from Inquirer,

Science officials: No threat of nuclear clouds, acid rain in PH

By Katherine Evangelista, Kristine L. Alave
INQUIRER.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 15:24:00 03/14/2011

Filed Under: Nuclear power, Politics

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Government officials stamped down fears that acid rain and nuclear clouds allegedly resulting from a leak from one of the nuclear plants in Japan following an 8.9-magnitude earthquake last week.

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), sought to allay the public's fears as warnings of radioactive clouds and acid rains circulated through text messages.

The PNRI said it had been conducting tests of the air since the first explosion at the Fukushima power station on Saturday, a day after a deadly quake and tsunami struck Japan.

"Based on (our) monitoring, there has been no increase in the levels of radioactivity since the time of the Fukushima event," the agency said in an emergency response bulletin Monday.

The bulletin came hours after a second explosion at the Fukushima plant.

The PNRI also allayed fears of radiation clouds coming over to the Philippines. And should there be one, "the plume from the site of the incident will not pass Philippine territory as of March 14," PNRI said.

“It does not make sense,” said weather forecaster Raymond Ordinario when asked to react to text messages warning the public of possible contaminated rainfall caused by radiation emitted from a leak inside the Fukushima plant.

“It does not make sense dahil masyado malayo ang location ng explosion, so it does not affect our local rainfall,” Ordinario told INQUIRER.net.

“PAALALA: 4:30 in the afternoon sumabog ung isang nuclear power plant sa Fukumi (sic). Kapag umulan daw mamaya at bukas, wala daw lalabas. Kung kung lalabas kayo,siguraduhin nyong nkakapote o nkapayong kayo dhl kpag naulanan kayo, delikado daw, may tendency na masunog balat nyo, mkalbo o mgka cancer. Pls pass (REMINDER: 4:30 in the afternoon, a nuclear power plant exploded in Fukumi. Do not go out if it rains later and tomorrow. If you are going out, wear a raincoat or use an umbrella because if you get rained on it’s said to be dangerous. There is tendency that your skin will be burned, you will go bald or will get cancer. Please pass),” one of the circulating text messages read.

Ordinario denied this saying that what the message described was possible effects of acid rain.

He said that acid rain was formed when gaseous substances like sulphur and nitrogen mix and react with water in the clouds.

Ordinario said that radioactive materials were in metal form so it would not react with water.

Another text message has been spreading allegedly from BBC saying, “Japan govt confirms radiation leak at Fukushima nuclear plants. Asian countries should take necessary precautions. Remain indoors first 24hrs. Close doors n windows. Swab neck skin with betadine where thyroid area is, radiation hits thyroid first. Take extra precaution, radiation may hit Philat startng 4pm 2day. Pls send to ur loved ones."

The Agence France Presse reported that United Nations atomic watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency, has declared the radiation levels from the Fukushima nuclear power plant normal.

"Radiation dose rate measurements observed at four locations around the plant's perimeter over a 16-hour period on 13 March were all normal," the IAEA said in a statement.

Likewise, Pagasa forecaster Robert Sawi said the winds from Japan would not travel to the country. As of Monday, it has been moving west to east, which meant it has been traveling from Japan to the Pacific Ocean, he said.

“Kung sino man nagpapakalat nito, baka nananakot lang [Whoever is spreading this is probably just scaring people],” Ordinario said.


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My son's school decided to suspend classes today as a precautionary measure...