3 ms·

The unexpected upside of nuclear bomb tests

9 points by ksvs 18y ago

delackner 18y ago
Does anyone have solid numbers on the overall level of background radiation in the environment (air, drinking water, etc) over time? A short search and I found this fascinating site that shows (at least for the various types of radiation I queried (tritium, iodine, all alpha, all beta) that over the past 40 years levels have been steadily declining. http://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/erams_query.simple_output?Llocation=City&subloc=BERKELEY%2CCA&media=AIR&radi=Gross+Beta&Fromyear=1960&Toyear=2007&units=SI http://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/erams_query.simple_output?Lloca...
- DabAsteroid 18y ago
  Does this help you?: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf05.htm http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf05.htm Most radiation exposure is from natural sources. These include: radioactivity in rocks and soil of the earth's crust; radon, a radioactive gas from the earth and present in the air; and cosmic radiation. About one quarter of natural radiation comes from the human body itself. The human environment has always been radioactive and accounts for up to 85% of the annual human radiation dose. Radiation arising from human activities typically accounts for up to 25% of the public's exposure every year. This radiation is no different from natural radiation except that it can be controlled. X-rays and other medical procedures account for most exposure from this quarter. The rest comes from coal burning, appliances, and other industrial and research procedures. Less than 1% of exposure is due to the fallout from past testing of nuclear weapons or the generation of electricity in nuclear, as well as coal and geothermal power plants. That link includes a table of background-radiation by nation in millisieverts (mSv).
sanj 18y ago
I propose that YC have a third session each year. On Christmas Island.
boredguy8 18y ago
Similarly, the DMZ between North and South Korea has become a habitat for wildlife: Endangered plants and animals have thrived. The Asiatic black bear, leopard, Eurasian lynx, and Goral sheep have made a comeback, and perhaps even the very rare Amur tiger - which some US soldiers say has been captured on video by surveillance teams. Many migratory birds, including the white-naped and red-crowned cranes and the black-faced spoonbill have made their homes in the DMZ. Environmentalists say over 1,100 plant species and mammal species exist in this wildlife sanctuary. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/20/conservation.wildlife http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/20/conservati...

9 points by ksvs 18y ago

Does anyone have solid numbers on the overall level of background radiation in the environment (air, drinking water, etc) over time? A short search and I found this fascinating site that shows (at least for the various types of radiation I queried (tritium, iodine, all alpha, all beta) that over the past 40 years levels have been steadily declining. http://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/erams_query.simple_output?Llocation=City&subloc=BERKELEY%2CCA&media=AIR&radi=Gross+Beta&Fromyear=1960&Toyear=2007&units=SI http://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/erams_query.simple_output?Lloca...

DabAsteroid 18y ago
Does this help you?: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf05.htm http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf05.htm Most radiation exposure is from natural sources. These include: radioactivity in rocks and soil of the earth's crust; radon, a radioactive gas from the earth and present in the air; and cosmic radiation. About one quarter of natural radiation comes from the human body itself. The human environment has always been radioactive and accounts for up to 85% of the annual human radiation dose. Radiation arising from human activities typically accounts for up to 25% of the public's exposure every year. This radiation is no different from natural radiation except that it can be controlled. X-rays and other medical procedures account for most exposure from this quarter. The rest comes from coal burning, appliances, and other industrial and research procedures. Less than 1% of exposure is due to the fallout from past testing of nuclear weapons or the generation of electricity in nuclear, as well as coal and geothermal power plants. That link includes a table of background-radiation by nation in millisieverts (mSv).

sanj 18y ago

I propose that YC have a third session each year. On Christmas Island.

boredguy8 18y ago

Similarly, the DMZ between North and South Korea has become a habitat for wildlife: Endangered plants and animals have thrived. The Asiatic black bear, leopard, Eurasian lynx, and Goral sheep have made a comeback, and perhaps even the very rare Amur tiger - which some US soldiers say has been captured on video by surveillance teams. Many migratory birds, including the white-naped and red-crowned cranes and the black-faced spoonbill have made their homes in the DMZ. Environmentalists say over 1,100 plant species and mammal species exist in this wildlife sanctuary. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/20/conservation.wildlife http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/20/conservati...