In growing lawsuit, servicemembers fault TEPCO for radiation-related illnesses
Stars and Stripes
By Matthew M. Burke
Published: July 15, 2013
SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — Five months after participating in humanitarian operations for the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami that led to nuclear disaster in Japan, Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Hair’s body began to betray him.
He had sharp hip pains, constant scabbing in his nose, back pain, memory loss, severe anxiety and a constant high-pitch ringing in his ears as his immune system began to attack his body. The diagnosis, he said, was a genetic immune system disease, which on X-rays looked to have made his hip joint jagged and his spine arthritic. He was put on a host of medications and eventually separated from the Navy job he loved.
Hair believes radiation is the cause. He is among 50 sailors and Marines in a growing lawsuit against Tokyo Electric Power Co., alleging that Japan’s nationalized utility mishandled the meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant that spewed radiation into the air and water.
read more here
Showing posts with label nuclear radiation leak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nuclear radiation leak. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Military investigating possible radiation hazard at Fort Bliss
Military investigating possible radiation hazard at Fort Bliss
El Paso Times
By Robert Moore
Posted: 07/16/2013
The military is investigating a potential radiation hazard at a Cold War-era nuclear weapons bunker near El Paso, the El Paso Times has learned.
Army officials are discussing the issue at a 9 a.m. news conference today at Fort Bliss. A press release said the purpose of the news conference was to "make an important announcement about the future of Fort Bliss." Post officials had scheduled a similar news conference for last Friday but canceled it the day before.
Fort Bliss spokesman Maj. Joe Buccino said officials currently believe the risk to the broader community was "fairly negligible," though people who worked in the bunker might have more significant risk. One particular worry would be ingestion of chips of epoxy paint that was used to seal off such bunkers, but might have become loose over the years.
An investigation in recent weeks found levels of alpha and beta radiation in the bunker, but not the more-dangerous gamma radiation, Buccino said.
"We sealed it, we closed it off," he said.
read more here
El Paso Times
By Robert Moore
Posted: 07/16/2013
The military is investigating a potential radiation hazard at a Cold War-era nuclear weapons bunker near El Paso, the El Paso Times has learned.
Army officials are discussing the issue at a 9 a.m. news conference today at Fort Bliss. A press release said the purpose of the news conference was to "make an important announcement about the future of Fort Bliss." Post officials had scheduled a similar news conference for last Friday but canceled it the day before.
Fort Bliss spokesman Maj. Joe Buccino said officials currently believe the risk to the broader community was "fairly negligible," though people who worked in the bunker might have more significant risk. One particular worry would be ingestion of chips of epoxy paint that was used to seal off such bunkers, but might have become loose over the years.
An investigation in recent weeks found levels of alpha and beta radiation in the bunker, but not the more-dangerous gamma radiation, Buccino said.
"We sealed it, we closed it off," he said.
read more here
Friday, December 28, 2012
US Sailors exposed to radiation after Japan earthquake
US Sailors Sue Japan Utility in Radiation Exposure
Dec 28, 2012
Stars and Stripes
by Matthew M. Burke
SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan -- Eight sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan are suing Japan’s nationalized Tokyo Electric Power Co., claiming it lied about dangers from a radiation leak when they helped out after last year’s nuclear plant disaster and that they will almost certainly die prematurely as a result.
Their complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, seeks a jury trial and damages of $40 million each for being “rendered infirm” and their bodies being “poisoned” by radiation. It was filed on behalf of Lindsay Cooper, James Sutton, Kim Gieseking, Charles Yarris, Robert Miller, Christopher Bittner, Eric Membrila and Judy Goodwin.
Within days of the March 11, 2011, earthquake, tsunami and subsequent radiation leak from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, the USS Ronald Reagan was aiding in the search for survivors and bodies from just off Japan’s devastated east coast.
Six of the eight sailors worked on the flight deck during the operation and two worked in the air contamination department. Gieseking is also suing on behalf of her daughter, Autumn, who was born shortly after the deployment.
read more here
Dec 28, 2012
Stars and Stripes
by Matthew M. Burke
SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan -- Eight sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan are suing Japan’s nationalized Tokyo Electric Power Co., claiming it lied about dangers from a radiation leak when they helped out after last year’s nuclear plant disaster and that they will almost certainly die prematurely as a result.
Their complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, seeks a jury trial and damages of $40 million each for being “rendered infirm” and their bodies being “poisoned” by radiation. It was filed on behalf of Lindsay Cooper, James Sutton, Kim Gieseking, Charles Yarris, Robert Miller, Christopher Bittner, Eric Membrila and Judy Goodwin.
Within days of the March 11, 2011, earthquake, tsunami and subsequent radiation leak from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, the USS Ronald Reagan was aiding in the search for survivors and bodies from just off Japan’s devastated east coast.
Six of the eight sailors worked on the flight deck during the operation and two worked in the air contamination department. Gieseking is also suing on behalf of her daughter, Autumn, who was born shortly after the deployment.
read more here
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Army Is Stocking Up On A Ton Of Anti-Radiation Pills To Protect Troops
The Army Is Stocking Up On A Ton Of Anti-Radiation Pills To Protect Troops
Eloise Lee and Robert Johnson
Apr. 10, 2012,
While checking out the Federal Business Opportunities network, we came across a listing by the Defense Logistics Agency — the Troop Support branch — seeking a supply of potassium iodide tablets.
Scrolling through the online solicitation, you'll see the U.S. Army Medical Material Agency wants to ensure "critical operational forces are protected in the event of nuclear fallout."
The FDA recommends taking potassium iodide in radiation emergencies to block cancer-causing radioiodines that would otherwise be absorbed by the body's thyroid — the gland in your neck that regulates adrenaline and metabolism, along with doing a bunch of other stuff we need to survive.
The U.S. has bought potassium iodide tablets in the past, and is now looking ahead to scenarios, possibly spurred by last year's Fukushima crisis.
As the federal solicitation is quick to point out, "The recent earthquake in Japan in March of 2011 and the resultant nuclear crisis has renewed interest in this item."
read more here linked from Stars and Stripes
Eloise Lee and Robert Johnson
Apr. 10, 2012,
While checking out the Federal Business Opportunities network, we came across a listing by the Defense Logistics Agency — the Troop Support branch — seeking a supply of potassium iodide tablets.
Scrolling through the online solicitation, you'll see the U.S. Army Medical Material Agency wants to ensure "critical operational forces are protected in the event of nuclear fallout."
The FDA recommends taking potassium iodide in radiation emergencies to block cancer-causing radioiodines that would otherwise be absorbed by the body's thyroid — the gland in your neck that regulates adrenaline and metabolism, along with doing a bunch of other stuff we need to survive.
The U.S. has bought potassium iodide tablets in the past, and is now looking ahead to scenarios, possibly spurred by last year's Fukushima crisis.
As the federal solicitation is quick to point out, "The recent earthquake in Japan in March of 2011 and the resultant nuclear crisis has renewed interest in this item."
read more here linked from Stars and Stripes
Friday, August 1, 2008
USS Houston sub leaked radioactive water, possibly for months
U.S. sub leaked radioactive water, possibly for months
Story Highlights
Leak was found on the USS Houston during routine maintenance last month
Navy officials say amount of radiation leaked into water was virtually undetectable
Sub spent time at ports in Guam, Japan and Hawaii
Officials: Radiation was "negligible" and an "extremely low level"
From Jamie McIntyre and Mike Mount
CNN Pentagon Unit
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Water with trace amounts of radioactivity may have leaked for months from a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine as it traveled around the Pacific to ports in Guam, Japan and Hawaii, Navy officials told CNN on Friday.
The leak was found on the USS Houston, a Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine, after it went to Hawaii for routine maintenance last month, Navy officials said.
Navy officials said the amount of radiation leaked into the water was virtually undetectable. But the Navy alerted the Japanese government because the submarine had been docked in Japan.
The problem was discovered last month when a build-up of leaking water popped a covered valve and poured onto a sailor's leg while the submarine was in dry dock.
An investigation found a valve was slowly dripping water from the sub's nuclear power plant. The water had not been in direct contact with the nuclear reactor, Navy officials said.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/01/navy.sub.leak/index.html
Story Highlights
Leak was found on the USS Houston during routine maintenance last month
Navy officials say amount of radiation leaked into water was virtually undetectable
Sub spent time at ports in Guam, Japan and Hawaii
Officials: Radiation was "negligible" and an "extremely low level"
From Jamie McIntyre and Mike Mount
CNN Pentagon Unit
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Water with trace amounts of radioactivity may have leaked for months from a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine as it traveled around the Pacific to ports in Guam, Japan and Hawaii, Navy officials told CNN on Friday.
The leak was found on the USS Houston, a Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine, after it went to Hawaii for routine maintenance last month, Navy officials said.
Navy officials said the amount of radiation leaked into the water was virtually undetectable. But the Navy alerted the Japanese government because the submarine had been docked in Japan.
The problem was discovered last month when a build-up of leaking water popped a covered valve and poured onto a sailor's leg while the submarine was in dry dock.
An investigation found a valve was slowly dripping water from the sub's nuclear power plant. The water had not been in direct contact with the nuclear reactor, Navy officials said.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/01/navy.sub.leak/index.html
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