Background Radiation levels in Virginia

As of late I have been monitoring the following site:

radiationnetwork.com...

Welcome to RadiationNetwork.com, home of the National Radiation Map, depicting environmental radiation levels across the USA, updated in real time every minute. This is the first web site where the average citizen (or anyone in the world) can see what radiation levels are anywhere in the USA at any time.

Given Fukishima and the aging Nuclear infrastructure it seemed a good site to keep an eye on. I check it every day a couple of times.

Noticed something this morning that raised my eyebrows. From the website:

The numbers represent radiation Counts per Minute, abbreviated CPM, and under normal conditions, quantify the level of background radiation, i.e. environmental radiation from outer space as well as from the earth's crust and air. Depending on your location, your elevation or altitude, and your model of Geiger counter,this background radiation level might average anywhere from 5 to 60 CPM, and while background radiation levels are random, it would be unusual for those levels to exceed 100 CPM. Thus, the "Alert Level" for the National Radiation Map is 100 CPM, so if you see any Monitoring Stations with CPM value above 100, further indicated by an Alert symbol over those stations, it probably means that some radioactive source above and beyond background radiation is responsible.

When I checked the map this morning Virginia monitor was showing a reading of 88 CPM. Didn't think much of it but took a copy of the image anyway. Pull to right.



So continued monitoring throughout the morning and managed to pick up some surprising readings. Nothing breaches the 100 CPM so far but I got a 99 at one point. Even though the readings are up and down its not fallen below 60 all day. Timestamps are Arizona time.



95



97



And finally the 99. Keep going back and seeing this monitor ranging from 60-99 all day. Is this normal. All the other monitors appear to range from single figures to mid forties. Users use a range of equipment but I have been checking this site for a few weeks and the highest I've seen is in the 60's. There have been some anomaly's in the past but they tend to show astronomical figures over a short time period (equipment issues).

Input appreciated.

reply to post by murch


Seeing as I happen to live right where the high readings are taking place, I am a bit concerned as to what could be causing it. Anyone?

I have no expert advice to offer on what any of that means, but I do find it interesting that the high levels are occurring where Romney is revealing his vice presidential running mate.

After the earth quake in Lousia county I wouldn't be surprised if it was the nuclear power plant here that is causing this... I mean the earthqueak was of pretty good power and happened at the plant...

Had a look for nuclear facilities in this region and Surry Power Plant appears to be the closest. Had a look at event history and can only find 2 alerts. One due to offsite power failure and another due to seismic event.

I also think that anything plant related would cause a bigger spike. Don't know though.

I was thinking this may be due to an increase in natural background levels. No idea what would cause this though.

This is the latest from the site



100

An alert according to site.

Hmm.

I too would like more info on this!!! My mother and brother are there right now visiting my grandparents so I am concerned??? Anyone with more info????

Please remember I am posting the highest values over a 5-6 hour time period. The values are lower than what i am posting at times but still not below 60, the suggested maximum for background radiation according to the site.

Could the high readings be from the Naval Shipyard in Norfolk? Or the Newport News Shipyard? That's were all of the Nimitz-class (nuclear reactor powered)aircraft carriers were built.

reply to post by murch


Nice catch, OP. Well presented. Maybe people in the area can delve more into this by calling their local authorities who should be monitoring it. Here's a link on what to do to keep yourself protected.

I am about 3 hours from the coast in Virginia and appreciate this very much. I am not sure what to make of it and hope someone comes along with more information on it. It makes one a bit concerned when you are that close to a reading that is so much higher than any on the map (as if any radiation is good, but there you have it). S&F OP for finding this.

In the interest of balance this is the most recent reading:



Still showing 71 appears still to be higher than other monitors.

I did some internet searching and do not find any current information on this area. I did find some old info from months ago. So no ones reporting any strange event in the Virginia area?? Maybe this sensor is messed up in the area and is malfunctioning. We have seen this happen before???

Hope it's nothing....there are mistakes a lot on the site since they take readings from various people. I have seen it many times and they even have a disclaimer on the site about that......fingers crossed that's all it is.

Disclaimer: Mineralab, LLC, the operator of this web site, can not independently verify that the Radiation Levels, or any Radiation Alerts, that are displayed on this Radiation Map are correct and valid. Among other possibilities, Geiger counter malfunctions or proximity of the counters to certain medical procedures or to radioactive items can cause high readings at a Monitoring Station.

reply to post by StealthyKat

I don't know anything about radiation levels. When we had that scare in Michigan a while back I started to pay alittle more attention to the "Black Cat site" . Levels seem to be levels that no one seems concerned about.
However, I can't remember if it was Thursday or friday morning, I saw a post that was showing a screen shot of Oklahoma with a reading over 1000. I dismissed it because I could not find any other information and I just figured it was a misread on the machine taking the reading.
Anyone else see that? Now I'm curious if maybe I missed an important bit of information.

Thats what I found slightly concerning. All the erroneous readings i have seen have been really high. That suggests an equipment fault.

These readings are just hovering on the alert level and below. I personally don't know how a reader would malfunction to demonstrate what is essentially an increase of 30-40 CPM unless it was near to something that was causing the higher level. On this note I have never seen this level before when I checked this site. Thats not to say it doesn't happen, levels update every minute.

As always input appreciated.

Ok went and checked site again and got this reading:



A 51. All good then. Does suggest that monitor has been working correctly though as levels are back to normal. Weird.

I am going to keep monitoring the levels but the last few times I have checked everything was within normal boundaries, which makes me think, that for a period of 6-7 hours in the Virginia coastal region something was causing a spike in background radiation levels.

What could cause this. A local source increasing levels by monitor. Wind-born particulate (not sure as wind was blowing south to north and didn't appear to affect other monitors). Equipment malfunction. No idea.

can we see what japan looks like?

reply to post by Doalrite


LOL only one monitor in Japan. North of fuku and showing 8 cpm. Wouldn't trust it myself.