For those operating with in Japan or transiting Japanese airspace, it looks like there could be an increased risk of radiation exposure from the damaged reactors in Fukushima. I wanted to start a thread to collect resources that can help educate crews. I'm no expert, but hopefully the forum collective can build a weblink resource to help crews make rational, informed decisions about their personal safety when operating near this radiation leak.

OK, here it goes:

I've seen the press reporting radiation measurements in both "rem" and "sievert". It appears that the two units are synonymous based on this chart:

Radiation Units Conversion Table

Here's a chart showing "typical" doses

http://www.berkeleynucleonics.com/wo...03/japanpr.jpg
(note that the radiation level around one of the reactors stood at 400,000 microsiverts per hour)

This is from the local KING5:

Radiation fears lead to nuke pill demand in Seattle | KING5.com | Seattle News and Video

SEATTLE - The phone has been ringing off the hook at Seattle vitamin and nutrition stores as worried customers try to get their hands on the radiation fighting compound potassium iodide.

Also known as K-I for its combined names on the Table of Elements, potassium iodide floods the body with non-radioactive iodine that then fends off radioactive iodine from nuclear exposure.

It proved very effective in fighting thyroid cancer in Europe after the Chernobyl disaster. It is being handed out in pill form to people living near the crippled nuclear reactors in Japan.

And even though experts have repeatedly said there is no current threat of a nuclear release reaching the U.S., a holistic nutrition store on Seattle’s Capitol Hill had its modest supply of potassium iodide sold out in hours.

“Oh yeah, they’re really scared,” said Rae Diamond of Rainbow Natural Remedies, “and that’s the main thing…to try to quiet the fears.”

Diamond said she is suggesting holistic alternatives for her customers while waiting for a fresh shipment of potassium iodide to arrive this week.

While the radiation from Japan is not expected to reach this country, it has revived demands in congress for a national supply of potassium iodide to be doled out to all communities near nuclear facilities.

Doctors say people living near the crippled Japanese reactors are getting less radiation that they would in a normal chest x-ray.

"I think it would be foolish scare mongering to send people out to take K-I at this point," said Peter Crane, a former attorney for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. But he says this is a good time to prepare for our own disaster.

"I think the important thing about K-I is to have it ready in case there's ever a disaster here," he said.

Crane supports a revived drive underway in Congress to make potassium iodide available to anyone living near a U.S. nuclear facility.

Interesting graphic, any idea about what level of radiation the "high" risk areas present? It looks like R220 and G580 would put you in the red areas for 2-3 hours inbound to NRT depending on the flight level where the contamination exists.

[EDIT] added link to the above graphic's news story: http://theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-...cuweather.html

Good resource on current operations
All Things Nuclear

Good read...is it possible our 24/7 "news" stations have it wrong?

http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/

Excellent post. Thanks.

Here's the U.N report on the effects from the Chernobly accident.
UNSCEAR assessments of the Chernobyl accident

Ally

The plume depicted is in the lateral only and not vertical. Without knowing the vertical you only have half the info but with that info there are some basic precautions you can take. In the plume area breathe 100% O2 and wear long sleeves (keep as much of the body covered as possible). When you land wash your clothes and shower. Quite honestly beer is helpful in removing certain isotopes but this event would not be that bad.

Some of the news reports seem to be fear mongering but basic precautions might be in order along certain routes. At the moment I would not feel the need for those precautions but if things got worse... maybe.