Interesting News Article

[PSI-FED]

Radiation: A Nissan worker checks radiation levels on a "Nissan GT-R" sports car produced in Japan at its Oppama factory in Yokosuka, some 40-kilometre south of Tokyo. Picture: Toshifumi Kitamura Source: AFP

• First test of non-food imports from Japan
• Fears used cars will contain radiation
• Pressure from dock workers resulted in tests

A BOATLOAD of 800 cars arriving in Sydney from Japan will be tested for radiation by the nuclear watchdog after other Japanese vehicles were found to be radioactive.

The move is the first Australian test of non-food exports from the fallout-ravaged Asian nation, and marks a turn-around in position for the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.

Officials from ARPANSA will board the cargo ship Trans Future 7 when it docks in Port Kembla on Thursday, after picking up 700 Toyotas and 100 other cars from the Japanese port of Yokohama.

Thirty of those vehicles are used cars, which the maritime union fears could have been in areas affected by the March earthquake and tsunami that damaged nuclear reactors along the Japanese east coast.

The officials will use hand-held radiation detectors and will also take surface samples from spots where people in Japan could have touched the vehicles

Previously, the agency had said such tests were unnecessary. However, after intense pressure from dock workers and the discovery in Chile of low levels of radioactivity in cars shipped from Yokohama, ARPANSA said it will conduct the tests to reassure stevedores.

The Maritime Union of Australia said the decision was a win for both workers and the general public.

"Any risk of radiation is too big to take," Assistant Secretary Warren Smith said.

"Workers and consumers come into direct contact with these cars.

"We know from the tragedy in Japan that people are feeling the effects of radiation hundreds of kilometres away from the destroyed nuclear plant. We can't take the risk of contaminating workers."

ARPANSA's acting head of Radiation Health Peter Johnston said the agency did not expect levels of radioactivity but was taking the measure as a precaution.

"We're not expecting to find anything but what we're discussing at the moment is to go on to the ship and monitor a few vehicles before they unload, really to provide reassurance to dock workers," he said. "We'll have a range of different instruments."

Professor Johnston said that food remained the highest risk area for radioactive contamination and ARPANSA was also continuing to test exports from affected areas.

So far only one sample has been found to be radioactive, and that was below the international safety standard.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/fears-of-radioactive-cars-in-australia/story-e6frfkvr-1226079150195#ixzz1PsIy75Y8

[JDM34]

My car actually came from the Port of Yokohama, and ported at Port Kembla a few weeks ago. So glad it came here before this.

[Chris Rogers]

that made the news here this morning. they are doing the same here in brissy.

[PSI-FED]

Dono weather i should be scared or not. What happens if the car does test positive? I can pretty much kiss $50,000 goodbye and never see them again as i highly doubt any of those costs would be reimbursed. Not good =/

[MattR]

depends what readings they get and what distance. anything upto about 100 mili severts at surface will be fine and a good wash will get rid of any resadue. i work with radiation everyday and people just go into panic mode without knowing or understanding the full details.

I wouldnt be worried and would quite happily drive and own a car that showed any of reading

[Mohsen]

depends what readings they get and what distance. anything upto about 100 mili severts at surface will be fine and a good wash will get rid of any resadue. i work with radiation everyday and people just go into panic mode without knowing or understanding the full details.

I wouldnt be worried and would quite happily drive and own a car that showed any of reading

read a bit about radiation. the dose has to be huge and concentrated to really do some damage

[Alkatraz]

I hope mine copped a little dose of radiation before it left Japan a month ago. With a little luck it might slowly mutate and sprout twin turbos and two extra exhausts within a few years.......or just go green like the hulk!?

[Iron Chef]

lol storm in a teacup...again...

[Mr Eps]

Happy Slow news day 2011!!!!

[HEKT1K]

Better not eat any bananas folks... or go on any planes.. both will hit you with *GASP* radiation!

[Beer Baron]

yeah I read this yesterday in the paper. about the only thing I know for sure is it will be a small inconvenience for all those small importers with a car on this voyage of trans future 7. toyota will get their cars out no problem. they are starved for stock atm and no way will they let this stuff sit there too long. at most they might order a decontamination wash of all the vehicles which'll raise a bit more cash for AAT. I wouldn't be too worried, just expect your car to be redlined and held a few extra days at the wharf.

[SS8_Gohan]

just expect your car to be redlined and held a few extra days at the wharf.

a bit of a thread dig but... ^

that's what you'd expect at the wharf anyway isn't it?

[Beer Baron]

lol, yeah it's a bad piece of terminology!