From Yahoo News –

Seventeen U.S. military personnel involved in helicopter relief missions were found to have been exposed to low levels of radiation upon returning to the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft carrier about 100 miles (160 kilometers) offshore.

U.S. officials said the exposure level was roughly equal to one month’s normal exposure to natural background radiation in the environment, and after scrubbing with soap and water, the 17 were declared contamination-free.

But as a precaution, the U.S. said the carrier and other U.S. 7th Fleet ships involved in relief efforts had shifted to another area.

This is a very interesting little news piece. The crews were on “relief” missions presumably not helping with the reactor problems. And I’m sure they were. Helicopter crews and rescue personnel would be of precious little use at the reactor sites.

Now, add this from the beginning of the article –

The second hydrogen explosion in three days rocked a Japanese nuclear plant Monday, sending a massive cloud of smoke into the air and injuring 11 workers. The blast was felt 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, but the plant’s operator said the radiation levels at the affected unit were still within legal limits.

Are the Japanese telling the truth?

How are Americans on relief missions getting contaminated if the radiation is still below the legal limits?

And if everything is under control, why is the navy concerned for its ships?

James Pilant