Testing for radiation from Fukushima in our waters

Do you eat fish, surf or visit the beaches of California?

Do you care about the environment of the Pacific Ocean?

Do you make it a point to give to worthy causes in need of your donations? 

If so, please join us in our efforts to raise money to monitor the spread of radiation from Fukushima and its impact on the Pacific Ocean. WE NEED YOUR HELP!   IF WE DON’T DO IT, NO ONE WILL!!

Nine years after the accident at Fukushima, questions remain about how much, how far, and how fast radioactive material is being dispersed into the ocean. Yet no United States government agency is measuring the radioactivity.

Since 2011, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Japanese collaborators and people all up and down the Pacific Coast have been gathering and testing samples for levels of Cesium137 (C137). 

• In November 2014, trace amounts of radioactivity from Fukushima were found in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast near Eureka.
• In April 2015, the highest levels seen anywhere in North America since the testing program began was measured near a beach between Los Angeles and San Diego - 8.4 Bq/m3 (Becquerels per cubic meter) of radioactive C137.
• In February 2018 the levels at Pismo Beach were three times higher than the previous test done in July 2017.  The levels have risen five times since testing began - from 1.8 Bq/m3 to 6.8 Bq/m3 of radioactive C137.  The results also showed trace amounts of C134, the marker for Fukushima radiation
• Both tests done in 2019 showed elevated levels of C137 - 4.2 Bq/m3 in April and 4.7 Bq/m3 in December.

SLO Mothers for Peace has been working in conjunction with WHOI to gather and analyze samples from the waters off our local coastline at Pismo Beach.  Thus far, thirteen samples have been evaluated between February 2014 and December 2019.

While Cesium 134 has been detected in our samples only once, the levels of Cesium 137 have increased five times since testing began.  Elevated levels of Cesium 134 have been found in Bodega Bay and other places along the West Coast.  According to Woods Hole Oceanographic Society, who does the testing of these samples, "This increase, as well as our finding of cesium-134 in these elevated samples, provides clear evidence that Fukushima contamination has reached our shores."

Now that evidence of contamination has been found in the coastal waters near Eureka, Bodega Bay, and between Los Angeles and San Diego and now right here off of our Central Coast, it is imperative that the testing continue.  IF WE DON’T DO IT, NO ONE WILL!! 

SLO Mothers for Peace, through donations from people like you, must pay for the analyses.  Our $3,500 fundraising goal will allow us to continue these tests for at least two more years. Please join our efforts to monitor our Central Coast waters.

MAKE YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION NOW!  EVERY DONATION, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

How do you know your donation is working? You can check our website, https://mothersforpeace.org for updates on our Pacific Ocean water testing program.  

THANK YOU FOR CARING AND HELPING US TO PROVIDE THIS VITAL SERVICE.