Latest news with #decontamination
New York Times
4 days ago
- New York Times
ICE Raids Scare Off L.A. Workers Rebuilding Fire-Torn Areas
For months, the day laborers had decontaminated homes that survived the Los Angeles wildfires. Sweating in masks and protective suits, they vacuumed toxic soot and ash, wiped down books and framed photos, and disposed of clothes and furniture that could not be salvaged. One morning last month, they crammed into a small job center in Pasadena, Calif., ready for more work. But on this day, the situation felt too dangerous. It wasn't the contaminants or toxic fumes. Outside the Winchell's Donut House just blocks away, federal immigration agents had detained six people. The day laborers went home instead of heading to their job sites. 'They're living in fear,' said Jose Madera, the director of the Pasadena Community Job Center, which earlier this year helped train about 40 immigrant workers in fire cleanup. 'They don't know what can happen if they go to work — are they going to come back?' Immigrant workers are playing a crucial role in the recovery of Pasadena, Altadena and Pacific Palisades after the devastating fires in January. They have hauled debris, cleaned smoke-affected homes and in some cases begun reconstruction in the months since the Eaton and Palisades fires burned more than 16,000 buildings in the region. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Toxicologist honoured for research used in Salisbury poisoning
A toxicology expert whose pioneering research was used during the Salisbury nerve agent attack has been appointed made by Prof Rob Chilcott's team at the University of Hertfordshire shaped emergency protocols used in incidents involving toxic chemicals in the UK and developed a dry decontamination system used during the Novichok poisoning case in Chilcott, who retired in 2025, said he was "deeply honoured to receive a King's Honour in recognition of the work my colleagues and I have undertaken". The team, which also included Dr Hazem Matar and Dr Joanne Larner, found that showering casualties while they are still clothed can drive toxic chemicals deeper into the led them to develop the "disrobe and dry" approach, which removes up to 99% of contaminants before any water is used.A large-scale exercise in Rhode Island in the US, dubbed Operation Downpour, proved the new methods were adopted on both sides of the Atlantic, with the Home Office describing the team's work as "fundamental".Prof Chilcott said: "This award reflects the significant international contributions of the University of Hertfordshire's Toxicology Research Group in delivering high-quality, evidence-based scientific support to government departments and agencies." Many other people from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire were recognised in the King's Birthday Honours, including Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly, appointed manager of The Hundred, Sanjay Patel, was appointed MBE for services to cricket, while Andrew Love, senior adviser to London hotel The Ritz was appointed OBE, and Paulette Mastin, chair of the Black Solicitors' Network was appointed CBE for services to diversity in legal services. Also appointed MBE is conservationist Dr Helen Read, from 64-year-old is an internationally recognised expert in millipedes and other has been at the forefront of classifying the crawling creatures for nearly 40 years and has also pioneered conservation practices of ancient Read, from Buckinghamshire, played a leading role in establishing the Ancient Tree Forum. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Malay Mail
01-06-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
What's happening with Fukushima's radioactive soil? Here's what you need to know
TOKYO, June 1 — To reduce radiation across Japan's northern Fukushima region after the 2011 nuclear disaster, authorities scraped a layer of contaminated soil from swathes of land. Now, as young farmers seek to bring life back to the region once known for its delicious fruit, authorities are deliberating what to do with the mass of removed soil — enough to fill more than 10 baseball stadiums. Here are some key things to know: Why was the soil removed? On March 11, 2011, Japan's strongest earthquake on record triggered a huge tsunami that hit the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, causing a devastating meltdown. Topsoil was collected as part of large-scale decontamination efforts that also included blasting buildings and roads with high-pressure jets of water. Almost all areas of Fukushima have gradually been declared safe, but many evacuees have been reluctant to return because they remain worried about radiation, or have fully resettled elsewhere. Fukushima has, however, welcomed new residents such as 25-year-old kiwi farmer Takuya Haraguchi. 'I want people to become interested in and learn about what Fukushima is really like these days,' he told AFP. Where is the soil being stored? A vast quantity of soil — 14 million cubic metres — is being stored at interim storage facilities near the Fukushima Daiichi plant. The government has promised residents of Fukushima region that it will find permanent storage for the soil elsewhere in the country by 2045. For now, the huge mounds are kept inside guarded grounds, protected by layers of clean soil and a manmade sheet to prevent runoff into the environment. What will Japan do with it? The government wants to use the soil for building road and railway embankments among other projects. It has vowed to do this outside Fukushima to avoid further burdening the region, where the crippled nuclear plant generated electricity not for local residents, but for Tokyo and its surrounding urban areas. So far few takers have been found in other parts of Japan, and some local officials suggest that realistically, a portion of the soil may need to stay in Fukushima. The prime minister's office recently said it would symbolically recycle some of the soil to show it is safe, with reports saying it will be used in flower beds. How safe is the soil? Around 75 percent of the stored soil has a radioactivity level equivalent to or less than one X-ray per year for people who directly stand on or work with it, according to the environment ministry. Asphalt, farm soil or layers of other materials should be used to seal in the radioactivity, said Akira Asakawa, a ministry official working on the Fukushima soil project. In a test, the government has constructed roads and fields in Fukushima by using the contaminated soil as filling material. Those locations did not show elevated levels of radioactivity, and there was no runoff of radioactive material to surrounding areas, Asakawa said. What pushback has there been? In 2022, local communities reacted angrily to plans floated by the national government to bring the Fukushima soil to a popular park in Tokyo and other areas near the capital. That plan has not moved forward and other locations have not yet been secured, despite public sympathy for the people of Fukushima. The environment ministry says it will step up efforts to explain the safety of its plan to the public from this year. — AFP
South China Morning Post
01-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Can Japan find a new home for contaminated Fukushima soil?
To reduce radiation across Japan 's northern Fukushima region after the 2011 nuclear disaster, authorities scraped a layer of contaminated soil from swathes of land. Advertisement Now, as young farmers seek to bring life back to the region once known for its delicious fruit, authorities are deliberating what to do with the mass of removed soil – enough to fill more than 10 baseball stadiums. On March 11, 2011, Japan's strongest earthquake on record triggered a huge tsunami that hit the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant , causing a devastating meltdown. Topsoil was collected as part of large-scale decontamination efforts that also included blasting buildings and roads with high-pressure jets of water. Almost all areas of Fukushima have gradually been declared safe, but many evacuees have been reluctant to return because they remain worried about radiation, or have fully resettled elsewhere. Advertisement Fukushima has, however, welcomed new residents such as 25-year-old kiwi farmer Takuya Haraguchi.
South China Morning Post
01-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Can Japan find a new home for contaminated Fukushima soil?
To reduce radiation across Japan 's northern Fukushima region after the 2011 nuclear disaster, authorities scraped a layer of contaminated soil from swathes of land. Now, as young farmers seek to bring life back to the region once known for its delicious fruit, authorities are deliberating what to do with the mass of removed soil – enough to fill more than 10 baseball stadiums. On March 11, 2011, Japan's strongest earthquake on record triggered a huge tsunami that hit the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant , causing a devastating meltdown. Topsoil was collected as part of large-scale decontamination efforts that also included blasting buildings and roads with high-pressure jets of water. Almost all areas of Fukushima have gradually been declared safe, but many evacuees have been reluctant to return because they remain worried about radiation, or have fully resettled elsewhere. Fukushima has, however, welcomed new residents such as 25-year-old kiwi farmer Takuya Haraguchi.
