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      05-13-2011, 09:28 AM   #1
andrewbmw
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Anyone concerned about radiation contamination?

Fellow new/future X3 owners,

I ordered my X3 a few weeks ago then realized that some parts might be imported from Japan.

I can't help thinking about the possibility of the radiation contamination due to the Japan nuclear leak last month.

Does anyone else has the similar concern? What can we do to have the peace of mind other than canceling the order?
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      05-13-2011, 10:06 AM   #2
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      05-13-2011, 10:39 AM   #3
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You'll be fine. Just don't eat it
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      05-13-2011, 10:46 AM   #4
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not sure how much a geiger counter costs but that'd solve the issue
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      05-13-2011, 10:46 AM   #5
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A million ways to die everyday, the least of my worries is contaminated plastic or metal in a car. I always found it funny when people complained about unhealthy things such as obesity, pesticides, or radiation then go tanning or smoke a cigarette.
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      05-13-2011, 10:52 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beyu View Post
A million ways to die everyday, the least of my worries is contaminated plastic or metal in a car. I always found it funny when people complained about unhealthy things such as obesity, pesticides, or radiation then go tanning or smoke a cigarette.
True dat!
In less they are now using that reactor as a smelting pit, I wouldn’t worry about radiation.

I remember the musty smell in my grandparent’s basement.
Now a days it would be declared a bio hazard due to the mold down there.
We worry too much.
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      05-13-2011, 11:33 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewbmw View Post
Fellow new/future X3 owners,
..I can't help thinking about the possibility of the radiation contamination due to the Japan nuclear leak last month....
The only measurable amount of contamination beyond the 30 km immediate no-travel zone has been I-131. This isotope has only been found in tiny amounts in the drinking water. It's virtually impossible for any of it to have been incorporated in any of the electronics components coming form Japan that are used in a X3. In addition, I-131 has a half live of only 8 days. After 40 days the radiation level would be only 1/256th of the initial amount.

According to all reports no Uranium or Plutonium has escaped beyond a few km from the plants.

If you have granite counter tops in your kitchen or any cracks in your basement (which often leak the alpha emitter Polonium -218) you will be exposed to thousands of times the nuclear radiation that you'll ever see from a X3 made with components made in Japan.

One cross country flight in a plane at 35,000 feet or one dental x-ray would be much more exposure.
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      05-13-2011, 11:38 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
The only measurable amount of contamination beyond the 30 km immediate no-travel zone has been I-131. This isotope has only been found in tiny amounts in the drinking water. It's virtually impossible for any of it to have been incorporated in any of the electronics components coming form Japan that are used in a X3. In addition, I-131 has a half live of only 8 days. After 40 days the radiation level would be only 1/256th of the initial amount.

According to all reports no Uranium or Plutonium has escaped beyond a few km from the plants.

If you have granite counter tops in your kitchen or any cracks in your basement (which often leak the alpha emitter Polonium -218) you will be exposed to thousands of times the nuclear radiation that you'll ever see from a X3 made with components made in Japan.

One cross country flight in a plane at 35,000 feet or one dental x-ray would be much more exposure.
You'd be quite handy on a pub quiz team Lotus

With an average wait of over 6 months, the 8 day half life makes all UK orders safe
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      05-13-2011, 01:02 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sfax View Post
You'll be fine. Just don't eat it


Radiation
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      05-13-2011, 01:16 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by sfax View Post
You'd be quite handy on a pub quiz team Lotus
lol:
Maybe not. 40 days decay at an 8 day half-life actually leaves 1/32nd remaining (mental hiccup substituted 8 days for 8 half-lives). Still, not to worry, 1/32nd of nothing is still pretty low.
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      05-13-2011, 02:55 PM   #11
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Thanks for the assurance but don't forget caesium-137, which is also in a significant level and has much longer half life.

"The daily amount of caesium-137 released from Fukushima Daiichi is around 60 per cent of the amount released from Chernobyl,” http://www.prisonplanet.com/japanese...s-leaking.html


Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
The only measurable amount of contamination beyond the 30 km immediate no-travel zone has been I-131. This isotope has only been found in tiny amounts in the drinking water. It's virtually impossible for any of it to have been incorporated in any of the electronics components coming form Japan that are used in a X3. In addition, I-131 has a half live of only 8 days. After 40 days the radiation level would be only 1/256th of the initial amount.

According to all reports no Uranium or Plutonium has escaped beyond a few km from the plants.

If you have granite counter tops in your kitchen or any cracks in your basement (which often leak the alpha emitter Polonium -218) you will be exposed to thousands of times the nuclear radiation that you'll ever see from a X3 made with components made in Japan.

One cross country flight in a plane at 35,000 feet or one dental x-ray would be much more exposure.
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      05-13-2011, 03:02 PM   #12
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      05-13-2011, 03:06 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewbmw View Post
Fellow new/future X3 owners,

I ordered my X3 a few weeks ago then realized that some parts might be imported from Japan.

I can't help thinking about the possibility of the radiation contamination due to the Japan nuclear leak last month.

Does anyone else has the similar concern? What can we do to have the peace of mind other than canceling the order?
My friend,
with all the responses you've got here, I think you just earned yourself the funniest thread in this forum!!!
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      05-13-2011, 03:07 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewbmw View Post
Fellow new/future X3 owners,

I ordered my X3 a few weeks ago then realized that some parts might be imported from Japan.

I can't help thinking about the possibility of the radiation contamination due to the Japan nuclear leak last month.

Does anyone else has the similar concern? What can we do to have the peace of mind other than canceling the order?
I think its better to worry about those bad drivers on the road.....
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      05-13-2011, 03:32 PM   #15
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My hair has been falling out in clumps ever since I picked mine up.
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      05-13-2011, 03:40 PM   #16
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I wondered why the dashboard illumination was green instead of red..
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      05-13-2011, 05:25 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewbmw View Post
Fellow new/future X3 owners,

I ordered my X3 a few weeks ago then realized that some parts might be imported from Japan.

I can't help thinking about the possibility of the radiation contamination due to the Japan nuclear leak last month.

Does anyone else has the similar concern? What can we do to have the peace of mind other than canceling the order?
You're thinking about a non-thing here. Really, really, really, a non-thing. I can't possibly emphasize without getting quite rude and condescending how much of a non-thing this is. On the flip side, if you have the time and mental capacity to worry about something as fantastic as this, you're life must be pretty dang good. Congrats on that!
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      05-13-2011, 09:11 PM   #18
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Well, it might be a non-issue for you or many other people but just not me.

As the matter of fact, dear wife will be primary driver and two little boys will be sitting in the car on daily base ...

There are lots of risks in one's life and I don't care about most of them, but not those which could endanger my beloved ones. I can't just say to myself that they won't happen and do nothing.

I will try to get a Geiger counter though they seem to be sold out everywhere. I also called BMW USA and requested a disclosure on the list of parts and material which were imported from Japan and used in X3. Will post if I hear back anything.

Anyhow, thank you all for the positive replies and have a great weekend!


Quote:
Originally Posted by Nahoa View Post
You're thinking about a non-thing here. Really, really, really, a non-thing. I can't possibly emphasize without getting quite rude and condescending how much of a non-thing this is. On the flip side, if you have the time and mental capacity to worry about something as fantastic as this, you're life must be pretty dang good. Congrats on that!
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      05-13-2011, 09:23 PM   #19
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See the part about it being a non-issue isn't an opinion, it's science, physics. You can make it into an issue, but it's your own fantasy. Good luck buying a Geiger counter -- you can't. Try looking for a scintillator. That'll detect radiation -- lots of it everywhere. Next you'll need to learn what radiation is significant. If you don't you'll be busy hiding yourself and your beloved kids from the dirt in your garden and the ash from the wonderful coal fueled power plants that is -- you guessed it -- not only toxic, but also radioactive.

Bottom line, you're chasing your behind around the table. Knock yourself out but watch out, my guess is Darwin's after you . . .
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      05-13-2011, 09:36 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
One cross country flight in a plane at 35,000 feet or one dental x-ray would be much more exposure.
That's it. Never taking my kids on an airplane again without a Geiger counter.

1 Geiger . . . 2 Geigers . . . 3 Geigers . . .
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      05-13-2011, 09:37 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewbmw View Post
Well, it might be a non-issue for you or many other people but just not me.

As the matter of fact, dear wife will be primary driver and two little boys will be sitting in the car on daily base ...

There are lots of risks in one's life and I don't care about most of them, but not those which could endanger my beloved ones. I can't just say to myself that they won't happen and do nothing.

I will try to get a Geiger counter though they seem to be sold out everywhere. I also called BMW USA and requested a disclosure on the list of parts and material which were imported from Japan and used in X3. Will post if I hear back anything.

Anyhow, thank you all for the positive replies and have a great weekend!
I bet the risk of your beloved group being hit by a drunk driver is way higher than a radiation risk on Japanese parts.....but of course, that's one of the risks you don't care about.

I think you are misguided - but it's your life. Happy hunting.
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      05-13-2011, 09:52 PM   #22
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Sure radiation is everywhere but that's not the point. What I am talking about here is the level which might be much higher than the average background radiation level, due to the potential nuclear contamination in the part from Japan. And that's what a decent geiger counter is suppose to do, Nah?

I appreciate the reply but your arguments doesn't sound to be scientific by any means.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Nahoa View Post
See the part about it being a non-issue isn't an opinion, it's science, physics. You can make it into an issue, but it's your own fantasy. Good luck buying a Geiger counter -- you can't. Try looking for a scintillator. That'll detect radiation -- lots of it everywhere. Next you'll need to learn what radiation is significant. If you don't you'll be busy hiding yourself and your beloved kids from the dirt in your garden and the ash from the wonderful coal fueled power plants that is -- you guessed it -- not only toxic, but also radioactive.

Bottom line, you're chasing your behind around the table. Knock yourself out but watch out, my guess is Darwin's after you . . .
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