I was doing some reading this morning. Japan is still rife with radioactive dust and it seems that it accumulates to alarmingly high levels in car air filters. Which of course is very logical when you think about it.
Anyhow, I was thinking about the common workshop practice of blowing out air filters with the shop air. I would think this would be a very very bad idea with post earthqake imports. Unless of course you want to contaminate your workshop with radioactive particles.
A University scholar did a test on an air filter and it was so contaminated the University spat the dummy because they had to dispose of it as radioactive waste. at considerable expense.
This issue of course also includes cabin filters which is a separate health issue for those driving these vehicles.
We are not talking namby pamby trace amounts or storm in a teacup nonsense this is very serious and potentially very wide spread as radioactive dust is spread throughout most of Japan. (There are maps showing the levels on a daily basis if you care to look)
Food for thought.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 3, 3:09pm
Oh and before someone says about it, no as far as I am aware border checks will not pick up on this issue. Two reasons for that:
1. As far as I know they are not testing the air filters
2. The nasty's we are talking about don't necessarily show up with a Geiger counter.
The tests done above were performed by exposing the air filters to photographic film.
gammelvind,
Jun 3, 3:29pm
Wonder what happened with the stuff from europe after chernobyl! Now I know that was eastern europe but that stuff doesn't recognise borders especially if it can't be detected by a geiger counter.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 3, 3:32pm
Interesting you bring up Chernobyl, did you know that Russia has rejected some entire shipments of Japanese imports on arrival because they are too radioactive. When the Russians turn stuff away because its radioactive I think we should be paying attention.
johnf_456,
Jun 3, 3:40pm
This is to promote european cars eh, makes sense. Does fiat pay good commission these days!
University in the U.S from what I remember. Should be easy to google the article.
BTW, its a pretty established phenomena. Apparently in the days of Chernobyl running a Geiger Counter over the air filter or in the exhaust of a vehicle was pretty standard practice to determine if an area was a problem.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 3, 3:53pm
Used European imports from Japan will be in exactly the same boat. Radioactive "Hot Particles" that stay in your lungs for the rest of your life are not the greatest fodder for making light of.
gammelvind,
Jun 3, 3:55pm
Thanks Jazz for the warning, we now know when we purchase our nice reliable japanese import vehicle that we go and buy a full set of new filters and some cheap heavy rubber gloves and a quaility dust mask. Replace the filters, throw out the old ones and the gloves and mask and all we are left with then is a nice reliable vehicle.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 3, 3:58pm
That will help certainly, but you still have the particles lodged in your upholstery etc. Please be sensible about where you dispose of the filters as well.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 3, 3:58pm
That will help certainly, but you still have the particles lodged in your upholstery, vents, crevices etc. Please be sensible about where you dispose of the filters as well.
I think the key issue here though is those mechanics who blow out air filters on a regular basis. Although I certainly wouldn't want to regularly use a car that had been driving around in Japan recently.
edangus,
Jun 3, 4:04pm
Jazz, they are doing dockside testing (in Japan) for radioactivity on Export vehicles and stopping them. See here:
Like I said in "general" I am more worried about parts, new and used (for radioactivity and saltwater).
Radiation does not come out of seats, carpets, doortrims etc
richardmayes,
Jun 3, 4:11pm
it's worth thinking about- there are so many things in life where you only get one chance to protect your health, and if you miss it you've missed it.
(Of course, used imported BMWs, VWs and Fiats from Japan are unaffected because these advanced cars have radioactivity-suppressing air filters.)
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 3, 4:22pm
If only!
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 3, 4:23pm
As explained in General, Geiger counters don't necessarily detect these nasty's. Also, it would seem filters are not being removed for checking anyway.
BTW, those links miss the point anyway. They are worried about cars parked near fukushima. The problem I am talking about is cars that are driving around most parts of Japan sucking up and concentrating particles like a vacuum cleaner sucks up carpet fluff.
Levels are high enough in most of Japan to cause concern from this sort of concentrated collection. (Go look up a Japanese radiation map and see for yourself)
edangus,
Jun 3, 4:34pm
Jazz, I aint arguing with you at all. It is a worry. Just wondering why we actually bother with biosecurity when they are always so far behind the 8 ball.
craig04,
Jun 3, 4:36pm
Of course they will be. It would not be economically viable to have one boat for Euro's and one for Jappers.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 3, 4:36pm
I know, sorry if my reply's sounded blunt. I just edited the above to put others reading on the same track we established in the other thread.
I share your concerns about our biosecurity, I have seen a couple of incidents involving them that I couldn't believe.
craig04,
Jun 3, 4:39pm
Jazz, maybe you should post this in Environment. That'll get'em going.
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 3, 4:49pm
LOL, I might save that for a day when I have a LOT of time to spare!
johnf_456,
Jun 3, 4:50pm
Do it do it
msigg,
Jun 3, 4:54pm
I wouldn't worry too much the dust will spread around the world anyway no stopping it. I thionk most mechanics now days will only repalce with a new one, waste of time blowing it out.
mugenb20b,
Jun 3, 4:57pm
Cars in Russia are LHD, in Japan RHD. Why would Russia import cars from Japan!
thejazzpianoma,
Jun 3, 4:57pm
If my understanding is correct these are heavier particles and what does blow around the world will mostly circulate in the norther hemisphere. We are talking some pretty concentrated stuff, check out page 6 in the link.
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