Categoría: Geovanny Vicente

WOODS HOLE, Mass., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly 10 years after the Tohoku-oki earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant and triggered an unprecedented release of radioactivity into the ocean, radiation levels have fallen to safe levels in all but the waters closest to the shuttered power plant. Today, fish and other seafood caught in waters beyond all but a limited region have been found to be well within Japan’s strict limits for radioactive contamination, but a new hazard exists and is growing every day in the number of storage tanks on land surrounding the power plant that hold contaminated wastewater. An article published August 7 in the journal Science takes a look at some of the many radioactive elements contained in the tanks and suggests that more needs to be done to understand the potential risks of releasing wastewater from the tanks into the ocean.

«We’ve watched over the past nine-plus years as the levels of radioactive cesium have declined in seawater and in marine life in the Pacific,» said Ken Buesseler, a marine chemist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and author of the new paper. «But there are quite a few radioactive contaminants still in those tanks that we need to think about, some of which that were not seen in large amounts in 2011, but most importantly, they don’t all act the same in the ocean.»

Since 2011, Buesseler has been studying the spread of radiation from Fukushima into and across the Pacific. In June of that year, he mobilized a team of scientists to conduct the first international research cruise to study the early pathways that cesium-134 and -137, two radioactive isotopes of cesium produced in reactors, were taking as they entered the powerful Kuroshio Current off the coast of Japan. He has also built a network of citizen scientists in the U.S. and Canada who have helped monitor the arrival and movement of radioactive material on the Pacific coast of North America.

Now, he is more concerned about the more than 1,000 tanks on the grounds of the power plant filling with ground water and cooling water that have become contaminated through contact with the reactors and their containment buildings. Sophisticated cleaning processes have been able to remove many radioactive isotopes and efforts to divert groundwater flows around the reactors have greatly reduced the amount of contaminated water being collected to less than 200 metric tons per day, but some estimates see the tanks being filled in the near future, leading some Japanese officials to suggest treated water should be released into the ocean to free up space for more wastewater.

One of the radioactive isotopes that remains at the highest levels in the treated water and would be released is tritium, an isotope of hydrogen is almost impossible to remove, as it becomes part of the water molecule itself. However, tritium has a relatively short half-life, which measures the rate of decay of an isotope; is not absorbed as easily by marine life or seafloor sediments, and produces beta particles, which is not as damaging to living tissue as other forms of radiation. Isotopes that remain in the treated wastewater include carbon-14, cobalt-60, and strontium-90. These and the other isotopes that remain, which were only revealed in 2018, all take much longer to decay and have much greater affinities for seafloor sediments and marine organisms like fish, which means they could be potentially hazardous to humans and the environment for much longer and in more complex ways than tritium.

«The current focus on tritium in the wastewater holding tanks ignores the presence other radioactive isotopes in the wastewater,» said Buesseler. «It’s a hard problem, but it’s solvable. The first step is to clean up those additional radioactive contaminants that remain in the tanks, and then make plans based on what remains. Any option that involves ocean releases would need independent groups keeping track of all of the potential contaminants in seawater, the seafloor, and marine life. The health of the ocean–and the livelihoods of countless people–rely on this being done right.»

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Mass., dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930 on a recommendation from the National Academy of Sciences, its primary mission is to understand the ocean and its interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate a basic understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. For more information, please visit www.whoi.edu.

Key Takeaways

• Concentrations of radioactive material released into the Pacific from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant and found in the Pacific Ocean or in fish have largely declined to safe levels.
• A larger problem exists in the form of more than 1,000 tanks full of contaminated, but treated, wastewater stored on the grounds of the power plant and that have been suggested need to be emptied into the ocean to free up space for more untreated water.
• Current focus on tritium levels overlooks the much larger problem presented by other radioactive isotopes in the treated water, not all of which have been made public.
• Many of these other isotopes emit more dangerous forms of radiation, and act in more complex ways in the environment, accumulating in seafloor sediments and in marine life, more readily than tritium.

Media Contacts: Erin Koenig
Media Relations Manager
ekoenig@whoi.edu  
Phone: 508-289-2270
Mobile: 508-566-0989

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

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SOURCE Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

SEVERNA PARK, Md., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — On May 16, 2020, Dynasplint Systems experienced a data security incident.  Upon discovering this incident, Dynasplint  Systems immediately launched an investigation and engaged a digital forensics firm to determine whether personal or protected health information may have been accessed.  On June 4, 2020, the investigation determined that certain information was accessed without authorization during the incident.  The information may have included customers’ names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and medical information.  

Dynasplint Systems  reported this matter to the FBI and will provide whatever cooperation is necessary to hold perpetrators accountable.  Impacted individuals were notified on August 7, 2020.  The notification included information about this incident and measures that can be taken to protect their personal information, including free identity monitoring and recovery services.  To enroll in these services, affected individuals must call toll-free number: 1-844-923-2637. Further information can be obtained at www.dynasplint.com.

About Dynasplint Systems:

Dynasplint Systems is a manufacturer and seller of splint systems for patients with connective tissue changes caused by limited range of motion.  Dynasplint is headquartered in Severna Park, Maryland, and has offices in Canada and The Netherlands.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dynasplint-systems-inc-provides-notification-of-data-security-incident-301108135.html

SOURCE Dynasplint Systems, Inc.

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Scholarship America, a nonprofit organization that manages scholarship and tuition assistance programs for different organizations, is providing notice to individuals impacted by the exposure of certain personal information.

On or about April 28, 2020, Scholarship America’s internal IT security processes detected suspicious activity within its email system which triggered security protocols. Upon discovery, Scholarship America took immediate action to shut down unauthorized access and remediate the problem. Scholarship America then brought in independent IT security and forensics experts to conduct a detailed systemwide review, which identified unauthorized access to some email accounts and included an extensive inspection of information stored in each impacted account.  The investigation confirmed that the impact of this incident was limited to certain Microsoft Office 365 email accounts, and that no other systems or servers within the Scholarship America IT network were impacted, including where student applications and program information are stored.

The data that was subject to unauthorized access was different in individual cases.  In general, the data contained a variety of elements such as names, mailing addresses, and telephone numbers, and, in some instances, it included protected information like Social Security numbers. Scholarship America has received no indication to-date that anyone’s sensitive information has been misused as a result of this incident.

Scholarship America takes the security of sensitive information that people entrust to it very seriously. Immediate actions were taken to secure the email system and ensure that any further suspicious activity was prevented. This included resetting passwords on all accounts system-wide as well as an activation of enhanced monitoring of IT systems. Scholarship America hired a qualified third-party IT forensic expert to conduct an exhaustive investigation of this matter. The problem has been remediated and the email and IT systems are operating securely. As part of its ongoing commitment to the security of sensitive information, Scholarship America is working to implement additional safeguards and security measures to enhance the privacy and security of information in company systems. In addition, the company is working with law enforcement and sharing information for their investigation.

Scholarship America is mailing letters to impacted individuals and is providing them with information about how to protect their credit and identity.  Scholarship America is also posting a notice of this incident on its website, and informing state regulators as required.  Anyone with questions about this incident is encouraged to visit the Scholarship America website for more information.

Scholarship America encourages affected individuals to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud and to seek to protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss by regularly reviewing their financial account statements, credit reports, and explanations of benefits for suspicious activity.

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION

The following information is provided in accordance with certain state legal requirements.

Monitor Your Accounts

Credit Reports. We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements, explanation of benefits, and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. Under U.S. law, you are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also contact the three major credit bureaus directly to request a free copy of your credit report.

Fraud Alerts. At no charge, you can also have these credit bureaus place a «fraud alert» on your file that alerts creditors to take additional steps to verify your identity prior to granting credit in your name. Note, however, that because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you, it may also delay your ability to obtain credit while the agency verifies your identity. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the others are notified to place fraud alerts on your file. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, or should you have any questions regarding your credit report, please contact any one of the agencies listed below:

Equifax
P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348 1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com

Experian
P.O. Box 2002 Allen, TX 75013 1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com

TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016 1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com

Security Freeze. You may also place a security freeze on your credit reports. A security freeze prohibits a credit bureau from releasing any information from a consumer’s credit report without the consumer’s written authorization. However, please be advised that placing a security freeze on your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prevent the timely approval of any requests you make for new loans, credit mortgages, employment, housing, or other services. If you have been a victim of identity theft and you provide the credit bureau with a valid police report, it cannot charge you to place, lift, or remove a security freeze. In all other cases, a credit bureau may charge you a fee to place, temporarily lift, or permanently remove a security freeze. Fees vary based on where you live, but commonly range from $3 to $15. You will need to place a security freeze separately with each of the three major credit bureaus listed above if you wish to place a freeze on all of your credit files. In order to request a security freeze, you will need to supply your full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, current address, all addresses for up to five previous years, email address, a copy of your state identification card or driver’s license, and a copy of a utility bill, bank or insurance statement, or other statement proving residence. To find out more on how to place a security freeze, you can use the following contact information:

Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348 1-800-685-1111
www.freeze.equifax.com

Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com/freeze/

TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016 1-888-909-8872
freeze.transunion.com

Additional Information. You can further educate yourself regarding identity theft, security freezes, fraud alerts, and the steps you can take to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud by contacting the Federal Trade Commission or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission can be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should be promptly reported to law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission, and your state Attorney General. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a crime report or incident report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some kind of proof that you have been a victim. This notice has not been delayed as the result of a law enforcement investigation.

For Maryland residents, the Attorney General can be reached at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-888-743-0023; and www.oag.state.md.us.

For North Carolina residents, the Attorney General can be contacted by mail at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; toll-free at 1-877-566-7226; by phone at 1-919-716- 6400; and online at www.ncdoj.gov.

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SOURCE Scholarship America