Computer components post Fukushima

Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli

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2 Oct 2011
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Manchester
I've done a little independent research recently, and I've learned that UK retailers of electrical components exported from south-east Asia have taken no further precautions following the nuclear accident at Fukushima. Every retailer assured me of the safety of these components (as you'd expect), but they all conceded that it's essentially been business as usual and no further safety measures have been put in place to ensure these exports are not compromised by radiation originating from the Fukushima site.

This is despite there having been three full nuclear reactor meltdowns in the heart of the region which produces the vast majority of the world's electronical components. This is despite the reactors releasing radiation into the atmosphere, daily, for 6 months.

I wish to custom build my own pc soon, but this uncertainty over the safety of the components I'll need to purchase is concerning me.

Motherboards - made in Taiwan (just south of the Japanese coast)
Cases - made in Taiwan or China
Cpu fans - made in Taiwan/China
Graphics cards - made in Taiwan

All the leading manufacturers like Asus, Corsair and Cooler Master are based in Taiwan, and the industry as an entity exists solely in south-east Asia.

That includes Japan of course. They supply and manufacture capacitors for almost all the recognised brands.

It concerns me. Am I alone in this worry?

I'm aware of examples of contaminated exports reaching Europe, not that long ago there was a shipment of cars from the region which was bound for Russia but was rejected upon the discovery of signifcant amounts of radiation desposition.

This is an issue which the industry is doing its utmost to conceal and trivialise, but what is the truth and how great, or insignificant, is the threat?

http://vimeo.com/28766748

This is what poses the threat of contamination. Physical elements like Caesium and Strontium which are as fine as dust particles or even smaller, yet not only do they carry the toxicity of a heavy metal they're also highly radioactive.

Theoretically, whilst these 'hot particles' are airborne in high concentrations within the region, what's to stop them from landing upon items manufactured there?

http://enenews.com/nuclear-fallout-...heir-clothes-and-cleanse-nuclear-contaminants

Again theoretically, but how unfeasbile is it that a motherboard manufactured in Taiwan could have an amount of the said 'hot particles', however small, on its' components? Should that motherboard then be placed inside a desktop pc, and be exausting air contaminated with the said 'hot particles' on a daily basis into a poorly ventilated room, that poses a threat to anyone it that room - does it not?

The above scenario is entirely theoretical, but how far-fetched is it - really?

I don't believe it's that unrealistic, and I do believe that if it wasn't - we wouldn't know about it.

Anyone else share my concerns?
 
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first post? and that, OP, are trolling?

If it worries you so much, throw all your computer equipment away and well, never buy any type of electrical product for the next 5000 years? :p
 
I recently bought all the components for my new computer as you say nearly all the parts are manufactured in East-Asia, the ASRock Motherboard I got actually states that it uses high quality Japanese capacitors!

Strangely however I have yet to show any signs of radiation poisoning! No metallic taste in my mouth, no skin burns, no blurred vision and no hair loss. Thank goodness! but don't worry Mario if any symptoms do develop I'll let you know! :p
 
No, I'm serious.

These concerns are making me hesitate from buying the parts I need, if it wasn't for this, I'd have built my desktop weeks ago.

But no-one has any response to my probing questions, I just keep hitting brick walls - and that's even more concerning as it appears that these retailers/manufacturers are concealing something.

The only manufacturer to concede there was an issue was Toshiba, when I was considering a laptop I spoke to a spokeswoman who admitted that I was among a large collection of potential customers who'd enquired about the issue.

Maybe I'm being paranoid or even neurotic, but I don't see it that way. I think it's fairly logical to assume that such a threat exists to goods manufactured and exported from within the region.

Besides, my first post was actually in the new member's forum! Meh.

So I take it I am the only one worried about this, on this forum at least?
 
You'll be fine, you're worrying about something that isn't an issue and there are definitely bigger risks in life than getting radiation poisoning from your computer.
 
Brian8bit said:
Buy a geiger counter if you're worried. Strange first post as well.
Click to expand...

This was my first thought as well... Invest in a Geiger counter.. They're not cheap, but if you're that worried it may be worth it... If the items arrive with a 'high' level of radiation just DSR them.

To be honest, I imagine (am not sure) that there is some kind of EU regulation that states that goods imported into the EU can have a maximum radiation level if they're for the general consumer market.

Hadn't really thought about this before though xD

kd
 
So your expecting the radiation to penetrate and stay concealed within these products even though they go through radiation tests at customs to try and prevent any nuclear warfare.

Not only that, but your then expecting these products to posses enough radiation to expell it in high enough levels to affect someone (namely you)?

Your probably sat, reading this and breathing in more radiation particles from the earth than what would be given to you in computer products.
 
Just for clarity - no-one is going to get radiation sickness or poisoning from potentially contaminated computer components. I doubt they'd be found in such quantities sufficient enough (food exports on the other hand...).

But again, thoughtless, throwaway comments like that only serve to trivialise the threat.

Should the scenario I proposed prove a reality in some exports then that does pose a legitimate risk to the health of any potential recipient, particularly young children.

Whether that be an increased risk of developing cancer or a direct development of cancer in 5, 10, or 15 years time as a result of ingesting or inhaling such radiation, or just a small decline in general health, it's impossible to predict.

What we should be doing though is trying to avoid such threats, warning others of them, and then ensuring that retailers acknowledge the issue and do their utmost to protect the health of us - their customers.

I know I don't want to be one of the unlucky ones with an unwelcome gift included among my parts, courtesy of the nuclear industy.

Maybe that's just me?
 
The levels of radiation in the areas you mention (ie not even in the same country as the nuclear meltdowns - which by their nature were relatively local events) peaked at levels lower than the standard background radiation levels in Cornwall and Aberdeenshire. (I remember the US TV report of the "toxic cloud" blowing over from japan to the US - it looked very scary on the pictures, but in reality it was only a few % more than the standard background radiation in the worst spots)

If you are worried that the "elevated" levels in the locations where your computer components are made then you are highly overestimating the level of radiation you will be exposed to from these components as well as the health effects of very low levels of radiation. (There have been studies done on food grown in areas near the accident and they have been judged safe for humans to eat - never mind components to go in a computer made thousands of miles away).
 
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On second thoughts, Strontium 90 and Caesium 137 each have a half life of around 30 years.

Best send all your PC stuff to fellow OCUKers and we can sit with them and test them until they are fully safe. Can't be too careful :)
 
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