Boron
Welcome to the Boron Section of the ADC Website.
In 2003, California Skywatch started to investigate contaminants in drinking water in California using water test data from the California State Department of Health.
In recent years Boron tests have been increasing with positive results in California drinking water tests. Skywatch became interested in some unusual spikes and also that this contaminant was being found in more and more tests taken throughout California. This raised serious questions about the source of the Boron in these usual water test results.
We do know that Diborane has been used historically in U.S. Upper Atmospheric Testing: http://www.agriculturedefensecoalition.org/content/diborane and may still be used for this purpose today.
The California EPA has an extensive database on Boron: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/
The ADC is conducting, at this time, an extensive search of the California State Department of Health, Drinking Water Division water test results, in order to make this information public. (Anyone may contact the State of California receive this water testing data free of charge.) I have placed a few early results below for your information.
The PDF files below cover a wide variety of topics associated with Boron and its usage, health effects, and other information.
It wasn't until March 11, 2011, that one of the unusual uses for Boron was highlighted. The Japan Nuclear Disaster created a need for large amounts of Boron to be shipped to Japan by the United States, South Korea, and the French government. In March 2011, tons of Boron was shipped to Japan and much more may be been shipped since March. (It was surprising to note that so much Boron was on hand - already manufactured - and ready to be shipped.)
For more information about the Nuclear Power Plant Disaster in Japan on March 11, 2011: http://www.agriculturedefensecoalition.org/?q=content/japan-disaster-2011
In early reports Secretary Hillary Clinton noted on March 11, 2011, that the United States would be shipping Boron to Japan. She later denied that Boron would be shipped from the U.S. to Japan. The U.S. Air Force, however, released photographs showing the loading and the flight of Boron Shipments to Japan.
What is the significance of these events?
Direct Quotes from a Los Angeles Times Articled dated March 14, 2011:
Why do the reactors have to be cooled?
"...Nuclear reactors operate through the chain-reaction splitting, or fissioning, of uranium atoms. The process creates heat used to turn water into steam. When an earthquake occurs, a safety mechanism inserts control rods into the core of the reactor to halt the chain reaction. But the fuel rods continue to produce excess amounts of heat for several days and must be cooled. If they are not cooled, they could melt, with potentially disastrous consequences, including the release of massive amounts of radiation into the environment.
What went wrong?
The tsunami disrupted the electrical grid that supplied power to the pumps that circulated cooling water at 11 reactors shut down in the quake area. But at six of those reactors, water from the tsunami also damaged the diesel generators that supplied backup power. The facilities had to rely on batteries, which had a life of only several hours.
What caused the explosions?
The uranium pellets in the fuel rods are sheathed in zirconium cladding. It appears some of the rods may have been exposed to the air and overheated. When the heated rods came into contact again with water, the zirconium would have been oxidized, releasing hydrogen. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, which promotes nuclear safety, the containment vessels that surround the reactors are designed to allow about 1% of the volume of gas within to escape per day. The hydrogen apparently accumulated in the outer buildings that surround the containment vessels. Then explosions were touched off by sparks. The blasts damaged the outer buildings and the pumping systems, but did not breach the reactor containment vessels. (Note: We do know since the date of this article that more serious damage occurred in the early days after March 11, 2011.)
Why wasn't seawater pumped into the containment vessels earlier?
Seawater is very corrosive, particularly at high temperatures, so pumping it into the vessels is an indication that the Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) facility, has given up on saving the reactors. Normally, reactors use only water that is distilled and free of all contaminants.
Why have officials added boron?
Boron is very good at absorbing neutrons that are released during the fission of uranium. It is one of the primary components of the control rods that are used to shut the reactor down. Adding it to the seawater helps tamp down heat production. It also will control a nuclear reaction should any of the fuel rods melt and fall to the reactor floor.
Japanese authorities say there has been a partial meltdown. What does that mean?
That statement is based on the detection of extremely small quantities of the isotopes cesium-137 and iodine-131 in the environment near the plant. Those two elements are byproducts of uranium fission. During the normal operation of a reactor, cesium-137 and iodine-131 migrate to the gap between the fuel pellets and the zirconium cladding. The fact that some quantities escaped into the environment suggests the cladding heated up and cracked to some degree. That does not mean any fuel has melted, although it is possible that a small amount did. Barring a major catastrophe, no one will know whether fuel has melted until they can get into the containment vessel and examine it..." End of LA Times Direct Quotes in article on March 14, 2011.
Why did Japan desperately need Boron?
Japan and the United States clearly knew, very quickly, on March 11, 2011, that the tremendous Earthquake and Tsunami that hit the nuclear power plants in Japan had done a tremendous amount of damage. Top nuclear experts in the U.S. and other countries were aware of the potential of such a disaster having experienced the Chernobyl disaster in Russia years earlier.
Japan did not have enough Boron on hand to mix with cooling water to control the nuclear reactions that were taking place after these two natural disasters. Thus, the requests went out to other countries asking for Boron and other supplies that they needed.
Revelations since March 11, 2011, clearly reveal the extent of damage that happened in the first few days of the disaster. And they also reveal a concerted effort to hide or delay releasing the facts in order to protect the revitalization of nuclear power in the United States ($34Billion in the current 2011, U.S. budget), and in other countries. Revealing the true dangers would not only jeopardize the proposed revitalization in the United States but could also lead to questions about the viability of our own nuclear power plants, their deficiencies, aging, uranium mining health effects and pollution, and nuclear waste problems.
The use of Boron, and shipping it to Japan, openly in full public view would let the public know how bad the nuclear disaster was in Japan and it would not give the U.S. government and other countries time to "spin" the news that everything was safe with few exceptions. Thus, the Boron story was downplayed to keep it secret from the majority of the U.S. public.
If it was openly revealed that Boron was being used, and why, then the public might reject the revitalization of nuclear power in the United States. In addition, they would start asking questions about the health effects of Boron released into the air, water, soil, and Pacific Ocean. These questions would raise additional "sticky" issues about human health and food safety.
Japan has had many nuclear accidents and problems for many years. The use of Boron by Japan is not new. In 2004, 2007, and 2009, earthquakes caused problems at different nuclear power plants in Japan. It is unknown how many of their plants are now shutdown due to damages from March 11, 2011, and the continuing earthquakes since that time. And these problems are only a few of many problems that have plagued nuclear reactors in Japan over the years.
The interesting part of the equation is that Boron has been showing up, sometimes unusually spiking across California, in drinking water tests. Some of these spikes were about the same time as the Japan Nuclear Power Plant problems in 2004, 2007, and 2009. It will be interesting to look at the California drinking water test results since March 11, 2011, to find out if there has been any Boron spikes.
Boron Has been Used Extensively in Japan Since March 11, 2011. Many countries, including the United States, have shipped tons of Boron to Japan.
81B-004 2011 Ceradyne Inc. Costa Mesa Offers Japan Nuclear Plant Help-Boron March 14, 2011.pdf
81B-004 2011 South Korea to Send Boron to Stabilize Japan Reactor March 15, 2011 Reuters.pdf
81B-005 2011 South Korea to Send Boron to Stabilize Japan Reactor March 15, 2011 Reuters.pdf
81B-006 2011 South Korea to Send Boron to Stabilize Japan Nuclear Reactors March 16, 2011 CDNews.pdf
81B-007 2011 U.S. Navy Delivers Protective Suits to Japan March 17, 2011 The Straight Times.pdf
81B-038 2011 House of Japan News Secretary Clinton Meets With Japan Leaders April 17, 2011 News.pdf
The California EPA and other Agencies List Boron as a Drinking Water Contaminant.
81E 1994 Boron U.S. Federal Register EPA Addition of Right-to-Know Chemicals January 12, 1994.pdf
81E 2000 CA Regional Water Quality Control Board Boron Draft Literature Summary April 2000.pdf
81E 2006 Letter to California SWRCB January 30, 2006 on Boron.pdf
81E 2010 Boron CA SWRCB Groundwater Information Sheet-General Information July 13, 2010.pdf
81E 2011 Periodic Chart of Elements Lenntech Website July 3, 2011.pdf
Health Effects of Boron
81H 2004 EPA Boron Toxicology Review Boron and Compounds June 2004.pdf
81H 2006 Boron Chemical Properties Lenntech.pdf
81H 2008 Boron Health Effects Lenntech.pdf
Japan, the United States and Other Countries Knew that the Nuclear Disaster in Japan was Worse than they were admitting in public. In order to prevent the derailing of the Nuclear Power revitalization in the United States, and other countries, it was agreed that they would "downplay" or "coverup" the real disaster in Japan. And the U.S. would agree to limit Radiation Testing in the U.S. by the EPA stating that all readings were within "SAFE" limits for exposure. ($34Billion in nuclear revitalization funding at Taxpayer expense was at state just in the United States.)
Boron, being shipped to Japan by ton, demonstrated that with hours on March 11, 2011, Japan's nuclear power plants were in trouble.
81J-16 2011 Japan Radiation Spreads-U.S. Ships Washed Down Video March 26, 2010 ABC News.pdf
Japan has had trouble with their nuclear power plants for over ten years. Some of the stories have leaked out to the media. On July 1, 2011 Dr. Sanja Gupta, from CNN, exposed part of the untold story in his special Report.
81J-113 2011 Dr. Sanjay Gupta-Nuclear Cover-up in Japan Special Report July 1, 2011.pdf
81K 1999 Japan Guardian.co.uk July 16, 1999 Japan Nuclear Plant Radiation Leak Worse Than Feared.pdf
81K 2004 Japan Nuclear Power Plants Shut in Japan Guardian.co.uk News August 14, 2004 Accident.pdf
81K 2007 Japan Earthquake July 17, 2007 Nuclear Power Plant Problems Waste Drums.pdf
NASA
81P 1966 Boron Nitride Abstract 1966 NASA.pdf
Boron Abstracts
81Q 1994 Boron Oxide Chemistry With HF Cluster Beam Study Abstract December 26, 1994.pdf
81Q 1995 Boron Gas Phase Studies Abstract June 27, 1995 Silicon-Aluminum.pdf
81Q 1996 Boron Abstract Prime Candidate for High Enthalpy Fuels July 20, 1996.pdf
81QS 2005 Boron Search January 8, 2005 General Information.pdf
81R 2008 Boron Storming Media Abstract Search December 23, 2008 Results 366 Page 1.pdf
81R 2008 Boron Storming Media Abstract Search December 23, 2008 Results 366 Page 2.pdf
Boron & The United States Air Force
81U 1992 Boron Abstract March Air Force Base Boron Found in Wastewater CA July 1992.pdf
81U 1999 Boron Abstract United States Air Force Application Boron Atoms June 2, 1999.pdf
81U 2003 Boron Abstract United States Air Force Boron Vapor Source-Rockets June 2003.pdf
81U 2003 U.S. Air Force Health Effects Toxic Chemicals 2003-Arsenic-Barium-Benzene+Others.pdf
81U-099 2011 U.S. NRC Reviews and Discusses its Japan Fukushima Response June 16, 2011 NEI News.pdf
81U-111 2011 U.S. Department of Energy HSS Safety Bulletin No. 2011-01 Website June 29, 2011.pdf
Boron - Universities & Agriculture
81V 2009 Boron-Sulfur Rutgers Study Can Soil Fertility Improve Tomato Flavor February 2009.pdf
Boron - California State Department of Health, Drinking Water Divsion, Sacramento, CA
Drinking Water Tests Throughout California show increasing water contamination from Boron. We don't know where all the sources for the unusual boron spikes are coming from...but the number of positive test results are alleged to be increasing each year throughout the State of California.
Research should be conducted to find out if the increasing use of Boron, by Japan and the U.S., and other countries to control and cool nuclear reactors, are airborne or ocean sources of some unusual spikes in California. The test below are only a few of the many water test results found in California.
81W CA WT Boron American Canyon CWD CA Water Test Results 1995-2001.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Albion MWC Albion CA Water Test Results 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron American Canyon CWD CA Water Test Results 1986-1994.pdf
81W CA WT Boron American Canyon CWD CA Water Test Results 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron American Canyon CWD CA Water Tests 1986-1994.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Burbank City WD CA Water Tests 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron City of Arcata CA Water Test Results 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron City of Davis CA Water Tests 2002-2003 Note Spikes.pdf
81W CA WT Boron City of Davis CA Water Tests 2003-2004 Note Spikes.pdf
81W CA WT Boron City of Davis CA Water Tests 2004-2005 Note Spikes.pdf
81W CA WT Boron City of Davis CA Water Tests 2005-2008 Note Spikes.pdf
81W CA WT Boron City of Exeter, CA Water Test Spike 2006 -One Spike.pdf
81W CA WT Boron City of Lakeport CA Water Tests 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron City of Redding CA Water Tests 1995-2001.pdf
81W CA WT Boron City of Redding CA Water Tests 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron City of Rio Dell CA Water Test Results 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Contra Costa WD Concord CA 2002-2008 Water Tests.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Del Oro WC Chico CA Water Test Results 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Jubilee MWC Lucerne Valley, CA 2002-2008 Water Tests.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Lemoore Naval Air Station CA Water Tests 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Loleta Water Works CA Water Test Data 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Lucerne Water Co CA Water Tests 2002-2008 Lake County.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Marin MWDistrict Corte Madera CA Water Tests 2002-2003.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Marin MWDistrict Corte Madera CA Water Tests 2003-2004.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Marin MWDistrict Corte Madera CA Water Tests 2004-2005.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Marin MWDistrict Corte Madera CA Water Tests 2005-2006.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Marin MWDistrict Corte Madera CA Water Tests 2006-2007.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Marin MWDistrict Corte Madera CA Water Tests 2007-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Odd Fellows RC Guerneville CA Water Tests 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron RVCWD CA Water Test Data 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Spikes 2002-2008 Bella Vista Water Tests CA.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Sunrise Shore MWC Lower Lake CA Water Tests 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Water Tests 2002-2008 Brooktrails CSD Willits, CA.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Willow CWD Ukiah CA Water Tests 2002-2008.pdf
81W CA WT Boron Yuba College Woodland CA 2002-2008 Water Tests.pdf
U.S. Navy - Pollywell Nuclear Reactor - Testing Ongoing in Pacific Ocean in 2011
This is a controversial nuclear experiment which has not been publicized to any great extent. (The ADC section on Diborane has additional information on Boron.)
81Y 2006 Study of Boron Implantation into High Ge Content SiGe Alloys.pdf
81Y 2011 The Pollywell Nuclear Reactor Website Polywell Nuclear p-B Reaction July 4, 2011.pdf
81Y 2011 The Polywell Nuclear Fission Reactors Website July 4, 2011.pdf
81Y 2011 The Polywell Nuclear Reactor Website July 4, 2011 Energy from Nuclear Reactions.pdf
81Y 2011 The Polywell Nuclear Reactor Website July 4, 2011 Frequent Objections+Replies.pdf
81Y 2011 The Polywell Nuclear Reactor Website July 4, 2011 Isotopes & Radiation.pdf
81Y 2011 The Polywell Nuclear Reactor Website July 4, 2011 SiteMap.pdf
No Comment
81Z 2001 No Comment Dietary Boron Intake in the United States December 6, 2001 Article.pdf
81Z 2011 No Comment Boron General Information Wikipedia Website July 3, 2011.pdf