Machida Citizens’ Radioactivity Measuring Office “Hakaroom”*(*The name is a play on the word “hakaru” that means to measure.)
Tamagawagakuen 7-12-28-205, Machida, Tokyo.
tel: 042-723-7545　　 e-mail:hakaroom@gmail.com

Ⅰ． Hakaroom History & Measurement Procedures

After Fukushima Dai-ichi’s nuclear reactors blew up following March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, it became apparent that radioactive contamination was fairly widespread in the eastern Japan.
For residents, environmental and food safety became a major concern.

A group of concerned citizen volunteers of Machida got together to find out what’s really out there and, began membership drives and donation rounds. The group accuired NaI Spectrometer (EMF211) in October 2012. and set up Hakaroom whose mission is to provide accurate measurement of radioactive contamination to residents; Hakaroom began its full operation in February 2013.

Volunteer members work under guidance and advice of experienced professional scientists, aiming to protect residents from radioactive exposure. We measure density of radioactive contaminants (namely Cesium 137 and Cesium 134) in foodstuffs and soil. Anyone wishing to have a specimen measured can bring it in by appointment. We also accept small packet delivery. Findings are expressed in terms of Becquerel per kilogram (Bq/Kg). Cost per one hour session is 1,500. This is reduced to 1,000 for Hakaroom membership; annual Hakaroom membership fee is 3,000.

We are open for Mondays, Thursdays and first and third Saturdays of the month. Opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can contact us by mailing hakaroom@gmail.com.

Our office is at Tamagawagakuen 7-12-28-205, Machida, Tokyo. It is a few minutes walk from Tamagawagakuen-mae Station on the Odakyu Line, but is somewhat difficult to find. On your first visit, we suggest you call us from the station so that we can escort you to the office. our number is 042-723-7545
Route Map

Ⅱ．Measurement Menus

1. Measurement days:
   business Mondays, Thursdays , and first and third Saturdays of the month

2. Measurement timetable：
   ①　１０：００～１１：３０
   ②　１３：００～１４：３０
   ③　１４：３０～１６：００　　　

3. Measurement time arrangement：
   Timetable, above①～③,is set to measurue a specimen for an hour.
   If you want to have more precise a measurement, you can have two- or four-hour measurement in case of ③,when measurement time can be extend flexibly. 　　　
   ※　You can use fig.1 bellow to estimate an apporopriate measurement time.

4. Measurement fee：
   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Member　　　 　 Non-Member
   1-hour measurement 　 　 　１０００ 　 　 　１５００
   2-hour measurement 　 　 　２０００ 　 　 　２５００
   4-hour measurement 　　　 ￥３０００ 　　　 ￥４０００

5. Membership：
   If you pay an annual membership fee 3,000,You can have a measurement fee discount, and several special information services of Hakaroom.

Ⅲ．Important requirements for specimens

1. Volume & Weight:
   They have to be approximately 1 litre in volume and 1 Kg in weight. Smaller samples do not yield reliable data, especially when the density is low, e.g. 10 Bq/Kg.

2. Temperrature：
   They should be at room temperature.　

3. Preliminary food arrangement：
   Grain (such as rice), powder (such as flour) and liquid (such as fruit juice) do not pose problems in putting them into a dedicated container for measurement (i.e. Marinelli beaker) which has a narrow cavity that needs to be closely packed with specimen.
   Leafy vegetables need to be either pushed tightly into the cavity (not easy) or finely shredded beforehand (preferred). Root vegetables need to be finely chopped beforehand.

4. Specimen background：
   We would like to know where the specimen came from, how and when it was collected, and in case of produce direct from the field whether it was washed beforehand.

5. Specimen after measurement：
   Our policy is to ask clients to take back specimens after measurement. We do not dispose them ourselves. Measuring specimens alters neither chemical nor biological characteristics, and it does not create radioactive materials; if they were edible before measurement they should be edible after it.