Nuclear accident follows Japanese earthqauke

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 09 Apr 2011, 21:08

Don't apologise. The Amakudari link is interesting.

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 10 Apr 2011, 08:09

Long-lived caesium-137 made its presence known a couple of weeks ago, with little fanfare...

The IAEA has finally confirmed what some analysts have suspected for days: that the concentration per area of long-lived cesium-137 (Cs-137) is extremely high as far as tens of kilometers from the release site at Fukushima Dai-Ichi, and in fact would trigger compulsory evacuation under IAEA guidelines.

The IAEA is reporting that measured soil concentrations of Cs-137 as far away as Iitate Village, 40 kilometers northwest of Fukushima-Dai-Ichi, correspond to deposition levels of up to 3.7 megabecquerels per square meter (MBq/sq. m).

This should be compared with the deposition level that triggered compulsory relocation in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident: the level set in 1990 by the Soviet Union was 1.48 MBq/sq. m.

...continues

http://www.japan.org/tags/cs-137

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 11 Apr 2011, 14:33

A powerful earthquake has hit north-east Japan, exactly one month after the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The 7.1-magnitude tremor triggered a brief tsunami warning, and forced workers to evacuate the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. The epicentre of the quake was in Fukushima prefecture, and struck at a depth of just 10km (six miles).

It came as Japan said it was extending the evacuation zone around the nuclear plant because of radiation concerns.

The cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were damaged in last month's disaster. Workers have been struggling to prevent several reactors from overheating, and avert a large-scale release of radiation.

The plant's operator, Tepco, said power used to pump water to cool three damaged reactors had been cut briefly but early indications suggested the plant had not sustained any further damage.

The zone around it will be widened to encompass five communities beyond the existing 20-km (12-mile) radius, following new data about accumulated radiation levels, officials said.

Top government spokesman Yukio Edano said the new evacuations would take place over the coming month, from areas including Iitate village, which lies 40km from the power station, and part of the city of Kawamata.

"There is no need to evacuate immediately," he told a news conference, but added that there were concerns about long-term health risks.

...article continues

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 11 Apr 2011, 22:19

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201104080169.html

Evidence of radioactive contamination increases. Who said this was no Chernobyl?

The information probably came from this but it's all in Japanese:
http://hamanora.blog.ocn.ne.jp/kaiin02/

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 12 Apr 2011, 07:33

Japan: Nuclear crisis raised to Chernobyl level

Japanese authorities have raised the severity rating of their nuclear crisis to the highest level, officials say.

The decision was taken because of radiation measured at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant, NHK reported.

The highest level for nuclear accidents (seven) had previously only applied to the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

Meanwhile a 6.3-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday prompted the plant's operator to evacuate its staff.

Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) said it was checking the status of the plant after the quake, the second to hit in as many days.

...article continues

Typical. No 6.0+ earthquakes for years, then they all come along at together.

Ippoippo · Post by **Ippoippo** » 12 Apr 2011, 08:21

foodimista wrote: ...article continues
Typical. No 6.0+ earthquakes for years, then they all come along at together.

If I recall, quakes between 6 and 7 aren't that uncommon. It's the 7+ ones that start getting to be the rare types.
That said, it is admittedly all rather active there at the moment.

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201104080169.html

Evidence of radioactive contamination increases. Who said this was no Chernobyl?

The information probably came from this but it's all in Japanese:
http://hamanora.blog.ocn.ne.jp/kaiin02/

The local elections are now over in Japan

Time to release some more data.

2 As and a B · Post by **2 As and a B** » 12 Apr 2011, 09:36

Tepco may face $23.6bn in claims, JP Morgan says

Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) may face as much as 2 trillion yen ($23.6bn; £14.5bn) in compensation claims, according to JP Morgan.

...

As the company struggles to contain the nuclear crisis, its shares have taken a beating on the Tokyo stock exchange.

Tepco shares have lost more than 75% of their value since 11 March, in the process hitting all-time lows.

Investors have been worried about the impact of the current crisis on the company's profit.

...article continues

Mean Mr Mustard · Post by **Mean Mr Mustard** » 12 Apr 2011, 11:29

The big nuclear thing in Japan finally made sense today after some people said it was now the same number as something you have heard of.

You have heard of Chernobyl and you know that it was a bad thing

As the people confirmed the Japan thing was now a seven, making it exactly the same as the famous Chernobyl, ordinary millions across the globe said 'oh, I see'.

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/inte ... 104123710/

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 12 Apr 2011, 19:28

Everyone finally understands big nuclear thing

That's not strictly true. The Inspector's still as clueless as ever

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 12 Apr 2011, 20:41

He's been quiet. Perhaps he's watching this film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7-n_QVRgB0

'Into Eternity' a 70 minute film about the Finnish nuclear waste depository.

The Guardian's review: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/nov ... ilm-review

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 12 Apr 2011, 21:23

It's getting dangerous here now.

The risks associated with iodine-131 contamination in Europe are no longer "negligible," according to CRIIRAD, a French research body on radioactivity. The NGO is advising pregnant women and infants against "risky behaviour," such as consuming fresh milk or vegetables with large leaves.

http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/radia ... ews-503947

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 12 Apr 2011, 21:33

Feck-arse. Am I off down the Chemist to buy some iodine supplements??

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 12 Apr 2011, 21:48

RenewableCandy wrote:Feck-arse. Am I off down the Chemist to buy some iodine supplements??

Nuclear power is safe. Don't worry

.

Ippoippo · Post by **Ippoippo** » 12 Apr 2011, 22:04

As bad as it is in Fukushima, I don't think we need to worry in this part of the world.

Reading that report... they are saying "If the foods (leafy vegetables, milk etc.) contain between one and 10 Bq per kg or more, it is possible that the reference level of 10 mSv may be exceeded within two to three weeks, the institute added. "

There seems to be fair bit of uncertainty in there?
Only that goats milk was above 1Bq/kg. Even then, it seems to be within this grey area. Of course, if it starts getting over 10 BQ/kg, then it means we should take more care I guess.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 12 Apr 2011, 22:13

Ippoippo wrote:As bad as it is in Fukushima, I don't think we need to worry in this part of the world.

I'm not so much worried about the radiation from Fukushima, but I am getting increasingly worried about future problems of this sort in a world where everybody is broke and somebody has to pay to safely clean up after the nuclear power industry.