Sources from Fukushima have reported that the workers have managed to stop the water leak from reactor 2, thus putting an end to the flow of the highly radioactive iodine into the ocean. They had been working around the clock, struggling for almost a month to keep the damaged reactors from overheating. Nevertheless, the Japanese officials warned that the fight is still far from over.
Until Wednesday, radioactive liquid was flowing into the ocean from a cracked concrete shaft near the turbine plant's water intake. Workers managed to seal that breach on Wednesday morning, but officials say they still have other important problems to solve.
"Is it completely stopped? We cannot be optimistic, just because we were able to plug this one." said Yukio Edano, chief of the Secretary Cabinet. Hidehiko Nishiyama of Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said the now-contained water "may lead to more leakage somewhere else."
Precautionary measures have been taken to minimize the risk of any additional explosions at other reactors. TEPCO announced that "The possibility of a hydrogen explosion is extremely low, but more hydrogen could eventually develop in the containment vessel." Hydrogen buildup is a symptom of overheating fuel rods and can cause explosions like the blast that blew the roof off reactor 1 and 3. But Tokyo Electric said it did not believe any explosion was imminent.
Since the leak was discovered (on Saturday, April 2nd), concentrations of iodine-131 measured in the water near the reactor have been million times higher than the legal limites. After plugging the leak, they have dropped dramatically (to less than 4 percent of that amount) in 24 hours, according to figures released by Tokyo Electric. The level remained 280,000 times higher than the legal limit, but these concentrations are dropping fast. The levels of cesium-137 remained higher than those of the iodine (about 61,000 times the legal limit), but much lower than initially measured during the leak.
Samples from a monitoring point 20 kilometers South-East of the plant found iodine-131 levels down to 1.5 times legal limit, with no reading for cesium. Experts said that the existing releases should not pose any long-term health risks to humans or sea life, as most radiatioactive particles detected are iodine-131 which loses half of its radiation every eight days.
Nevertheless, the existence of this still significant amount of radioactive water around the facility suggests that there may be other leaks and other problems.
Showing posts with label radioactive exposure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label radioactive exposure. Show all posts
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Radiation pills
After the nuclear accident in Japan, scores of people all over the world could be exposed to radiation. Depending of the level of radiation, this may lead to several symptoms, like hair loss, skin rash, even burns and, in case of extreme exposure, acute radiation syndrome. Cancer risk sharply increases.
As nuclear threat in spreading, people all over the world is mistakenly ingesting potassium iodine pills, widely considered “to protect against cancer”. What is true and what is myth in all this hysteria?
The truth is that potassium iodine protects you against one single type of cancer and incorrectly taken may have adverse side effects. In most instances of radiation exposure, the benefits of taking KI outweigh any known risks or side effects. Newborn infants taking a repeat dose of KI increase their risk of developing hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid.
As a general rule, never take potassium iodine without proper medical advice. You can freely buy it without a prescription as side effects may be very dangerous too. But if a doctor recommends you to take it, do not avoid taking it. In case of a nuclear accident, potassium iodine is extremely important for pregnant women, as their thyroids absorb radioactive iodine leaked by reactors much faster than other persons. Taking the recommended dose of potassium iodine, the pregnant woman also protects her baby, who automatically absorbs the needed quantity.
Radiation exposure sharply increases cancer risk, a danger that usually looms for decades after the exposure. Immune system is strongly affected by radiation, leading to cancer and other diseases.
Japan's nuclear crisis overwhelmed drugstores in the U.S. and other countries for a drug that can protect against one type of radiation damage. Though the risk of radiation remains only in Japan people in other places is worried that potassium iodine might disappear and want it in their homes.
Doctors warned that there's no reason for people outside Japan to stock up on potassium iodide but the stronger the warns, the greater the panic.
The myth about the use of potassium iodide is that this is a general radiation antidote. But the pill can help prevent radioactive iodine from causing thyroid cancer. Mostly children are known to be at risk in a nuclear disaster.
In the U.S., whether people fear fallout from Japan or a nuclear accident here, potassium iodide seems to have become something of a hot commodity.
Potassium iodide is a salt also known as KI that has only one use, to protect the thyroid from radioactive iodine. It blocks no other type of radiation, and protects no other body part.
The drug, either pill or liquid form, is sold over-the-counter and is considered safe, but doctors warn that it disturbs hormonal equilibrium of the body and may lead to allergic reactions.
Potassium iodide is most important for children and pregnant women, because a growing thyroid is much more active and more likely to absorb radioactive iodine. It should be given within a few hours of radiation exposure — but isn't considered that useful for people over age 40.
Only two U.S. companies are approved by the FDA to manufacture KI, so supply from friends and relatives abroad is usual these days.
Potassium iodine is a salt of stable iodine. This substance is used by our bodies to produce thyroid hormones. KI is sold as a tablet or as a liquid medicine to protect the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine. Saturating your body with potassium iodine prevents absorbtion of the radioactive one, which is released into the air by crippled nuclear plant. It is able to block radioactive iodine because the thyroid recognizes both KI and radioactive iodine as the same substance. KI “fills up” the thyroid with its daily iodine quota, thus blocking the radioactive version from being absorbed. That is why KI should be taken as soon as the possibility of radiation contamination is known, before the damage can occur. Without such protection, the thyroid gland would quickly absorb the radioactive iodine, that often results in thyroid cancer.
The problem is that KI protects only the thyroid. Radioactive iodine continues to enter the body through breathing, or by eating contaminated food. KI also does not protect other parts of the body besides the thyroid, and it cannot protect even the thyroid from other radioactive materials besides iodine. Nor can it reverse damage once the thyroid has been exposed to radioactive iodine. One dose of KI is effective for 24 hours.
Iodized table salt also contains iodine, but it doesn't contain enough to block radioactive iodine and should not be used as a substitute for KI.
As nuclear threat in spreading, people all over the world is mistakenly ingesting potassium iodine pills, widely considered “to protect against cancer”. What is true and what is myth in all this hysteria?
The truth is that potassium iodine protects you against one single type of cancer and incorrectly taken may have adverse side effects. In most instances of radiation exposure, the benefits of taking KI outweigh any known risks or side effects. Newborn infants taking a repeat dose of KI increase their risk of developing hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid.
As a general rule, never take potassium iodine without proper medical advice. You can freely buy it without a prescription as side effects may be very dangerous too. But if a doctor recommends you to take it, do not avoid taking it. In case of a nuclear accident, potassium iodine is extremely important for pregnant women, as their thyroids absorb radioactive iodine leaked by reactors much faster than other persons. Taking the recommended dose of potassium iodine, the pregnant woman also protects her baby, who automatically absorbs the needed quantity.
Radiation exposure sharply increases cancer risk, a danger that usually looms for decades after the exposure. Immune system is strongly affected by radiation, leading to cancer and other diseases.
Japan's nuclear crisis overwhelmed drugstores in the U.S. and other countries for a drug that can protect against one type of radiation damage. Though the risk of radiation remains only in Japan people in other places is worried that potassium iodine might disappear and want it in their homes.
Doctors warned that there's no reason for people outside Japan to stock up on potassium iodide but the stronger the warns, the greater the panic.
The myth about the use of potassium iodide is that this is a general radiation antidote. But the pill can help prevent radioactive iodine from causing thyroid cancer. Mostly children are known to be at risk in a nuclear disaster.
In the U.S., whether people fear fallout from Japan or a nuclear accident here, potassium iodide seems to have become something of a hot commodity.
Potassium iodide is a salt also known as KI that has only one use, to protect the thyroid from radioactive iodine. It blocks no other type of radiation, and protects no other body part.
The drug, either pill or liquid form, is sold over-the-counter and is considered safe, but doctors warn that it disturbs hormonal equilibrium of the body and may lead to allergic reactions.
Potassium iodide is most important for children and pregnant women, because a growing thyroid is much more active and more likely to absorb radioactive iodine. It should be given within a few hours of radiation exposure — but isn't considered that useful for people over age 40.
Only two U.S. companies are approved by the FDA to manufacture KI, so supply from friends and relatives abroad is usual these days.
Potassium iodine is a salt of stable iodine. This substance is used by our bodies to produce thyroid hormones. KI is sold as a tablet or as a liquid medicine to protect the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine. Saturating your body with potassium iodine prevents absorbtion of the radioactive one, which is released into the air by crippled nuclear plant. It is able to block radioactive iodine because the thyroid recognizes both KI and radioactive iodine as the same substance. KI “fills up” the thyroid with its daily iodine quota, thus blocking the radioactive version from being absorbed. That is why KI should be taken as soon as the possibility of radiation contamination is known, before the damage can occur. Without such protection, the thyroid gland would quickly absorb the radioactive iodine, that often results in thyroid cancer.
The problem is that KI protects only the thyroid. Radioactive iodine continues to enter the body through breathing, or by eating contaminated food. KI also does not protect other parts of the body besides the thyroid, and it cannot protect even the thyroid from other radioactive materials besides iodine. Nor can it reverse damage once the thyroid has been exposed to radioactive iodine. One dose of KI is effective for 24 hours.
Iodized table salt also contains iodine, but it doesn't contain enough to block radioactive iodine and should not be used as a substitute for KI.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Japan has lifted the serverity level of the Fukushima accident from 4 to 5
11.35 Update: The Japanese Nuclear Agency raised from 4 to 5 the severity level of the accident at Fukushima.
10.10 Update: Japanese engineers take into account burying the nuclear reactor in sand and concrete in order to save Japan from a nuclear catastrophe.
Nevertheless, the potential nuclear disaster at Fukushima has a good chance of being avoided. The technicians have restored the electricity supply necessary for the cooling pumps at reactors 5 and 6. The situation situation still remains critic at the other four reactors, more seriously damaged by explosions and fires.
Meanwhile, the radioactivity level near the nuclear power plant has decreased slightly. A priority remains cooling the first four reactors, where it's believed that part of the nuclear fuel (in the reactor's core) has already melted. Technicians continue their efforts to restore the operation of the cooling pumps, which triggered the this chain of events in the first place. Until now, water has been poured over the reactors from helicopters, which seems to have slowly started to stabilize the situation.
As a precaution, passengers and goods arriving from Japan are being tested for radioactivity in airports. So far they have only detected radiation in certain parcels of goods, but the level is still far below the risk limits.
10.10 Update: Japanese engineers take into account burying the nuclear reactor in sand and concrete in order to save Japan from a nuclear catastrophe.
Nevertheless, the potential nuclear disaster at Fukushima has a good chance of being avoided. The technicians have restored the electricity supply necessary for the cooling pumps at reactors 5 and 6. The situation situation still remains critic at the other four reactors, more seriously damaged by explosions and fires.
Meanwhile, the radioactivity level near the nuclear power plant has decreased slightly. A priority remains cooling the first four reactors, where it's believed that part of the nuclear fuel (in the reactor's core) has already melted. Technicians continue their efforts to restore the operation of the cooling pumps, which triggered the this chain of events in the first place. Until now, water has been poured over the reactors from helicopters, which seems to have slowly started to stabilize the situation.
As a precaution, passengers and goods arriving from Japan are being tested for radioactivity in airports. So far they have only detected radiation in certain parcels of goods, but the level is still far below the risk limits.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Potassium Iodide - protection in case of radioactive exposure
Thyroid Protection
If radioactive iodine in the air there, it is introduced into the lungs by inhalation where some will enter the bloodstream and be absorbed by the thyroid gland. An effective measure to prevent absorption of radioactive iodine by the thyroid is the administration of KI pills (potassium iodide). The stable iodine found in the pills (which is non-radioactive) will be quickly absorbed by the thyroid, "filling it up" with the stable iodine and in turn causing it to stop the accumulation of radioactive iodine. Radioactive iodine is then removed quickly from the body through natural body functions.
Important note:
The potassium iodide pills do not protect the body from other radioactive substances.
Another measure to protect yourself against inhalation of radioactive iodine (and harmful radiation in general) is to remain sheltered inside. You can get more practical advice about how to protect yourself here: http://followthenews.blogspot.com/2011/03/radiation-dangers-nuclear-preparedness.html
The administration of KI pills must be done quickly in an emergency though. Such pills will be available in reception centers organized by the Public Authorities and distributed to the public. Also the schools should have sufficient quantities of pills for the children, when necessary.
Studies have shown that the administration of iodine greatly reduces the risk of thyroid cancer. The tablets are most effective when taken just before being exposed, or at latest within 6 hours of exposure to radioactive emissions.
How to take potassium iodide pills?
Never take pills without consulting a doctor or a specialist.
As a general guideline, for an adequate effect, an adult can have one-only dose of 130 milligrams of potassium iodide, equivalent to 100 mg of iodine (only two tablets). The tablets are to be crushed and administered after a meal, with large quantities of liquids. It is recommended that depending on the extent and evolution of nuclear urgency, following the recommendation of health authorities, people may be advised to take iodine tablets repeatedly over several consecutive days, but without exceeding 10 days or a maximum total dose (cumulative) of 1 gram of iodine. In this case, to reduce side effects is recommended to take half a dose (one tablet) every 12 hours, but ONLY if the health authorities advise it!
The following persons should never take iodine tablets:
- People who suffer from hypersensitivity (allergic) to iodine;
- People who suffer from one of these rare diseases:
- dermatitis herpetiformis;
- iododerma tuberosum;
- penfigus vulgar;
- congenital myotonic;
- vasculitis with complement deficiency.
Disclaimer:
DO NOT ingest potassium iodide pills without consulting the health authorities or your doctor! Only they can determine the necessary dose for each particular person and situation. The opinions expressed in this blog address theoretical concerns and CANNOT dictate direct patient care! The creator/author is also not responsible for the opinions of contributors comments.
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