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 level. Show all posts
Showing posts with label radioactive level. Show all posts
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Traces of radioactivity from Fukushima found in Moscow
Traces of radioactivity from the nuclear power plant in Fukushima were found in Russia's capital city, but should pose no threat to the health of the population, according to the authorities.
RADON, a company specialized in nuclear decontamination, has detected tiny radioactive particles in Moscow, according to deputy director, Oleg Polski. "Since March 23, we recorded a level of radioactivity which has the characteristics of a nuclear emergency" said Polski. It is the presence of substances such as Iodine 131, Cesium 134, Cesium 137 and Telurium 132.
"The isotopes presence demonstrate links with the accident at Fukushima, but particles are not dangerous to humans" assures Polski.
Moscow, located in the western part of Russia, was probably affected by the radioactive cloud that has reached Eastern Europe a couple of days ago.
Last week, Russia banned imports of food from four Japanese prefectures affected by the accident at the Fukushima.
RADON, a company specialized in nuclear decontamination, has detected tiny radioactive particles in Moscow, according to deputy director, Oleg Polski. "Since March 23, we recorded a level of radioactivity which has the characteristics of a nuclear emergency" said Polski. It is the presence of substances such as Iodine 131, Cesium 134, Cesium 137 and Telurium 132.
"The isotopes presence demonstrate links with the accident at Fukushima, but particles are not dangerous to humans" assures Polski.
Moscow, located in the western part of Russia, was probably affected by the radioactive cloud that has reached Eastern Europe a couple of days ago.
Last week, Russia banned imports of food from four Japanese prefectures affected by the accident at the Fukushima.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
High level of radioactive iodine measured in the sea water near Fukushima
A radioactive iodine level 1,250 times higher than normal has been measured in the sea water, a few hundred meters off the coast near the Fukushima nuclear power plant, in North-Eastern Japan, announced on Saturday the Japanese Agency for Nuclear Safety.
The agency said the tests had been conducted by the company that manages power plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), in the water off the coast of reactor 1.
"If you drank 500 ml of water with this concentration of iodine, you would immediately reach the annual maximum limit that you can absorb. This is a relatively high level." said an agency spokesman.
He added that "the radioactivity released into the sea will dilute due to the tide, which in turn means that the concentration would have to be much higher for marine algae and animals to absorb", he added.
"In addition, the concentration of iodine is reducing itself by half every eight days, so that when people will eat these sea food products, the quantity will most likely be greatly reduced" he said.
Tuesday, the level of iodine 131 was 126 times higher than the legal limit set by the Government in the water tested in the Pacific Ocean at the exact same place, near Fukushima Daiichi plant. Therefore, radioactive iodine concentration increased approximately ten times in just a few days.
Public authorities have announced increased controls imposed on fish and seafood caught along the coast.
This nuclear power plant located 250 km North-East of Tokyo, was severely damaged by the earthquake followed by a tsunami on March 11. Cooling systems at four of the reactors have been shut down since then, resulting in numerous incidents and emissions of radioactive particles.
The agency said the tests had been conducted by the company that manages power plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), in the water off the coast of reactor 1.
"If you drank 500 ml of water with this concentration of iodine, you would immediately reach the annual maximum limit that you can absorb. This is a relatively high level." said an agency spokesman.
He added that "the radioactivity released into the sea will dilute due to the tide, which in turn means that the concentration would have to be much higher for marine algae and animals to absorb", he added.
"In addition, the concentration of iodine is reducing itself by half every eight days, so that when people will eat these sea food products, the quantity will most likely be greatly reduced" he said.
Tuesday, the level of iodine 131 was 126 times higher than the legal limit set by the Government in the water tested in the Pacific Ocean at the exact same place, near Fukushima Daiichi plant. Therefore, radioactive iodine concentration increased approximately ten times in just a few days.
Public authorities have announced increased controls imposed on fish and seafood caught along the coast.
This nuclear power plant located 250 km North-East of Tokyo, was severely damaged by the earthquake followed by a tsunami on March 11. Cooling systems at four of the reactors have been shut down since then, resulting in numerous incidents and emissions of radioactive particles.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Japan: Increased radioactive levels in tap water in Tokyo
The latest control shows increased radioactive levels in both running water and food products!
A radioactive iodine level above the legal limit allowed for infants has been detected in tap water in the 35 million people metropolis located 250 kilometers South-West of the Fukushima nuclear plant, announced authorities on Wednesday.
A city official said that a iodine concentration of 210 becquerel per kilogram was found in samples taken from running water, while the limit set by the Japanese for babies is only 100 becquerel.
Also Wednesday, the Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan urged people not to consume vegetables, especially spinach, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, where abnormal levels of radioactivity have been detected. He temporarily banned the sale of green vegetables from Fukushima and raw milk and parsley coming from Ibaraki.
Radioactive substances in quantities greater than legal norms have been detected in 11 types of vegetables in areas near the Fukushima nuclear power plant, announced the Japanese Ministry of Health.
A level of 82.000 becquerel radiocaesium - 164 times the legal limit - was measured in leaves of some vegetables from Motomiya, a village in Fukushima Prefecture, together with a level of radioactive iodine of 15.000 becquerel, seven times higher than the limit, according to the ministry.
If a person consumed 100 grams of contaminated vegetables each day for ten days, this would amount to half the radiation level to which a person shhould ever be exposed during a year, the ministry said.
Fear of a major contamination of fish and seafood has intensified Tuesday after the discovery of an abnormally high level of radioactive substances in seawater near the Fukushima plant.
The United States stopped the import of food products from the 4 prefectures surrounding the nuclear plant. France in turn asked the European Commission to impose a "systematic control" of the imports of fresh products from Japan at the EU borders.
A radioactive iodine level above the legal limit allowed for infants has been detected in tap water in the 35 million people metropolis located 250 kilometers South-West of the Fukushima nuclear plant, announced authorities on Wednesday.
A city official said that a iodine concentration of 210 becquerel per kilogram was found in samples taken from running water, while the limit set by the Japanese for babies is only 100 becquerel.
Also Wednesday, the Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan urged people not to consume vegetables, especially spinach, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, where abnormal levels of radioactivity have been detected. He temporarily banned the sale of green vegetables from Fukushima and raw milk and parsley coming from Ibaraki.
Radioactive substances in quantities greater than legal norms have been detected in 11 types of vegetables in areas near the Fukushima nuclear power plant, announced the Japanese Ministry of Health.
A level of 82.000 becquerel radiocaesium - 164 times the legal limit - was measured in leaves of some vegetables from Motomiya, a village in Fukushima Prefecture, together with a level of radioactive iodine of 15.000 becquerel, seven times higher than the limit, according to the ministry.
If a person consumed 100 grams of contaminated vegetables each day for ten days, this would amount to half the radiation level to which a person shhould ever be exposed during a year, the ministry said.
Fear of a major contamination of fish and seafood has intensified Tuesday after the discovery of an abnormally high level of radioactive substances in seawater near the Fukushima plant.
The United States stopped the import of food products from the 4 prefectures surrounding the nuclear plant. France in turn asked the European Commission to impose a "systematic control" of the imports of fresh products from Japan at the EU borders.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Radioactive traces in the tap water in Tokyo
Authorities said they found traces of radioactivity in drinking water in Tokyo and five other regions. They also announced that spinach and milk from two prefectures near the plant have been slightly irradiated too.
However, officials from the Japanese Ministry of Science have declared that: "Doses are lower than the maximum level allowed".
"The ministry has started to make measurements of current water quality on Saturday and we have detected traces of radioactive iodine and cesium", said an official from the Ministry in charge of verification (quoted by AFP).
The radioactive iodine was detected in tap water in the prefectures of Tokyo, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba and Niigata, he said. In addition, caesium was discovered in the drinking water distributed in Gunma and Tochigi prefectures.
The highest levels were recorded in Tochigi, 77 becquerel per liter of water for radioactive iodine and 1.6 becquerel per liter of water for cesium. However, these values are still lower than those legally accepted in Japan. Japanese law stipulates that radioactive iodine in the water can not exceed 300 becquerel per liter, and cesium can not exceed 200 becquerel per liter, according to Japanese Ministry of Health.
However, officials from the Japanese Ministry of Science have declared that: "Doses are lower than the maximum level allowed".
"The ministry has started to make measurements of current water quality on Saturday and we have detected traces of radioactive iodine and cesium", said an official from the Ministry in charge of verification (quoted by AFP).
The radioactive iodine was detected in tap water in the prefectures of Tokyo, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba and Niigata, he said. In addition, caesium was discovered in the drinking water distributed in Gunma and Tochigi prefectures.
The highest levels were recorded in Tochigi, 77 becquerel per liter of water for radioactive iodine and 1.6 becquerel per liter of water for cesium. However, these values are still lower than those legally accepted in Japan. Japanese law stipulates that radioactive iodine in the water can not exceed 300 becquerel per liter, and cesium can not exceed 200 becquerel per liter, according to Japanese Ministry of Health.
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.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Radiation exposure threat in Japan
In a nutshell: Nuclear alert and radioactive leakage, smoldering fires at the refinery, thousands of people still trapped under rubble, interrupted communications, and dozens of replicas of the huge earthquake still rock Japan.
The Japanese Government declared a state of emergency following the earthquake off the eastern coast of the country on Friday, 11.March. The first estimates say that over 3,000 people died in the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and the devastating tsunami that followed, but authorities fear that the actual death toll could exceed 10,000. Nevertheless, the search for survivors continues.
After the earthquake, all nuclear reactors in the area automatically shut down, beginning a slow cool-down process. Howerver, the cooling systems in the 40-year old Fukushima nuclear reactors 1 and 3 failed and the coolant began to evaporate from heat building up inside. To reduce pressure, the steam had to be vented, which released the first amount of radiation into the atmosphere. Caesium-137 and Iodine-131 were detected near Reactor 1. The nuclear alert in Japan is currently just one step bellow the maximum alert level established in the Chernobyl accident.
A fire at a fourth reactor followed by an explosion has released even more radiation and the Government is currently telling people within a 20-mile radius to stay indoors.
More and more countries express concern over Japan's nuclear incidents. Radiation is also increasing in Russia, where Russian troops are preparing to evacuate residents of the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, in the event of a worsening situation.
The Japanese Government declared a state of emergency following the earthquake off the eastern coast of the country on Friday, 11.March. The first estimates say that over 3,000 people died in the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and the devastating tsunami that followed, but authorities fear that the actual death toll could exceed 10,000. Nevertheless, the search for survivors continues.
After the earthquake, all nuclear reactors in the area automatically shut down, beginning a slow cool-down process. Howerver, the cooling systems in the 40-year old Fukushima nuclear reactors 1 and 3 failed and the coolant began to evaporate from heat building up inside. To reduce pressure, the steam had to be vented, which released the first amount of radiation into the atmosphere. Caesium-137 and Iodine-131 were detected near Reactor 1. The nuclear alert in Japan is currently just one step bellow the maximum alert level established in the Chernobyl accident.
A fire at a fourth reactor followed by an explosion has released even more radiation and the Government is currently telling people within a 20-mile radius to stay indoors.
More and more countries express concern over Japan's nuclear incidents. Radiation is also increasing in Russia, where Russian troops are preparing to evacuate residents of the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, in the event of a worsening situation.
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