Massive Quake Hits NE Japan

[Thorn]

*cough solar*

[germanos]

Yeah, and wind and gravity and a few others. I hope you got the point though .

[germanos]

Reuters:

"Japan's nuclear safety agency says there has been a level 5 incident at reactors 1, 2 and 3, and a level 3 incident at reactor 4, of Fukushima Daiichi."

As current things stand, I would add.

[germanos]

From NHK (Japan's National Broadcasting Corporation)

High radiation detected 30km from nuke plant

Japan's science ministry says relatively high radiation levels have been detected on 2 consecutive days about 30 kilometers northwest of the quake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The radiation measured 170 microsieverts per hour on Thursday and 150 microsieverts on Friday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says the government will take appropriate measures if this level of contamination continues in the area for a long period. But he says this would be unlikely.

Radiation was measured for 2 hours from 10AM on Friday at 18 spots in areas 30 to 60 kilometers from the plant in Fukushima Prefecture.

The highest reading of 150 microsieverts per hour was detected at around 1:30 PM local time, about 30 kilometers northwest of the plant. The location is within the zone where residents have been instructed to stay indoors.

Readings of 170 microsieverts were recorded at the same location at 2 PM on the previous day, Thursday.

Experts say exposure to this amount of radiation for 6 to 7 hours would result in absorption of the maximum level considered safe for one year.

The ministry also observed radiation levels of 0.5 to 52 microsieverts per hour at other observation points within a 30 to 60 kilometer radius of the plant. It says these levels are all higher than normal, but not an immediate threat to health.

The government has evacuated residents living within a 20 kilometer radius of the plant, and instructed those in a 20 to 30 kilometer radius to stay indoors.

Friday, March 18, 2011 17:38 +0900 (JST)

[Docfeelgood]

They are saying reactor no 3 uses MOX fuel

[germanos]

Yes, plutonium/uranium mix AFAIK. Not only radioactive but very toxic as well.

[Docfeelgood]

I would like to hear what Ogie thinks about the MOX. He may know more about it.
I do know, that will not be carried by the wind very far. The area around the plants may become a dead zone.

[germanos]

I do know, that will not be carried by the wind very far.

Less so than the fuel from the other reactors? That seems odd.

[germanos]

Possibly Ogie has acces to this too, but here's the Status report by Tepco:

http://www.jaif.or.jp/english/news_i...300433768P.pdf

and the one from 6 hours before:

http://www.jaif.or.jp/english/news_i...300411879P.pdf

[germanos]

I have no idea if Bloomberg is a reliable source, but it's a sobering read on Japanese nuclear safety control.

[germanos]

NHK:

Radiation down slightly near No.3 reactor

The Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, says radiation readings fell slightly after water was discharged at the No.3 reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The company's Fukushima office took measurements about 500 meters northwest of the reactor on Friday afternoon.

The firm says that as of 1:50 PM, before the dousing operation began, the level of radiation stood at 3,484 microsieverts per hour, but dropped to 3,339 microsieverts by 2:50 PM, shortly after the operation.

The office cautions that it must closely analyze the small decline before making any judgment.

Friday, March 18, 2011 17:36 +0900 (JST)

[Docfeelgood]

Possibly Ogie has acces to this too, but here's the Status report by Tepco:

http://www.jaif.or.jp/english/news_i...300433768P.pdf

and the one from 6 hours before:

http://www.jaif.or.jp/english/news_i...300411879P.pdf

wow! thats a lot of info, good find.

[germanos]

To be honest, my newspaper did that .

[BlackCat]

Yes, plutonium/uranium mix AFAIK. Not only radioactive but very toxic as well.

Just to be sure - I hope that you mean that as a heavy metal like lead or mercury, it's toxic, not like "most toxic substance on Earth".

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Just to be sure - I hope that you mean that as a heavy metal like lead or mercury, it's toxic, not like "most toxic substance on Earth".

Re: MOX. From the days of Carters executive orders disallowing use of recycling spent fuel for US light water reactors generating fuel. Plutonium naturally forms in normal u235 enriched fuel rods. Thus use of MOX fuel vs. US based U235 rods is not that substantially different. I don't know the thermal outputs of the MOX based fuel rods but the mere presence of plutonium is not a new species that otherwise would be present in existing 'standard' fuel rods.

As for toxicity of plutonium all limited clinical stastical studies indicate that the claimed toxcity of plutonium is vastly inflated. It's original toxity was based on the findings of radium. Which back at the turnof the 19th to 20th century was routinely used in facial creams and restorative products for it healing effects, given that radium had shown evidence of destroying tumors in topically treatments it was considered a health elixer.

After years of use women started showing signs of bone cancer in particularly of the jaw. SHortly after Radium was considered a chemical non-grata Plutonium was discovered. It was at that point considered every bit as dangerous as Radium and never really shook that original classification.

that being said it is heavier than radium which means it much more likely to settle out and not air born disperse. Also sicne it is an alpha emitter it means the only means for real bodily damage is via ingnestion or inhalation. Inhalation effects are little given it will settle quickly. It is relatively insoluble in water so water transport is not likely. All in all I question the claims of plutonium being more dangerous than radium.