Physicist: Nuclear crisis may be close to "point of no return"

[FourScore]

Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 01:07 PM EDT
Physicist: Nuclear crisis may be close to "point of no return"
by Deep Harm

Japanese officials say a report of highly contaminated water seeping into a deep trench at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant indicates that the reactors have damaged fuel rods and may be in partial meltdown. Getting rid of the contaminated water is proving difficult, and the high radiation levels (over 1,000 mSv per hour) make it extremely dangerous for workers to do necessary work.

Hidehiko Nishiyama, a government spokesman, acknowledged challenges but insisted the situation was stabilizing. Since then, CNN and ABC have reported plutonium found in soil outside the reactors. Physicist Michio Kaku tells ABC the plant may be reaching a "point of no return, where workers must be withdrawn, radiation levels soar, water levels drop and we have a full-scale, simultaneous meltdown at three nuclear reactors."

Greenpeace is callling for a larger evacuation. Radiation tests it conducted found radiation levels as high as 10 microsieverts per hour 25 miles from the plant, at the village of Iitate.

“It is clearly not safe for people to remain in Iitate, especially children and pregnant women, when it could mean receiving the maximum allowed annual dose of radiation in only a few days. When further contamination from possible ingestion or inhalation of radioactive particles is factored in, the risks are even higher,” Jan van de Putte said.

Throughout the emergency, the Japanese government has been criticized for not evacuating people farther than 20 km from the plant. Officials recently recommended a voluntary evacuation 20 to 30 km from the plant, based on difficult living conditions in the area. That is a reasonable basis for recommending a voluntary evacuation. However, the government's apparent failure to accurately inform residents about the radiation risks suggests a darker motive...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/28/960855/-Physicist:Nuclear-crisis-may-be-close-to-point-of-no-return

[murielm99]

1. Okay, if they evacuate and there is a meltdown at all

three reactors, then what? Do they just abandon everything? What happens after the meltdown? Is this whole area off limits for human habitation for thousands of years? What do we do next?

[villager]

2. And whither Tokyo, if that happens... ?

:shrug:

[Wilms]

3. And cut off the northern end of the country from the south... ?

:(

[FLPanhandle]

4. A Quibble with all the experts saying "may" "could" "might"

They are meaningless words.

If you are an expert, give us something. When he says it "may be close to a point of no return", does he mean there is a 1% chance or a 99% chance?

Without some context, people will fill in the % subconsciously. Those inclined to believe disaster is imminent will think more towards the 99%, those who feel rosy and optimistic will think more towards the 1%.

I wish journalists would call these experts out when they say "may" "could" "might" and ask them what they think WILL happen or the approximate chances that it WILL happen.

Sorry about the rant but 3 weeks of "may" "could" "might" without one journalist doing their jobs.

[thereismore]

6. I'd like to know for sure, but with limited information release, many scenarios are possible. nt

[FLPanhandle]

7. Then I'd prefer them to say "We have no idea, there isn't enough data"

All this "may" "could" "might" just is a waste of air/print space and not one journalist I've seen has ever even tried to nail them down.

[Raschel]

8. I'd like to see TEPCO needs to be called out on "may, could, possibly, might,".

They've been stringing the world along during a nuclear disaster.

They've yet to give one solid answer. Did they ever get back to anyone on the second reading after they said one was incorrect?

[buddysmellgood]

5. See video of clean up efforts here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XChxLGnIwCU

[Marblehead]

9. Thats about right.

[undeterred]

10. I don't think the Japanese officials are able to see this clearly.

They are too close to it. There needs to be more international involvement.