nuclear-news

Safety doubts on Japan’s nuclear industry

Atomic power safety questions still unanswered BY KEISUKE KATORI AND AYAKO SUZUKITHE ASAHI SHIMBUN 5 Oct 09

Ten years after a nuclear accident killed two plant workers and shattered the “safety myth” surrounding atomic power generation, Japan still has much work to do in improving responses to cases of radiation exposure.

Experts and officials say the number of doctors and facilities that can provide emergency care is still insufficient, while more has to be done to prevent and respond to radiation emergencies.

The incident, at the JCO Co. nuclear fuel processing plant in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Sept. 30, 1999, was the nation’s first “criticality accident,” a term used to describe the unintentional triggering of a nuclear chain reaction in fissile material……………………..

Some are worried those regions would not be able to quickly respond in an event of nuclear terrorism, the risks of which are said to have risen after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001…………

Some question the validity of the arrangement, under which the agency in charge of safety regulation belongs to the industry ministry, which promotes nuclear energy use………………

residents of communities that host nuclear power plants harbor distrust in the state as shown by a survey in 2000 by the Tokai village……..

Tokai Mayor Tatsuya Murakami said he had held doubts about host communities’ ability to speak out about the nuclear power issue.

“While talking about the need for residents’ understanding, (the authorities and industry) suppress them with money and power. Such an attitude must be dropped,” he said.

asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：Atomic power safety questions still unanswered – English

October 6, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, Japan, safety | antinuclear, nuclear, radiation, radioactive