After radiation, workers nuked by management.
Medical report of affected staff at RAPS ‘held back’
* We are not hiding anything. We provide dosage certificates to workers upon completion of their contract” — station director, Vinod Kumar.
* “We were given a 30-minute permit, but made to work for 5 hours. We were called for tests, but have not been given our reports” —Gulab Singh, one of the workers at RAPS.
“…..Just as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India made a scathing attack on the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for failing to ensure safety in nuclear plants, a series of health safety violations of nuclear power plant contract workers has started to surface in Rawatbhata plant in Rajasthan. It is two months since tritium, a radioactive gas, leaked at the nuclear reactor unit 5 at the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)’s Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) in Rawatbhata, exposing 38 workers to radiation.
But none of the contract workers, including those who received above the annual acceptable dose in one shot, have been given their medical reports or any official certification stating the dosage they were exposed to till date.
Three among the 23 contract workers were reported to have received radiation doses over and above the annual regulatory limit of 15 milliseiverts prescribed by the AERB for nuclear power plant contract workers.
On the contrary, the internal software at the plant, which is the only access point for workers to know their lifetime radiation dose on a screen (on which there is no official stamp) by keying in their ‘TLD number’, was shut down for a few days after the incident. “There was a software problem for a few days,” confirmed Vinod Kumar, station director, RAPS units 5 & 6. Very coincidentally, the software chose to collapse exactly after the June 23rd leak. “We were told by the station director Vinod Kumar not to speak too much to the media and TV channels, else we would lose our jobs. We were called for medical tests a couple of days later at the RAPP hospital, but when we asked for the reports, we were told they had been handed over to the plant,” said Nandkishore Nehar, who received the highest exposure during the incident.
“We have asked them many times, but they have not given us anything,” states Gulab Singh, another highly exposed worker, adding that they have now had to put an application under the RTI Act asking for the reports…..”
Russia announces enormous finds of radioactive waste and nuclear reactors in Arctic seas
Charles Digges, 28/08-2012
“….Enormous quantities of decommissioned Russian nuclear reactors and radioactive waste were dumped into the Kara Sea in the Arctic Ocean north of Siberia over a course of decades, according to documents given to Norwegian officials by Russian authorities and published in Norwegian media…..”
Bellona had received in 2011 a draft of a similar report prepared for Russia’s Gossoviet, the State Council, for presentation at a meeting presided over by then-president Dmitry Medvedev on Russian environmental security.
The Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom confirmed the figures in February of this year during a seminar it jointly held with Bellona in Moscow.
Bellona is alarmed by the extent of the dumped Soviet waste, which is far greater than was previously known – not only to Bellona, but also to the Russian authorities themselves….”
“….Per Strand of the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority told Aftenposten that the information on the radioactive waste had come from the Russian authorities gradually.
“No one can guarantee that this outline we have received is complete,” he said.
He added that Russia has set up a special commission to undertake the task of mapping the waste, the paper reported.
A Norwegian-Russian Expert Group will this week start an expedition in areas of the Kara Sea, which the report released by Russia says was used as a radioactive dump until the early 1990s.
The expedition will represent the first time Norway has participated in plumming the depths of Russian waters for radiactive waste since 1994, said Aftenposten….”
“…Bellona thinks that Russia has passed its report to Norway as a veiled cry for help, as the exent of the problem is far too great for Moscow to handle on its own….”
“…..The most crucial find missing
Kudrik said that one of the most critical pieces of information missing from the report released to the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority was the presence of the K-27 nuclear submarine, which was scuttled in 50 kilometers of water with its two reactors filled with spent nuclear fuel in in Stepovogo Bay in the Kara Sea in 1981.
Information that the reactors about the K-27 could reachieve criticality and explode was released at the Bellona-Rosatom seminar in February.
“This danger had previously been unknown, and is very important information. When they search and map these reactors, they must be the first priority,” said Kudrik.
Researchers will now evaluate whether it is possible to raise the submarine, and attempt to determine if it is leaking radioactivity into the sea.
Bård Vegar Solhjell, Norway’s Minster of the Environment sought in Aftenposten to play down dangers associated with the enormous Soviet-era nuclear dumping ground.
“I am concerned that people should not be unnecessarily disturbed by this – we do not yet know if anything is seriously wrong,” he said.
He added that he was not aware of any risk of explosion aboard the sunken K-27…..”
http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2012/Russia_reveals_dumps
More here
http://www.bellona.org/reports/The_Russian_Northern_Fleet_report_chapters/1175933516.87/
Cameco buys Australian uranium deposit from BHP Billiton for $430-million
Thomson Reuters 2012
August 27, 2012 – National Post
“…BHP Billiton has agreed to sell an Australian uranium deposit to Canada’s Cameco Corp for US$430 million, as the top global miner sheds assets to help improve returns and shore up cash in a deteriorating commodity market. The move marks another sign of BHP’s doubts about the future of uranium demand in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima disaster, coming less than a week after the company shelved a US$20 billion-plus expansion of the world’s largest known uranium deposit, Olympic Dam, in South Australia. “We can’t pursue all of the growth operations that are before us, and we need to develop the ones with the best returns,” said BHP spokesman Antonios Papaspiropoulos….”
Radioactive Metal Thieves Get 8 Years
http://en.rian.ru/crime/20120828/175476124.html
MOSCOW, August 28 (RIA Novosti)
“….A Ukrainian court sentenced eight members of a criminal group to up to eight and a half years in prison for trading in radioactive materials stolen from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the Kiev City Prosecutor’s Office said on Tuesday.
The men sold depleted uranium items stolen from the Chernobyl exclusion zone.
The court found them guilty of “illegal handling of radioactive materials committed by an organized group.”
Depleted uranium is used in aircraft and rocket building, medical equipment and the transport and defense industry, in particular to manufacture armor sheets and armor piercing shells….”
the term Depleted Uranium is a puzzle in this article, it may have meant used as depleted uranium or meant some other isotope..
Elderly Evacuees from Futaba-machi Living in School Bldg in Saitama Will Be Made to Pay for Their Boxed Meals, Starting September 1st
http://ex-skf.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/elderly-evacuees-from-futaba-machi.html
“….Just remember that this country (Japan) is still the third largest economy in the world. But after more than 17 months since the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear accident, hardly anyone cares that these people are still living in school classrooms. It’s worse than not caring, because now they will charge for the bento (meal in a box), which will cost these elderly residents 30,000 to 40,000 yen per person per month (US$381 to 508 per person per month).
Where do they have such money? No one cares. The evacuees from the same town, Futaba-machi, who have moved to temporary housing and other rental properties, have complained that they are not getting free meals, so everyone gotta pay, to be fair….”
From Yomiuri Shinbun (8/24/2012):
“….Due to conflict with the Futaba-machi residents living on their own, evacuees at the Futaba-machi shelter [in Saitama] will have to pay for their bento (meal in a box)
Starting September, the evacuees staying in the school building of former Kisai High School in Kazo City in Saitama Prefecture will have to pay for the bento meals that they receive.
The reason why the town has decided to charge for bento was the strong demand for equality from the town residents who have already left the school building and live on their own. However, the residents who still remain in the school building are resentful of the new charge. The conflict between the residents could be the result of the extended stay in the shelter for nearly one and a half year, with inadequate support for self-reliance and recovery…..”
“…..Starting September 1, a bento distributor in Kazu City will sell bento meals for 1,100 to 1,250 yen [US$14 to 16] per three meals per day. It will cost 30,000 to 40,000 yen [US$381 to 508] per person per month.
On the night of August 21, about 70 evacuees at the school gathered together talked. According to people who participated, most were against paying for the meals. There was an elderly man who lamented, “So, if I cannot pay for the bento, that means they are telling me to just die.” In fact, most of the evacuees who remain in the shelter are over 65 years old, and some need medical assistance…….”
“…….The Ministry official says, “We don’t think it’s right to have these people in the shelter for such a long time. We would like to consult with Fukushima Prefecture so that the residents can move to houses and facilities where they can live comfortably.”….”
NISA’s New Safety Standard May Allow Nuclear Reactors on Top of Active Faults to Continue Operation
http://ex-skf.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/nisas-new-safety-standard-may-allow.html
“…Totally, absolutely in line with Prime Minister Noda’s intention of seeking the “fourth way” for the future energy policy on reliance on nuclear power, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (which is still the one and only regulatory agency over the nuclear industry in Japan) is now considering installing a new safety standard:
You can continue to operate a nuclear reactor even if the reactor happens to sit on top of an active fault, as long as the expected size of dislocation is small enough.
This Kyodo News has the largest number of retweets I’ve seen on the websites of the Japanese mainstream media, currently with 9,015 retweets……”
“…In the meantime, the prime minister who seeks the “fourth way” further elaborated on his stance. According to Jiji Tsushin (8/28/2012), Mr. Noda had a casual dinner in Tokyo with the DPJ’s newbies (and apparently open to the press), where he told them and the press that he couldn’t commit easily to “zero nuclear” because of national security concerns….”
Japan Newspaper: Hospitals refused to treat Fukushima plant workers
http://enenews.com/japan-newspaper-hospitals-refused-to-treat-fukushima-plant-workers
Published: August 28th, 2012 at 4:03 am ET
By ENENews
Title: Survey revealed psychological trauma in Fukushima nuclear plant workers
Source: The Denki Shimbun (The Electric Daily News)
Date: Aug. 28, 2012
“…The survey was conducted over the period from May to June 2011 following the great earthquake. While the survey result found that the workers at the Fukushima I and II have suffered various forms of stress, the damage that had the greatest impact on the workers was the experience of discrimination and slander. According to Shigemura, some of the workers have been the victims of verbal abuse at evacuation centers, harassment over the lease of apartments, refusal of care at hospitals and other traumatic experiences….”
Chemical Expert: Residents will be exposed to extremely dangerous alpha radiation coming from sinkhole — Radioactive dust inhaled after carried by wind, surface water
http://enenews.com/expert-concerned-residents-will-be-exposed-to-extremely-dangerous-alpha-radiation-coming-from-sinkhole-radioactive-dust-inhaled-after-carried-by-wind-surface-water
Published: August 28th, 2012 at 12:36 am ET
By ENENews
Title: Threat to Bayou Corne grows as tests show elevated levels of radium, butane traces in and near sinkhole
Source: Stuart H. Smith
Date: Aug 22, 2012
[…]
[Marco] Kaltofen, a civil engineer and president of Boston Chemical Data Corp., noted that test results posted by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, show elevated rates of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material, or NORM, in the liquid sinkhole. NORM is a frequent byproduct of the oil and gas drilling process, creating wastes that the industry has often then dumped improperly. Here’s Kaltofen’s analysis of the situation in Bayou Corne:
Radium in the body is absorbed because it is chemically similar to calcium. The normal maximum guideline level for radium in surface water is 5 picoCuries per liter, (pCi/L). The state’s testing found 82 pCi/L in the water of the growing sinkhole. Radium gives off “alpha” radiation. This form of radiation is extremely dangerous if inhaled or ingested, and less dangerous if exposed by skin contact.
Radium decays to produce the dangerous radioactive gas, radon. EPA warns that radon gas causes lung cancer, and that radon gas exposure can be as hazardous to your lungs as a serious cigarette habit.
In simple terms, skin usually protects the body from alpha radiation, but radon is highly worrisome because humans can be exposed by breathing it in. In the Bayou Corne situation, as Kaltofen notes: “Over time, some of the mud and crap in the pit will be carried away by wind, surface water, and even the tires of truck traffic, until it is inhaled as dust by local residents. This will expose them to alpha radiation, and increase their chances of getting lung cancer.”
[…]
Kaltofen said the air testing of the Bayou Corne area shows increasing traces of chemicals associated with butane, which would confirm some of the worst fears of local residents. Authorities have noted that the sinkhole is about 1,600 feet from a cavern containing over 900,000 barrels of liquid butane — a highly volatile and explosive compound, and there are fears the butane facility will be compromised.
[…]
Radiation Expert: “There are immediate radiation dose concerns” from sinkhole — Gov’t is in denial — “They don’t know what to do about the radioactive contamination”
Title: Update: Expert says Louisiana officials “in denial” over radium risk at sinkhole
Source: Stuart H. Smith
Date: Aug 24, 2012
[…]
Stanley Waligora — a New Mexico-based radiation protection consultant and leading authority on the health risks of naturally occurring radioactive material, or NORM — confirmed earlier reports that radium levels at the site about 70 miles west of New Orleans are not within limits but roughly 15 times higher than the acceptable level set by the state.
Waligora said officials with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality need to launch immediate additional testing to ensure that the hazardous radium is not leaking into nearby groundwater and posing a threat to human health as well as livestock.
[…]
I sought an analysis of the recent DEQ test results from Waligora, who since a stint as a nuclear weapons officer in the U.S. military has been teaching, consulting and testifying as an expert witness in radiation litigation for more than 45 years.
He expressed concern that the state reported its findings of radium-226 and radium-228 as below acceptable levels, when in fact the results were 15 times higher than the state’s own standard for soil contamination. “Well, once again the Louisiana DEQ is in denial because they don’t know what to do about the radioactive contamination in the Bayou Corne subsidence,” Waligora wrote.
He added these findings:
There are immediate radiation dose concerns.
The release could reach the usable aquifer and contaminate drinking water along with livestock and irrigated crops. […]
Airborne particulate might become entrained and cause contamination to be inhaled by the public. […]
Radon gas emanating from the radium could be inhaled by members of the public. […]
[…]
WSJ MarketWatch: Cancer was “bound to happen” to animal grazing 5 miles downwind of Connecticut nuclear power plant
Published: August 27th, 2012 at 6:48 pm ET
By ENENews
Title: Commentary: The charmed life of Katie, the radioactive goat
Source: MarketWatch (Wall St. Journal)
Author: Al Lewis
Date: Aug 15, 2012
Katie the goat died Sunday.
Inoperable cancer. It was bound to happen eventually, grazing the way she did, downwind from a nuclear power plant.
[…]
She was found as a stray wandering down a rural road [and] ended up as a pet on a sloping meadow in Waterford, Conn. And there, she ate the sweet grasses growing five miles north of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station.
Lab techs would come by and test Katie’s milk. In a 2001 report, Dominion Resources Inc. (US:D), owner of the Millstone plant, acknowledged Katie’s milk contained radioactive isotope strontium-90, among other frightening carcinogens.
[…] the plant, which generates about half of Connecticut’s electricity, denied it was the cause of this toxicity. Apparently the radiation in Katie’s milk must have come from somewhere else.
The state’s Department of Environmental Protection also concluded Dominion wasn’t to blame. The agency’s then-director, Regina McCarthy, eventually went on to become assistant administrator for air and radiation at the Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama. So breathe that.
[…]
Burton, founder of the Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone, has been trying to shut down the plant for years. Nuclear power, she contends, is simply too expensive and too dangerous. And the radiation it produces ends up in milk, even human mother’s milk, said Burton who is also co-director of a group called the Mother’s Milk Project.
Burton is a bit of a firebrand who was disbarred as an attorney in 2001. A judge apparently took issue with her fierce critiques of state’s judiciary, calling them an “assault” on the court’s integrity. This didn’t stop her from running, unsuccessfully, for Connecticut attorney general on the Green Party ticket in 2006 or for filing lawsuits against Dominion attempting to shutter its plant.
After discovering the nugget of disclosure in Dominion’s report about strontium-90, Burton tracked down Katie the goat and eventually adopted her. She would take the goat to anti-nuke rallies across Connecticut, even appearing beside renowned consumer activist Ralph Nader. Katie the goat sometimes sported a sign that read “Got Strontium?”
[…]
Gundersen on Gamma Rays: “Implies rubble was activated by neutrons, or that activation products like Cobalt-60 are in rubble — Interesting”
http://enenews.com/gundersen-gamma-rays-implies-rubble-activated-neutrons-activation-products-like-cobalt-60-rubble-interesting
Published: August 27th, 2012 at 2:50 pm ET
By ENENews
Regarding the recent news that Japanese officials report concerns about gamma rays being emitted from Fukushima plant debris, Fairewinds’ Arnie Gundersen writes to ENENews:
Gamma rays from rubble implies that the rubble was activated by neutrons or that activation products like Co60 are in the rubble. Interesting.
Some interesting comments on this thread.
Pacific cod fish shipments 200 miles from Fukushima suspended — “High levels of radioactive caesium found”
Published: August 27th, 2012 at 11:16 am ET
By ENENews
ABC Australia’s Mark Willacy, August 27, 2012 at 10:26a ET:
Mark Willacy@markwillacyShipments of Pacific cod caught off Aomori, 320km north of Fukushima, suspended after high levels of radioactive caesium found in fish there
Aomori ordered to suspend cod shipment after excessive cesium found
TOKYO, Aug. 27, Kyodo
“…
The government ordered Aomori Prefecture on Monday to suspend shipment of Pacific cod hauled off Hachinohe in the northeastern prefecture as excessive levels of radioactive cesium were detected in them, implementing such a ban for the prefecture for the first time after last year’s Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Radioactive cesium exceeding the government’s allowable safety level of 100 becquerels per kilogram was detected twice in the cod hauled off Hachinohe, the government said.
The government limited the shipment suspension to cod hauled off Hachinohe as Pacific cod habitat is not large compared with other migratory fish and those containing the maximum allowable level of cesium were caught in areas close to each other, according to the government….”
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