nuclear-news

Radiation of Chernobyl blast discovered in Sri Lankan soil

“If an accident takes place in the Kundankulam Nuclear plant it will directly effect the public within a 50 Kilometre radius. The public will NOT be evacuated in such an instance.

The closest nuclear plant to Sri Lanka  is 220 Kilometres, the further the distance the less the impact but if an accident did take place, radioactive material can settle down in the soil in Sri Lanka but this would be in minimal quantities and the risk would be minimal“

Image source ; http://tshivajirao.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/unsafe-kudankulam-reactors-due-to.html

A sample test carried out by the Sri Lankan Atomic Energy Authority has found some acute radioactive particles which were released by the Chernobyl nuclear explosion of Ukraine in Sri Lankan soil.

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April 24, 2013 Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Belarus – Persistent violations of UN articles regarding Chernobyl nuclear disaster children

Children’s health continues to suffer from the effects of Chernobyl

UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (Concluding Observations, January 2011)

While noting that the State party has made significant rehabilitation efforts in the areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster, the Committee reiterates its concern regarding the persisting negative consequences of the Chernobyl disaster on the health of children, in particular at the incidence of thyroid cancer among children in affected areas, related to iodine deficiency.        (…iodine deficiency…. caused by Chernobyl???? Arclight2011)

The Committee reiterates its recommendation that the State party continue to improve the specialised health care provided to children affected by the Chernobyl disaster, and strengthen its efforts at early detection and prevention of diseases related to nuclear contamination. (Paragraphs 57 & 58)

UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Concluding Observations, December 1996)

The Committee expresses concern that some 600,000 children still live in the zone affected by the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station. (Paragraph 15)

Full list of issues that need to be resolved in Belarus here…

http://wiki.crin.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Belarus#cite_note-4

Kharkiv Center of Cardiac Surgery

Please click on the link to find out more about the works of these surgeons and nurses who work for free to help the children of Belarus, Russia and the Ukraine (amongst other places)

The many years of training and experience that International Children’s Heart Foundation have given to the medical team in Kharkov is really helping , here is the latest from the kharkov unit.
With the support of the international community this program is really progressing.

April 24, 2013 Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

LONDON POLLUTION LEVELS BREACH EU LIMITS -And radioactive too!

……“A recent study commissioned by the Mayor estimated that more than 4,000 extra deaths each year in London are attributable to one kind of pollutant, microscopic airborne particles.

Another study estimates that the man-made majority of these particles are responsible for a proportion of all deaths in London boroughs ranging from around six per cent in the least polluted outer suburbs to more than eight per cent in the most polluted boroughs of inner London.”……

……“London has some of the worst levels of air pollution of any UK or European city, and air quality is a very significant issue for Londoners’……

Image source ; Sources, both actual and potential, for radioactive pollution in the Arctic are marine and atmospheric long-range transported radionuclides, originating from nuclear power and reprocessing plants (e.g. Sellafield and La Hague)

Wednesday, 24 April 2013

Charles Thomson

MORE than six per cent of all adult deaths in Havering are attributable to air pollution, according to data by government body Public Health England.
Official figures reveal toxic gases in some areas of the borough almost 60 per cent higher than the legal limit.
Havering Council’s cabinet agreed on Wednesday to set about improving air quality amid fears over public safety and potential fines imposed by the EU.
A report presented to councillors on the night, jointly written by the council’s traffic manager, Emma Cockburn and health protection officer, Louise Watkinson, read: “London has some of the worst levels of air pollution of any UK or European city, and air quality is a very significant issue for Londoners’ health.
“A recent study commissioned by the Mayor estimated that more than 4,000 extra deaths each year in London are attributable to one kind of pollutant, microscopic airborne particles. Another study estimates that the man-made majority of these particles are responsible for a proportion of all deaths in London boroughs ranging from around six per cent in the least polluted outer suburbs to more than eight per cent in the most polluted boroughs of inner London.”
Councillors agreed to bid for up to £400,000 of funding for projects to improve air quality in Havering in 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16, and uncapped funding for crossboundary projects in the same time period.
Latest air monitoring revealed that two of Havering’s four monitoring stations registered annual mean levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) above the legal limit in the most recently available figures, published in 2012.

According to EU law, any reading of more than 40 micrograms of NO2 per cubic metre of air is dangerous and becomes illegal. The highest readings were picked up by a monitoring station in Mercury Gardens, which produced an annual mean total of 64.5 micrograms – more than 60 per cent higher than what is legally considered to be dangerous. Throughout the year, readings at the station reached almost three times the legal limit.
NO2 is toxic by inhalation. Consistent exposure to levels above 40 micrograms can reduce lung function and cause respiratory illness.

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April 24, 2013 Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Officials trying to stop nuclear material from spreading after collapse at Chernobyl — Will be covered with ‘special resin’

http://enenews.com/officials-trying-to-stop-nuclear-material-from-spreading-after-chernobyl-roof-collapse-will-be-covered-with-special-resin

Published: April 23rd, 2013 at 10:32 am ET
By ENENews

Title: Ukraine to cover collapsed Chernobyl roof with special resin
Source: Xinhua
Author: Thomas Whittle
Date: April 24, 2013

Ukraine will cover the collapsed roof of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant with special resin to prevent the spread of radioactive dust, a senior nuclear safety official said here Tuesday.

“As soon as the weather permits, we will cover the equipment under the caved-in parts of the roof with special resin,” Mikhail Gashev, Ukraine’s chief inspector of nuclear and radiation safety, told reporters. […]

About 600 square meters of the roof at Chernobyl […] collapsed in mid-February. Authorities said at the time that the collapse posed no threat to human health.

See also: Chernobyl workers evacuated from site — Roof collapse was 50 meters from reactor’s sarcophagus — Soundness inspection underway (PHOTOS)

April 24, 2013 Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Interlude ; Rasputin vs Stalin. Epic Rap Battles of History Season 2 finale.

April 24, 2013 Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

[Contaminated water coming down to the sea?]Chloride concentration increased 270% of 2 weeks ago in observation holes

Posted by Mochizuki on April 23rd, 2013

About the major leakage of highly contaminated water, the chloride concentration is observed to be increasing in the observation holes.

Tepco is conducting the radiation test of ground water in the downstream of the leaking reservoirs. (Between the reservoirs and the sea.)

The leaking water contains high level of β nuclide and chloride. If they detect it on the downstream of the reservoirs, it means the contaminated water is penetrating underground.

They tested on 4/10 and 4/22/2013. Though total β nuclide is lower than the detectable level, the chloride concentration significantly increased in 3 of 7 holes.

(4/10 → 4/22)
Well (hole) 1 : 40 → 46 ppm
Well 2 : 16 → 43 ppm
Well 3 : 65 → 99 ppm

On 4/15/2013, Fukushima Diary reported the chloride concentration was high in those observations holes, but now it’s becoming higher.

(cf, [Underground contamination?] High level of chloride concentration detected between the leaking reservoirs and sea [URL 1])

Actually these holes were made as “Underground bypass pumping well”. It was to pump up the groundwater before flowing into the plant. The pumped water is to be discharged to the sea without purification. Detecting radiation from these wells would collapse their water reducing plan.

(cf, The leaking highly contaminated water may collapse Tepco’s countermeasure for ground water [URL 2])

http://fukushima-diary.com/2013/04/contaminated-water-coming-down-to-the-seachloride-concentration-increased-270-of-2-weeks-ago-in-observation-holes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FukushimaDiary+%28Fukushima+Diary%29

Please consider donating to Iori as he has had to relocate and has been under a great deal of pressure.. Yet he still kept Fukushima Diary going.. He has broken some great and important stories from Japan and has helped the blogging journalist wanabees like myself help gain information from a country that is under strict censorship! Thanks for your consideration Arclight2011

April 24, 2013 Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Study: Fukushima fallout spiked year after 3/11

http://enenews.com/study-fukushima-fallout-spiked-a-year-after-311

Published: April 23rd, 2013 at 1:34 pm ET
By ENENews

Title: Temporal variation of monthly 137Cs deposition observed in Japan: Effects of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident
Source: Applied Radiation and Isotopes
Author: Katsumi Hirose
Date: March 26, 2013

Abstract

Monthly 137Cs depositions from March 2011 to April 2012 were reported at monitoring stations within about 250 km from the Fukushima Daiichi NPP. The monthly 137Cs deposition at each station decreased with apparent half-lives of 11–14 d during the period from March to June 2011, and after July 2011 its decrease rates changed. Second peaks of the monthly 137Cs deposition occurred in February–April 2012, which may be supported by resuspension of 137Cs bearing particles. […]

Figure 2

Temporal variations of the monthly 137Cs deposition in the monitoring stations. A open circle: Futaba, and closed circle: Fukushima City. […]

More from the study here

April 24, 2013 Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Dividing communities as well as atoms

Dave Sweeney ABC Environment 23 Apr 2013

Uranium mining may be attractive to those seeking to boost state coffers, but it leaves the land poisoned and communities divided.

COMMUNITIES IN REGIONAL Queensland are increasingly concerned about Premier Campbell Newman’s decision to open the Sunshine State to uranium mining — and with good reason.

The decision was made behind closed doors in response to pressure from industry lobby groups and — by the Premier’s own admission — without reference to independent economic analysis or advice.

The decision also broke a promise. In a letter to the Australian Conservation Foundation dated 11 October 2012 Premier Newman stated: “I take this opportunity to reaffirm my statements, made before the last election, that the State Government has no plans to approve the development of uranium in Queensland”. Two weeks later the Premier put out the welcome mat for the uranium industry.

Queensland is no stranger to mining, but uranium is different.

Uranium is a dual use fuel — it can provide the raw material for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. Its mining and export divides communities as well as atoms.

It is a high risk, low return sector that makes only a modest contribution to employment (around 0.015 per cent of Australian jobs) and economic activity (under 0.3 per cent of national export revenue) but brings significant and unresolved environmental, health and safety risks, and leaves significant toxic legacies.

Of particular concern in Queensland is the possibility of uranium being transported across the Great Barrier Reef.

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April 24, 2013 Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment