Fukushima 2012 « nuclear-news

A ticking time bomb – Fukushima nuclear reactors

Kaku: Fukushima reactors “a ticking time bomb” — “Catastrophe beyond comprehension” if major pipe break or quake (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/kaku-fukushima-reactors-like-ticking-time-bomb-catastrophe-beyond-comprehension-major-pipe-break-quake-video
December 17th, 2012 at
Full broadcast here

Title: Radioactively Hot Show (Re-broadcast with Dr. Michio Kaku)

Source: SOAPBOX #106
Date: December 7, 2012

The reactor is still like a ticking time bomb. If you have a secondary earthquake, another pipe break, evacuation of workers, the accident starts up all over again.

Realize that we have 5 reactors in various states of degradation in the area. The accident is not over by any means. The accident could start up all over again if there’s a secondary earthquake or another pipe break. In a worst case scenario, if there is a major pipe break or secondary earthquake, they would have to evacuate the workers and because the pumps are not working at the site, it means that you have to manually, manually, insert the water over the reactors and without the workers you would be in free fall. At that point with an evacuation of all the workers, water levels would begin to drop, the reactors would then start to melt again and we would breach containment — that is the release of uncontrolled amounts of radiation in to the environment. And that is a catastrophe beyond comprehension.
Full broadcast here

December 19, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

100% of Fukushima white rockfish had cesium levels, November-December

Cesium measured from 100% of Fukushima white rockfish in November and December http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/12/cesium-measured-from-100-of-fukushima-white-rockfish-in-november-and-december/
by Mochizuki December 17th, 2012
On 9/9/2012, Fukushima Diary reported white rockfish (Shiromebaru) tends to accumulate cesium. http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/09/85-of-fukushima-rockfish-exceeds-safety-limit-in-cesium/

According to Fukushima prefectural government, high level of cesium was measured from 100% (19 of 19) of the samples taken in November and December from offshore Fukushima. 84% (16/19) of them exceeded the government’s safety limit of 100Bq/Kg.

The highest reading was 1,731 Bq/Kg (11/30/2012), the second highest reading was 1,225 Bq/Kg (12/8/2012).

December 18, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012, Japan, oceans | Leave a comment

Fukushima reactor No 2 – leaking highly radioactive water

Asahi: Tepco can’t find where huge amount of highly radioactive water is leaking at Reactor No. 2 — ‘Fractures’ in containment vessel suspected http://enenews.com/asahi-tepco-find-huge-amount-highly-radioactive-water-leaking-reactor-2-fractures-containment-vessel-suspected December 12th, 2012
Title: TEPCO unable to locate source of leak in Fukushima reactor
Source: AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
Date: December 12, 2012
TEPCO unable to locate source of leak in Fukushima reactor
The operator of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is grappling to locate the source of a leak of highly radioactive water in the crippled No. 2 reactor […]
A remote-controlled robot is now scouring the basement of the reactor building […]
TEPCO suspects the radioactive water is leaking from fractures near the pressure suppression chamber [lower part of containment vessel].
It was the first detailed inspection near the chamber. […]
A huge volume of highly radioactive water, used to cool down the fuel, has since been leaking from the reactor, TEPCO said.

December 14, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012 | 2 Comments

Deterioration of Fukushima’s spent nuclear fuel pool No 4

Fukushima Worker: Concrete reinforcement of Spent Fuel Pool No. 4 is terribly deteriorating… now in a “dangerous state” — Cooling system stopped working, men helicoptered in http://enenews.com/fukushima-worker-concrete-reinforcement-of-spent-fuel-pool-no-4-is-terribly-deteriorating-in-a-dangerous-state
December 11th, 2012
Source: Iwakami Yasumi, Japanese journalist
Translation: Fukushima Diary
Date: Dec. 11, 2012

On December 11, 2012, Japanese journalist Iwakami Yasumi received this email from Mitsuhei Murata, former Japanese ambassador to Switzerland

I received this message on 12/9/2012.

The pump of the SFP in reactor4 had been having the spotty trouble, but it went out of order on 12/8/2012 at the end.

Nuclear workers were collected for emergency to replace the pump but it takes more 2~3 days to fix they say. (Extra workers were brought by helicopter even at night.)

According to a nuclear worker collected for emergency, the concrete to reinforce the SFP is terribly deteriorating to be in the “dangerous state”.

[…] a former executive manager of a major company commented this, which is very insightful.

“My fear has come into the truth. If it was merely the problem of the pump, it wouldn’t be such an issue but if the base to support SFP4 has some damage where we can’t see, the situation is much more serious.” […]

Ambassador Murata: “I sent this email to all the chief editors of national newspaper companies, NHK and influential people of major mass media but they all ignored it. I was shocked. I called the manager of disaster headquarter of Fukushima prefectural government but he didn’t know that. It seems like they didn’t report it to Fukushima local government. ”

December 13, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012 | 1 Comment

4 non-earthquake reasons to worry about Fukushima nuclear reactor no 4

4 reasons why we must be worried about reactor4 “other than earthquake” http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/12/column-4-reasons-why-we-must-be-worried-about-reactor4-other-than-earthquake/ by Iori Mochizuki December 11th, 2012 · Now the biggest risk of Japan is reactor4.

However, we are only supposed to be worried about an “earthquake” to seriously damage the SFP of reactor4. Is this true ? No, it is not enough. We are missing 4 important facts.

1. It’s already deteriorating.
About one hour ago, Fukushima Diary reported the coolant system of SFP4 was stopped from 12/8 to 12/11. [Link] It is not known if the M7.4 of 12/7 affected.
Because of the warning, Tepco reinforced SFP4 by building a concrete base to support from the bottom of the pool.

However, if Mr. Murata is all correct, the concrete base is deteriorating, and the damage is on-going somewhere we can’t see. In that case, that would be really difficult to replace the concrete base anymore and all we could do is just to see it become unable to support the pool horizontally.
2. Ground is weakened. Continue reading →

December 13, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

Exploitation of workers at Fukushima nuclear plant

Asahi: Fukushima workers report exploitation — Told to be like kamikaze — Large numbers leaving — “I wonder if we can raise children” http://enenews.com/asahi-fukushima-workers-report-exploitation-told-to-be-like-kamikaze-large-numbers-leaving-i-wonder-if-we-can-raise-children
December 9th, 2012
Title: Worker wants new government to secure safety at Fukushima plant
Source: AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
Author: Miki Aoki and Toshio Tada
Date: December 09, 2012

A man in his 50s hopes that a new government to be formed after the Dec. 16 Lower House election will protect the health of workers like himself at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant […]

The man said workers at the Fukushima No. 1 plant are being exploited. […]

“Many people work without seeing a doctor because they fear they might be told not to come anymore from the next day,” he said. “It is a distortion caused by the layers of subcontractors involved. I want the government to protect us.” […] Continue reading →

December 10, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | employment, Fukushima 2012, Japan | Leave a comment

Data on Fukushima workers’ radiation exposure

TEPCO releases worker radiation exposure data to WHO, Enformable.com. 6 Dec 12 TEPCO released data related to the radiation exposure doses documented for Fukushima Daiichi emergency workers which it had submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The data showed the youngest workers were in their teens, while the oldest was 84 years old. One of the teenagers was exposed to 56.89 mSv. Most of the workers are in their 40s. 26 workers are over the age of 70.
TEPCO Worker Ages……
The highest radiation dose recorded was 678.8 mSv. The highest dose recorded by a worker in their 20s was 477.01 mSv…..
Distribution of Thyroid Doses based on measured value of I-131 (Thyroid equivalent dose from Cs not included in data)……
There are still over 600 workers unaccounted for in the most recent data, TEPCO did not release any details as to why they were unable to track down the missing workers……..

Source: TEPCO

Source: JiJi Press

December 8, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | employment, Fukushima 2012, Japan | Leave a comment

Fukushima workers with high internal radiation doses

High thyroid radiation doses in 178 Fukushima workers Asahi Shimbun, December 01, 2012
By YURI OIWA Dozens of workers received potentially cancerous doses of radiation to
their thyroid glands during recovery work at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, according to data submitted to the World Health
Organization.

Tests on workers suspected of having high whole-body internal doses
found 178 individuals whose thyroid glands displayed doses greater
than 100 millisieverts, the generally accepted threshold for a raised
risk of thyroid cancer.

The highest recorded dose was 11,800 millisieverts, a level that would
give a correspondingly high probability of thyroid cancer.

Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. submitted the data on thyroid
tests for 522 workers—both its own staff and contractors—to the WHO
upon request. ….
The WHO assessed the probability of these people developing thyroid
cancer by reviewing medical records from the Hiroshima and Nagasaki
atomic blasts. It calculated the risk for people in three separate age
categories—aged 20, 40 or 60 at the time of exposure.

It said a 20-year-old who receives a dose of 11,800 millisieverts will
be 34 times more likely to develop thyroid cancer within 15 years.
…..
“Some epidemiological studies suggest that radiation exposure can
increase the risk of thyroid cancer for people aged 40 or older, too,”
said Yoshio Hosoi, a professor at Hiroshima University’s Research
Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine. “In addition tochildren, adults need to receive continued tests if their thyroid
gland radiation doses are 100 millisieverts or higher.”

TEPCO said it plans to offer workers thyroid gland ultrasound
examinations free of charge if their whole-body radiation doses are 50
millisieverts or higher.

However, at least one expert said that may not include all people at risk.

“There is a possibility that the thyroid gland radiation dose is 100
millisieverts even if the whole-body dose is only 5 millisieverts,”
said Saburo Murata, deputy director of Hannan Chuo Hospital.

Murata called on TEPCO to release all past test results—and those of
tests in the future.
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/life_and_death/AJ201212010050

December 3, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012, health, Japan | Leave a comment

Harm of Fukushima’s nuclear radiation is being underestimated

Underestimating Japan’s Nuclear Disaster By Richard Wilcox theintelhub.com November 30, 2012 Every day, very sad and disturbing news about the Fukushima nuclear disaster reveals itself. People in Fukushima are suffering the brunt of this nightmare. But it is also a fact of life that Tokyo drinking water is irradiated. It is not by much, but as we will see even a little bit of radiation can cause harm.
The Japanese government has measured cesium in much of the public water supply in the northeastern and Tokyo regions. From January to March 2012, 0.0071 becquerels per kilogram of cesium 134 and 137 was measured in Tokyo; April to June, 0.0049; and from July to September 0.0053 (4; 5; 6). This indicates that although the amount is small, the problem is not improving. There may be ecological and seasonal reasons, along with levels of ongoing emissions from the Fukushima nuclear power plant (FNPP), as to why the level is not steadily decreasing.
It is worth perusing the research results of ACRO, the French radiation monitoring group, which has posted comparative radiation contamination data from Fukushima and other prefectures measured from water, soil, house dust and human urine (7).

Continue reading →

December 1, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012 | 2 Comments

Fukushima patients in worse condition than expected

Foreign doctors on Fukushima trip “very surprised” at condition of patients: “Symptoms are always the same” — Pains at rear of ears, stomatitis, skin disease… more (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/foreign-doctors-very-surprised-find-patients-worse-condition-anticipated-symptoms-always-same-pains-rear-ears-video
November 28th, 2012
Title: Report on the “Learn from Chernobyl” tour in Japan
Source ERF2012 (Cinema Forum Fukushima)
Date: Nov 25, 2012

Ms. Kazuko Kawai, Founder of Voices for Lively Spring (a Japan-based human rights organization and a grass-root organization): The radiation problem, health problem is spreading all over Japan now through burning debris Iwate and Miyagi, and also contaminated food.

Both foreign doctors participated in the IPPW World Conference and the field trip in Fukushima, which was organized by Peace Boat and Green Action and other organizations.

And they thought that they had sufficient information, but then they observed the health consultations on the tour and were very surprised to find out that actual patients were in even worse condition than they had anticipated.

The symptoms are always the same as Dr. [inaudible] said. […] Nose bleeds, skin disease, diarrhea, respiratory diseases, pains at the rear of the ears, stomatitis, and so on, and so on – as well as thyroid disorders.

December 1, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012, Japan | 1 Comment

Coverup of health problems post Fukushima

People from Tokyo area report thyroid cysts and nodules — Japanese doctors laughing at patients (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/watch-people-tokyo-area-report-thyroid-cysts-nodules-japanese-doctors-laughing-patients-video
November 30th, 2012
Follow-up to: Fukushima Woman Warns of Cover-up — Nurses tell patients: Stay quiet, don’t mention radiation to doctor (VIDEO)
Title: Report on the “Learn from Chernobyl” tour in Japan
Source: ERF2012 (Cinema Forum Fukushima)
Date: Nov 25, 2012

Ms. Kazuko Kawai, Founder of Voices for Lively Spring: Although thyroid disorders in Fukushima had been much reported by the media, we found that evacuees from the Tokyo area also complained about thyroid cysts and nodules.

Both doctors [who traveled to the area] are very angry about the Fukushima Prefecture government’s handling of Patients with thyroid disorder. That is, no secondary testing in two years. It is internationally agreed upon within the medical community to control such patients by repeated testing at least once in 6 months, and every two months in more serious cases.

Further more it is widely thought that thyroid cancer started surfacing in Chernobyl 4 years after the nuclear disaster and it is based on the data in Chernobyl. But according to Dr. [inaudible], Chernobyl did not used to have such precision devices for thyroid testing as we have in Japan right now. And the doctors in Chernobyl manually diagnosed thyroid cancer. Without out any precision exam devices. The ultrasound devices were introduced in big cities in Chernobyl about 4 years after the disaster […]

At health consultations on the tour, we kept hearing about Japanese doctors who laughed at patients or did not listen to patients at all.

December 1, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

Slow increase of radiation in Fukushima No 1 reactor’s water intake

[Radiation leakage to the sea] Radiation level at water intake of
reactor1~4 is slowly increasinghttp://fukushima-diary.com/2012/11/radiation-leakage-to-the-sea-radiation-level-at-water-intake-of-reactor14-is-slowly-increasing/ by Mochizuki on November 26th, 2012 ·

According to Tepco’s report of “Radioactivity Density of the Seawaterat the South of Unit 1-4 Water Intake of Fukushima Daiichi NPS (Bq/L)” published on 11/26/2012, the radiation level at the water intake is slowly increasing since the first week of this October.

November 27, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

Exploiting Japan’s university students as Fukushima cleanup workers

[Exploiting the youth] Fukushima university to give students credit
for decontamination work http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/11/exploiting-the-youth-fukushima-university-to-give-students-credit-for-decontamination-work/ by Mochizuki November 24th, 2012

On 11/19/2012, Fukushima Diary wrote, “It’s likely that they make it a credit necessary to graduate from schools to go to Fukushima (plant).” in the column [Japan may seek solution of Fukushima in drifting to the right]. Fukushima university is going to do exactly what was written in the column.

Fukushima university is going to give students credit for decontamination work, which is supposed to be volunteer. 45 hours of decontamination is one credit, 90 hours of decontamination is two credits.

November 26, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | civil liberties, Fukushima 2012, Japan | Leave a comment

Fukushima had 3 nuclear meltdowns

Michio Kaku: 3 meltdowns in Fukushima, but uranium actually totally liquified… 1st time in history — “Reactor actually melted totally” (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/michio-kaku-3-meltdowns-fukushima-uranium-actually-totally-liquified-1st-time-history-reactor-actually-melted-totally-video November 22nd, 2012

Coast to Coast AM with George Noory, November 20, 2012: Previously Kaku has stated that one Fukushima reactor had “liquified Professor Michio Kaku, City College of New York:
We had three simultaneous core meltdowns in Fukushima, but the uranium actually liquified — liquified — we’ve never seen a totally liquified core before.

First time in history.

But the Fukushima reactor actually melted totally.

Michio Kaku: American theoretical physicist, the Henry Semat Professor of Theoretical Physics in the City College of New York of City University of New York, a co-founder of string field theory […] Kaku graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University in 1968 and was first in his physics class. He attended the Berkeley Radiation Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley and received a Ph.D. in 1972.
Listen to the broadcast here

November 25, 2012 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

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