tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post222690867710464956..comments2023-05-27T00:08:34.330+09:00Comments on Japan - after the BIG earthquake: . Radiation Problems - INFOGabi Grevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16362456518166174106noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post-82247206191960268782013-05-26T15:52:17.534+09:002013-05-26T15:52:17.534+09:00Alarm disregarded, radiation level unchecked
Acco...Alarm disregarded, radiation level unchecked<br /><br />According to a follow-up report on a radiation exposure accident last week, researchers at the Japanese laboratory went on with their work even after an alarm went off to report an equipment malfunction.<br />The accident occurred at a Japan Atomic Energy Agency facility in Ibaraki Prefecture at around noon on Thursday. The workers were bombarding gold with proton beams to generate elementary particles.<br /><br />When the alarm went off, the equipment automatically stopped. But the scientists reset the alarm and resumed the experiment without looking into the cause.<br />The radiation level within the facility rose after about 90 minutes. The researchers temporarily stopped the experiment and turned on exhaust fans.<br /><br />When the radiation level dropped, the work resumed.<br />The researchers finally stopped the experiment after 4:00 PM when the level rose further.<br />The equipment malfunction created an unexpected amount of radioactive substances. At least 6 researchers were exposed and the exhaust fans blew some of the radioactive substances into the outside environment.<br /><br />The agency did not measure the radiation levels around the facility at that time.<br />It wasn't until evening of the following day that workers noticed the level at a monitoring post in a nearby facility had risen at the time the fans were used.<br /><br />Agency officials admit the series of actions were inappropriate.<br />Out of 55 people who were in and out of the lab facility at the time of the accident, 6 male researchers were confirmed to have been exposed to radiation. 14 were not exposed.<br /><br />Officials are quickly checking the remaining 35.<br /><br />May 26, 2013 - NHK world news<br />http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130526_08.htmlGabi Grevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16362456518166174106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post-25115862024612376342013-04-07T18:22:50.768+09:002013-04-07T18:22:50.768+09:00New Fukushima facility shrinks nuclear sludge
The...New Fukushima facility shrinks nuclear sludge<br /><br />The city of Fukushima now has Japan's first facility capable of reducing the volume of the radioactive sludge from the 2011 nuclear disaster.<br />The facility was installed by the Environment Ministry in a municipal sewage treatment plant. A ceremony was held in the city on Saturday.<br /><br />It will dry the sludge at a temperature of 450 degrees Celsius and reduce it to about one-fifth of its original volume.<br /><br />The Environment Ministry expects the facility to treat 30 tons of sludge daily.<br />Such sludge has been accumulating in sewage treatment plants in Fukushima and neighboring prefectures due to a lack of progress in the building of interim storage facilities.<br />The volume of such sludge in Fukushima Prefecture alone has risen to more than 68,000 tons.<br /><br />The ministry plans to transfer the dried and shrunken sludge to interim storage facilities and permanent disposal sites, although it is unclear when these facilities will be built.<br />Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara says his ministry will work to build interim storage facilities as soon as possible.<br /><br />Apr. 6, 2013 - NHK world newsGabi Grevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16362456518166174106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post-13203998497850336632013-04-07T18:22:01.347+09:002013-04-07T18:22:01.347+09:00TEPCO reports leak from another water storage tank...TEPCO reports leak from another water storage tank<br /><br />Tokyo Electric Power Company says it has found a small leakage of contaminated water from a storage facility at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. This follows a recent massive leak from another underground tank.<br /><br />The company examined a contaminated water storage tank adjacent to the underground tank that had leaked 120 tons of radioactive water. The 2 tanks have the same structure.<br />TEPCO says a small amount of radioactive strontium was detected just outside a triple-layer of waterproof sheets underneath the storage tank, leading to discovery of the leak.<br /><br />The tank contains more than 10,000 tons of contaminated water.<br />But the utility says it is a minor leak as it hasn't observed any change in the tank's water level and the concentration of radioactive substances is low.<br />It says it will continue to monitor the storage facility, but it sees no need to transfer the water to a different tank.<br /><br />TEPCO is now transferring 13,000 tons of contaminated water from the tank where the massive leak occurred to 2 other tanks nearby.<br />The utility says it will take 2 more days until Tuesday to finish the work.<br /><br />TEPCO officials apologized for causing concern and explained that no water from either leak has reached the ocean.<br /><br />Apr. 7, 2013 - NHK world news<br />.Gabi Grevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16362456518166174106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post-18523704295409533262013-04-06T15:38:14.013+09:002013-04-06T15:38:14.013+09:00TEPCO removing radioactive water
Tokyo Electric P...TEPCO removing radioactive water<br /><br />Tokyo Electric Power Company has begun transferring radioactive water from a leaking storage tank at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.<br /><br />The company says radioactive strontium and other substances were detected on the ground around a storage tank from Wednesday to Friday.<br /><br />TEPCO estimates that 120 tons leaked so far based on the change in the level of water in the tank.<br /><br />The work began on Saturday morning.<br /><br />Workers are using 4 pumps to transfer radioactive water in the tank to an adjacent tank.<br /><br />The utility says the leaked water has not flowed into the ocean because there is no ditch around the tank, and the sea is some 800 meters away.<br /><br />TEPCO says it will take at least 5 days to finish the transfer of water.<br /><br />Apr. 6, 2013 - NHK world news<br />http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130406_13.htmlGabi Grevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16362456518166174106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post-88639636392585145392013-03-10T09:31:56.232+09:002013-03-10T09:31:56.232+09:00Providing lessons on nuclear policy
FALLOUT FROM F...Providing lessons on nuclear policy<br />FALLOUT FROM FUKUSHIMA<br />by Richard Broinowski.<br /><br />Most books about the nuclear reactor accident of Fukushima No. 1 are very opinionated. Given the many repercussions of the disaster, it is not surprising that people find it difficult to discuss in a disinterested way, sine ira et studio.<br /><br />http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/03/10/books/providing-lessons-on-nuclear-policy/#.UTvUFzdqO40<br />Newshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/03/10/books/providing-lessons-on-nuclear-policy/#.UTvUFzdqO40noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post-65969790732459565032013-03-10T09:26:50.208+09:002013-03-10T09:26:50.208+09:00Japanese food still banned in 44 states
Radioactiv...Japanese food still banned in 44 states<br />Radioactive contamination fears persist<br /><br />Two years on from the Fukushima crisis, 44 economies are still banning or restricting imports of Japanese foods due to concerns over residual radiation, according to government officials.<br /><br />The government fears these economies could continue to impose the measures, damaging domestic food export businesses, the officials said.<br /><br />According to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, 10 countries including Canada and Mexico have lifted restrictions on foods shipments from Japan, but major importers such as China and South Korea have kept strict measures in place.<br /><br />China stopped importing all food products from 10 prefectures after the triple meltdowns disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 plant in March 2011. South Korea, meanwhile, has suspended imports of many food items from Japan, such as fish and spinach, according to the officials.<br /><br />MORE<br />http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/03/09/national/japanese-food-still-banned-in-44-states/#.UTvTDjdqO40Newshttp://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/03/09/national/japanese-food-still-banned-in-44-states/#.UTvTDjdqO40noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post-90950023525738750682013-01-11T14:33:22.930+09:002013-01-11T14:33:22.930+09:00NHK news -
TEPCO to install filtered vent at nucle...NHK news -<br />TEPCO to install filtered vent at nuclear reactor<br /><br />Tokyo Electric Power says it will install a filter-equipped emergency vent system to reduce levels of radioactivity released in the air in case of a meltdown at a nuclear power plant.<br /><br />The company said on Thursday that it will start work to install the system at the Number 7 reactor of its Kashiwazaki plant in Niigata next week.<br /><br />The system comprises a water tank 4 meters long and 8 meters high, to be installed next to the reactor.<br /><br />In an emergency, contaminated steam released from a reactor vessel to lower pressure inside the structure would be filtered through water before it enters the atmosphere.<br /><br />The process can reduce levels of radioactive iodine and cesium by a factor of up to 1,000.<br /><br />In the March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident, failure to promptly conduct a vent operation caused serious damage to a containment vessel, leading to a massive release of radioactive substances.<br /><br />To step up safety, Tokyo Electric and other utilities plan to install filtered vents at all their reactors.<br /><br />The government's Nuclear Regulation Authority also plans to make installation of filtered vents a requirement for restarting idle reactors.<br /><br />Jan. 10, 2013<br />http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20130110_31.html<br />.Gabi Grevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16362456518166174106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post-28637229232518585442012-12-28T15:35:09.738+09:002012-12-28T15:35:09.738+09:00New Environment Minister meets Fukushima Gov.
Jap...New Environment Minister meets Fukushima Gov.<br /><br />Japan's new Environment Minister Nobuteru Ishihara says he will work with Fukushima to decontaminate the prefecture following last year's nuclear disaster.<br />Ishihara met prefectural governor Yuhei Sato in Fukushima City on Thursday. Much of the prefecture was contaminated by radioactivity from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.<br /><br />Ishihara said that he wants to discuss candidly with prefectural officials building a storage facility for radioactive waste and other issues.<br />Sato thanked Ishihara for visiting the prefecture immediately after taking his Cabinet post.<br /><br />The governor said he wants the central government to understand the feelings of residents and the problems facing local communities.<br />Ishihara later told reporters he could not say yet when the government will begin to study a possible storage site.<br /><br />He said the government should first obtain the understanding and trust of local people.<br /><br />Dec. 27, 2012<br />NHK world news<br />http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20121227_32.html<br />Gabi Grevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16362456518166174106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post-22998588373838835092012-12-28T06:41:01.098+09:002012-12-28T06:41:01.098+09:00Trying to revive a Fukushima ‘ghost town’, CNN, 12...Trying to revive a Fukushima ‘ghost town’, CNN, 12/24/12<br /><br />The village of Iitate in Japan’s Fukushima prefecture was once home to 6,000 people.<br /><br />Today, however, it is essentially a ghost town, evacuated after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant just 25 miles (40 kilometers) away following the Tohoku earthquake in March 2011.<br /><br />While former residents can return to Iitate during the day, it’s still an eerie scene — children’s toys lie abandoned in yards, bicycles rust on front porches and only an occasional truck passes through its quiet streets.<br /><br />For elderly couple Yukio and Masayo Nakano the last 20 months have not been easy. Yukio lived had lived in his home in the village for more than 60 years, moving in just after World War Two.<br /><br />“I can’t describe it. It’s hard living in the temporary housing, and it’s very stressful mentally,” he says.<br /><br />The difficult situation has also taken its toll on his wife Masayo.<br /><br />“I’m lonely. We’re getting old,” she says. “I think every day how long I can survive in this situation.”<br /><br />Only one building — the town’s nursing home — has permanent residents. Following consultation with their families and the Japanese government, the 80 or so people living there were allowed to stay despite the evacuation order.<br /><br />MORE<br />http://recoveringtohoku.wordpress.com/2012/12/25/trying-to-revive-a-fukushima-ghost-town-cnn-122412/Gabi Grevehttp://recoveringtohoku.wordpress.com/2012/12/25/trying-to-revive-a-fukushima-ghost-town-cnn-122412/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post-76886519468859578322012-12-17T18:22:00.579+09:002012-12-17T18:22:00.579+09:00Asahi Newspaper
The operator of the Fukushima N...Asahi Newspaper<br /><br /><br /><br />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, and will continue trying to pinpoint the cause next week.<br /><br />A remote-controlled robot is now scouring the basement of the reactor building that houses the pressure suppression chamber to pinpoint the cause of the leak.<br /><br />Tokyo Electric Power Co. said it was unable to identify the source of the leak when the robot inspected one of the eight vent pipes that connect the chamber with the containment vessel on Dec. 11.<br /><br />TEPCO suspects the radioactive water is leaking from fractures near the pressure suppression chamber.<br /><br />It was the first detailed inspection near the chamber.<br /><br />Nuclear fuel in the No. 2 reactor melted following the earthquake and tsunami disaster last year.<br /><br />A huge volume of highly radioactive water, used to cool down the fuel, has since been leaking from the reactor, TEPCO said.<br /><br />http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201212120033?fb_action_ids=10151311280615914&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7388372827914524197.post-17990631105307663932011-07-17T11:30:23.189+09:002011-07-17T11:30:23.189+09:00Livestock farmers dismayed by radioactive beef sca...<b>Livestock farmers dismayed by radioactive beef scandal </b><br />(Mainichi Japan) July 16, 2011<br /><br />The government is considering banning shipments of beef cattle from Fukushima Prefecture in the wake of the revelation that a local cattle farm shipped 42 cows fed radioactive cesium-contaminated straw to Tokyo and several other prefectures.<br /><br />About 4,000 livestock farming households in the prefecture have been struggling to overcome harmful rumors following the outbreak of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, and the news of the radioactive beef came as a new shock.<br /><br />The owner of the cattle farm in Asakawa, Fukushima Prefecture, which shipped the contaminated livestock, went to his barn to feed the more than 100 cows housed there on the morning of July 15. "I cannot ship these calves. I'm not sure if I can stay in the livestock business. I don't know what to do now," the farmer said dejectedly.<br /><br />He had obtained the radioactive cesium-contaminated rice plant straw in a trade with an organic rice growers union in the nearby city of Shirakawa for barnyard manure.<br />..<br /><br />http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20110716p2a00m0na015000c.html<br /><br />.anonymous newshttp://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20110716p2a00m0na015000c.htmlnoreply@blogger.com