VIDEO Deadly nuclear levels detected

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RADIATION levels that can prove fatal were detected outside reactor buildings at Japan’s Fukushima No.1 plant for the first time, complicating efforts to contain the worst disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.
Water in an underground trench outside the No.2 reactor had levels exceeding one sievert an hour, a spokesman for plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company said.
Thirty minutes’ exposure to that dose would trigger nausea and four hours might lead to death within two months, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
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Preventing the most-contaminated water from leaking into the ground or air is key to containing the spread of radiation beyond the plant.
A partial meltdown of fuel rods in the No.2 reactor probably caused a jump in the readings, Japan’s chief government spokesman said yesterday.
‘‘There’s not much good news right now,’’ said Gennady Pshakin, a former International Atomic Energy Agency official based in Obninsk, site of Russia’s first nuclear power plant.
‘‘There are questions arising on how much fuel will leak out, what isotopes will be carried and how quickly they will settle. It’s becoming less predictable.’’
Deadly nuclear levels detected

 

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Deadly radiation levels detected at Fukushima No. 1 plant On March 29, 2011, alarming news broke regarding the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in Japan, marking a significant escalation in what has been described as the most severe nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986. For the first time, radiation levels outside reactor buildings exceeded fatal limits, complicating containment efforts. According to the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), water in an underground trench adjacent to the No. 2 reactor registered radiation levels exceeding one sievert per hour. Exposure to such levels poses grave health risks, with just thirty minutes potentially leading to nausea and longer exposure possibly resulting in death within two months, based on guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Key Highlights​

• Fatal Radiation Levels: The readings from Fukushima indicate a serious public health risk, with the potential for widespread contamination if the most radioactive water leaks into the soil or atmosphere.
• Indicators of Meltdown: A partial meltdown in the No. 2 reactor may have caused this spike in radiation, according to government officials. This situation has raised myriad questions about the isotopes involved and the likelihood of further leaks.
• Erroneous Reporting: TEPCO faced criticism after initially reporting that radiation levels in puddles in the turbine building of reactor two were 10 million times higher than normal before correcting it to 100,000 times.

• Need for Vigilance: The Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano condemned TEPCO for its inaccurate readings, emphasizing the necessity of precise radioactivity monitoring to ensure safety at the site. Gennady Pshakin, former official with the International Atomic Energy Agency, echoed concerns over the unpredictability of the situation, particularly how much radiation could leak and what effects it would have regionally and beyond. With continuous struggles to contain the disaster, it’s clear that the situation requires ongoing monitoring and decisive action to mitigate potential hazards. As we look back on this incident, reflecting on its long-term implications remains critical, especially as countries reassess their own nuclear safety protocols.​

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