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Earthquake/tsunami in Tohoku, North East Japan (11th March 2011)


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More please!   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HrO2H4Sraw   You'd think they might put in some of the overly loud throat noises and he would do a big "ahhhhhhhhhh" at the end. Come on, where's th

Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver
not the normal one though, its a "proper bit of chicken" (as opposed to the big chicken nugget)....its 880ï¿¥


oooooh tempted now, with some aki-aji.
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Originally Posted By: Chriselle
It's all blowing out to sea. A couple days from now when winds start coming from the south we'll see...


When the generators have kicked, then should be ok eh? wink

And where did you get your weather forecast from?
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Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver
winds start coming from the south then we in the Tokyo/Yokohama area will still be fine, north of the plant may be a different story.


Hokkaido will be ours! biggrin
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When does this end then?

They need to get these generators going and that will be it?

So difficult to understand it all.

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Originally Posted By: xxx
When does this end then?


Only when the entire planet is one big molten slag heap of radioactive material. Then it will be the end.
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Hoses won't do it, they need the water cooling pumps back online so that they can regulate the pools better. If this happens then radiation is decreased and engineers can get a closer look at the damage and start cleaning it up, covering it over or whatever it eeds to be done. That area of Fukushima may become permanently unihabitable, kinda like the exclusion zone around Chernobyl

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I'm sure we are all bored to tears with this hanging over us so in a further attempt to calm fears, here is an update from the UK's Chief Scientific Adviser, givien in a briefing at 4pm Japan time.....

 

Quote:
18 March, 1600hrs, British Embassy Briefing for BCCJ Members

 

 

 

On 18 March at 1600hrs, the British Ambassador to Tokyo, David Warren, and the UK's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir John Beddington, held a telephone briefing regarding the situation at Fukushima. Over the past few days, there has been continuing concern about the situation, particularly in light of yesterday's amendment to British travel advice to "consider leaving" Tokyo.

 

 

 

Sir John Beddington explained: At the beginning of this week, our concerns were mainly about possible meltdowns in the reactors. What the Japanese were doing was entirely proportionate to the situation and, even in our worst case scenarios such as extreme weather conditions, there was nothing remotely to worry about. There were two main reasons why we changed the British travel advice.

 

 

 

1. Fuel Ponds

 

If the fuel ponds that hold spent fuel rods were allowed to dry out, especially the pond in reactor number 4, the emissions would be highly radioactive. We worried that radiation would start coming out as a result of fire or minor explosions and this would cause more radiation than that coming from the reactors themselves. This is one of the reasons it was more important to be more precautionary around the Fukushima plant, and that was why the recommendation was adopted to extend the evacuation zone to 80km. We discussed this with our scientific colleagues in America and they agreed. There is STILL no massive danger but we wanted to be precautionary.

 

 

 

2. Worst Case Scenario

 

The British Prime Minister asked us to look at the plausible "worst case scenario" combined with unfavourable weather conditions, particularly with regards to Tokyo. I repeat that this is HIGHLY UNLIKELY. Even if our plausible worst case scenario happened, the danger to Tokyo would be modest. Although radiation would increase for a short time - no longer than 48 hours - the effects on human health would be mitigated by staying indoors not opening windows. For people living in Tokyo, immediate concerns can be allayed. If the UK were to find any traces of radiation, they would inform Tokyo of when the plume is due in order for people to take precautions. I stress that this is NOT the current situation; this is only assuming the worst case scenario. Both of our worst case scenarios (explosions in reactors and extreme weather conditions) are unlikely.

 

 

 

To sum up, regarding the precautionary zone around the plant it was sensible to be precautionary, but even in worst case scenario, we are not worried about the human health risks. The US and France have heard these conclusions and they share our opinion.

 

 

 

Q: Is there any chance of contamination in Tokyo?

 

Sir John: Implications to people in Tokyo - none.

 

 

 

Q: Given that the reactor was contained but then suddenly there was an explosion, how long do you foresee a dangerous situation continuing for?

 

Sir John: The key issue is whether or not the Japanese can get sufficient water into the holding pond on reactor 4 and continue to get water into other holding ponds. In the case of reactors, adequate water is needed to keep them cool. That is critical. In terms of when we can all relax - this is dependent on how successful the Japanese are at cooling the reactors and ponds. When that begins to happen we can relax. In a week or so we will know if we really have to worry or not. In addition, afterwards, there are enourmous problems of clean up and that could take years.

 

 

 

Q: Can you clarify about the contamination of food and water?

 

Sir John: We have been working with our colleagues in DEFRA and the food standards agency in the UK. The message is to avoid food grown around the region of the plant of course. Normal sewage filtration processes take out radioactivity. If this was dangerous to anyone outside of Fukushima, the Japanese authorities would react and advise. In Chernobly the risks were significant - more dramatic and worrying, but even the risks were negliible for water because of filtration. Bottled water is always safe. Any problems related to tap water will not be connected with radiation but rather the sewage coming from broken pipes. In conclusion, microbiology is more of a concern than radiation. As for food in shops - in cartons, tins, bottles or boxes, there is no problem whatsoever. It would be unwise to eat food produced from gardens in the region. Anything left in the open air in Fukushima, dont eat.

 

 

 

Q: You now advise to "consider leaving" - at what stage would you change that to "leave"?

 

Sir John: Only in the worst case scenarios. The reason we said "consider leaving" - there are major disruptions to transportation and supply chain in the whole of Japan. We are NOT advising that people leave due to the risk of radiation. Even IF a plume were to reach Tokyo, it would not pose major health risks.

 

 

 

Q: What does plausible worst case mean? Is there an implausible worst case?

 

Sir John: Implausible - all reactors and all ponds go up at the same time and extreme weather conditions bring the plume to Tokyo; it's not sensible to consider this.

 

 

 

Q: How do we know if the Japanese government is telling the whole story?

 

Sir John: There would be a series of explosions at the reactors - the Japanese government cannot hide that if it were to be the case.

 

 

 

Q: Why is the French giving different advice?

 

Sir John: Their advice is not based on science.

 

 

 

Q: Any reason for people in Tokyo to take potassium iodide? Children, pregnant mothers?

 

Sir John: The Health Protection Agency is on the line. If we are looking at the "worst case scenario" it would be sensible for pregnant women, children and nursing mothers to take stabilising drugs as their thyroids are more sensitive radioactive iodine. However there is no need for anyone in Tokyo to take these drugs now. If necessary, there would be plenty of warning for people in Tokyo to take the tablets.

 

the full briefing can be viewed on the FCO's website

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Originally Posted By: grungy-gonads
Guardian suck smelly balls too

Quote:
In our 12.14pm post we reported that a Tepco official said radiation levels at Fukushima Daiichi soon after 9.30 am "were at 3,750 millisieverts per hour".

This was wrong – the radiation level was actually 3,750 microsiverts per hour – equivalent to 3.75 millisieverts per hour, sincere apologies.




That sounds a bit suspect - the rods are exposed.

Way back in the late 80's I was studying Engineering and did a tour of a Nuclear Reactor. We also visited the nearby cooling pond where they placed the depleted rods until they cool sufficiently to be stored underground. The pond was filled with 'heavy water' which slows the neutrons being emmited by the rods and therefore aids cooling.

The rods, placed in racks on the bottom of the pond, were glowing an iridescent blue - similar to one of those bug zappers they use in shops, only much brighter.

I don't recall how deep the pond was - it was VERY deep - suffice to say, we asked the Scientist accompanying us how dangerous were the rods, he simply said that if those rods were two metres from the surface of the pond, he wouldn't be within a kilometre of the place.

I noticed on a news report today, they were interviewing some locals in an emergency shelter, one was reading a newspaper that appeared to have a coloured diagram showing the radiation levels progressing out from the reactors. The levels appeared to be considerabe.

Noted from Wiki:

1. approximate radiation levels inside Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant reactor buildings 6 days after the 2011 TÅhoku earthquake and tsunami are reported to be 1,000 mSv/h.
2. International Commission on Radiological Protection recommended limit for volunteers rescuing lives or preventing serious injuries: 1000 mSv
3. Current average limit for nuclear workers: 20 mSv/year
4. Lowest clearly carcinogenic level: 100 mSv/year
5. Elevated limit for workers during Fukushima emergency: 250 mSv/year

Symptoms of acute radiation (within one day):

a. 0 – 0.25 Sv (0 - 250 mSv): None
b. 0.25 – 1 Sv (250 - 1000 mSv): Some people feel nausea and loss of appetite; bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen damaged.
c. 1 – 3 Sv (1000 - 3000 mSv): Mild to severe nausea, loss of appetite, infection; more severe bone marrow, lymph node, spleen damage; recovery probable, not assured.
d. 3 – 6 Sv (3000 - 6000 mSv): Severe nausea, loss of appetite; hemorrhaging, infection, diarrhea, peeling of skin, sterility; death if untreated.
e. 6 – 10 Sv (6000 - 10000 mSv): Above symptoms plus central nervous system impairment; death expected.
f. Above 10 Sv (10000 mSv): Incapacitation and death.

An (unfair) comparison:

The approximate radiation levels near Chernobyl reactor 4 and its fragments, shortly after explosion are reported to be 10–300 Sv/hr.


Like Chernobyl, it will be interesting to see the long-term health levels of the helicopter pilots and fire brigade officers.


In the current scenario the initial exposure is not the only problem, as others have obviously pointed out, the land and water surrounding the site will be forever contaminated. So much for fishing and farming industries ... unless of course they simply raise the permissible level of radiation in foodstuff = scandal, corruption, cover-up.

sadface for all.


P.s. be wary of happy/bright reporting - remember a lot of Countries have a lot invested in Japan and don't want their investments to fail, similarly, the Japanese government is broke and can't afford further investment hassles. (Economists/Merchant Bankers et al are evil!)
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Originally Posted By: SubZero



P.s. be wary of happy/bright reporting - remember a lot of Countries have a lot invested in Japan and don't want their investments to fail, similarly, the Japanese government is broke and can't afford further investment hassles. (Economists/Merchant Bankers et al are evil!)


Oh, I'm sorry, but which news are you watching that is happy/bright? rolleyes
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Originally Posted By: grungy-gonads
Quote:
10.30: The Japanese earthquake has been detected more than 6000 miles away on the Isle Of Wight, according to scientists.


It took a week to 'get there'?

wink

lol


It got lost ok. It left it's SatNav at home. razz
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