Fukushima - the continuing saga
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Banglar Bir
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Many thanks to@onebyone, really gained a lot of knowledge, as an amateur, on critical fallout effects after a accidental fatal nuclear disaster.
ahojunk
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High radiation levels may have caused robot to stop working in damaged Fukushima reactor
2017-02-17 09:36 | Xinhua | Editor: Gu Liping
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant said Thursday its attempt to retrieve data from a robot from inside the No. 2 reactor had failed possibly due to extremely high levels of radiation.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO) said the robot was sent into the damaged reactor to gather information about highly radioactive residue from melted fuel inside the reactor.
The utility believes that fuel in the reactor has likely melted through its core during the 2011 Fukushima disaster at the bottom of the plant's containment vessel.
Before the technical failure, TEPCO said the robot sent back data that reveled the level of radiation in the air three meters from the entrance to the pressure vessel was at a lethal 210 sieverts per hour.
The amount of radiation measured at that location is enough to kill a person, even after being exposed for just a brief period of time.
TEPCO added that the temperature measured at the same point was 16.5 degrees Celsius.
In an earlier survey, levels of radiation as high as 650 sieverts per hour were detected in the No. 2 reactor, much to the consternation of Japan's nuclear watchdog and the local and international public.
TEPCO on Thursday planned to collect acquire data on the current situation in the battered reactor that is pertinent to the plant's eventual decommissioning and is currently trying to determine if incredibly high radiation levels caused the self-propelled robot to malfunction.
The robot, developed by TEPCO in conjunction with Toshiba Corp. and the International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning, failed to navigate its way over obstacles, the utility said, and stopped moving along a metal rail before it could reach the center of the reactor's core.
The robot was supposed to travel to where a black mass, thought to be nuclear debris, had been detected previously underneath the pressure vessel.
The robot was also supposed to reveal further information about a 1-square meter hole on the grating of the vessel caused by melted nuclear fuel.
TEPCO gave up trying to retrieve the robot and opted to cut its remote control cables, officials said.
The failed operation by TEPCO to retrieve the necessary data on the high levels of radiation, the temperature, and the amount and locations of melted fuel and nuclear debris from the damaged reactor will further complicate the decommissioning of the ravaged plant.
TEPCO, known for a number of gaffes and communication blunders over the years, however, said in a press briefing on the matter that despite the failure they had "received great hints for the next step."
Critics however have been quick to point out that potentially high levels of radiation may have also been responsible for similarly damaging a robot's electronics used in a previous survey of the reactor.
The utility said a survey will now be conducted on its No. 1 reactor next month, which also underwent a meltdown in the disaster.
TEPCO was the embattled owner and operator of the Daiichi facility in Fukushima Prefecture at the time of the worst commercial nuclear disaster in history there in 2011.
The disaster involved a massive quake-triggered tsunami knocking out the plant's key cooling functions leading to multiple meltdowns of the facility's reactors.
The crisis has yet to be fully brought under control half a decade since the incident, with no precise timeline for the full decommissioning of the notorious plant, or precise blueprint for the technological processes necessary.
The government-supported utility, to a certain extent, has also dodged local and media scrutiny of late, owing to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games garnering increasing coverage.
The Japanese government has said it will likely continue its effective state ownership of TEPCO because the expected costs for the increasingly complicated decommissioning of the plant and paying compensation to the victims continue to escalate.
2017-02-17 09:36 | Xinhua | Editor: Gu Liping
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant said Thursday its attempt to retrieve data from a robot from inside the No. 2 reactor had failed possibly due to extremely high levels of radiation.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO) said the robot was sent into the damaged reactor to gather information about highly radioactive residue from melted fuel inside the reactor.
The utility believes that fuel in the reactor has likely melted through its core during the 2011 Fukushima disaster at the bottom of the plant's containment vessel.
Before the technical failure, TEPCO said the robot sent back data that reveled the level of radiation in the air three meters from the entrance to the pressure vessel was at a lethal 210 sieverts per hour.
The amount of radiation measured at that location is enough to kill a person, even after being exposed for just a brief period of time.
TEPCO added that the temperature measured at the same point was 16.5 degrees Celsius.
In an earlier survey, levels of radiation as high as 650 sieverts per hour were detected in the No. 2 reactor, much to the consternation of Japan's nuclear watchdog and the local and international public.
TEPCO on Thursday planned to collect acquire data on the current situation in the battered reactor that is pertinent to the plant's eventual decommissioning and is currently trying to determine if incredibly high radiation levels caused the self-propelled robot to malfunction.
The robot, developed by TEPCO in conjunction with Toshiba Corp. and the International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning, failed to navigate its way over obstacles, the utility said, and stopped moving along a metal rail before it could reach the center of the reactor's core.
The robot was supposed to travel to where a black mass, thought to be nuclear debris, had been detected previously underneath the pressure vessel.
The robot was also supposed to reveal further information about a 1-square meter hole on the grating of the vessel caused by melted nuclear fuel.
TEPCO gave up trying to retrieve the robot and opted to cut its remote control cables, officials said.
The failed operation by TEPCO to retrieve the necessary data on the high levels of radiation, the temperature, and the amount and locations of melted fuel and nuclear debris from the damaged reactor will further complicate the decommissioning of the ravaged plant.
TEPCO, known for a number of gaffes and communication blunders over the years, however, said in a press briefing on the matter that despite the failure they had "received great hints for the next step."
Critics however have been quick to point out that potentially high levels of radiation may have also been responsible for similarly damaging a robot's electronics used in a previous survey of the reactor.
The utility said a survey will now be conducted on its No. 1 reactor next month, which also underwent a meltdown in the disaster.
TEPCO was the embattled owner and operator of the Daiichi facility in Fukushima Prefecture at the time of the worst commercial nuclear disaster in history there in 2011.
The disaster involved a massive quake-triggered tsunami knocking out the plant's key cooling functions leading to multiple meltdowns of the facility's reactors.
The crisis has yet to be fully brought under control half a decade since the incident, with no precise timeline for the full decommissioning of the notorious plant, or precise blueprint for the technological processes necessary.
The government-supported utility, to a certain extent, has also dodged local and media scrutiny of late, owing to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games garnering increasing coverage.
The Japanese government has said it will likely continue its effective state ownership of TEPCO because the expected costs for the increasingly complicated decommissioning of the plant and paying compensation to the victims continue to escalate.
onebyone
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Robot probe no. 2 dies while exploring a Fukushima reactor
Mariella Moon
02.18.17 in Robots
Both machines sent to assess the nuclear reactor's situation failed to complete their mission.
KYODO Kyodo / Reuters
The second robot Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) sent into Fukushima's unit 2 reactor also failed to finish its mission. Earlier this month, the cameras of the first "scorpion" robot that ventured into the reactor malfunctioned after two hours due to extremely high radiation levels. Now, it's the machine's left crawler belt that stopped working (PDF) altogether, forcing TEPCO to cut off its tether and to leave it inside.
Toshiba designed these scorpions specifically to examine Unit 2's condition and to locate the melted uranium fuel within. The information would help Tepco figure out the best and safest way to clean the fuel up. if you're wondering, these machines are called "scorpions" because, with their camera-equipped tails above their bodies, they look quite like the arachnid:
The power company still isn't sure whether the robot's crawler belt stopped working due to the radiation levels inside or due to all the debris the first machine wasn't able to clear. It managed to send some data back, though, and TEPCO plans to evaluate whatever information it got.
Every little thing will help, after all, since the company chose to stick to its cleanup schedule even though both exploration missions failed. It will begin conjuring up plans for fuel removal this summer and will start the actual cleanup process in 2021. But before that, TEPCO will send a tiny underwater robot to explore the Unit 1 reactor in the next few weeks -- we'll let you know how that one fares, as well.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/18/fukushima-reactor-robot-2-breaks/
Mariella Moon
02.18.17 in Robots
Both machines sent to assess the nuclear reactor's situation failed to complete their mission.
KYODO Kyodo / Reuters
The second robot Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) sent into Fukushima's unit 2 reactor also failed to finish its mission. Earlier this month, the cameras of the first "scorpion" robot that ventured into the reactor malfunctioned after two hours due to extremely high radiation levels. Now, it's the machine's left crawler belt that stopped working (PDF) altogether, forcing TEPCO to cut off its tether and to leave it inside.
Toshiba designed these scorpions specifically to examine Unit 2's condition and to locate the melted uranium fuel within. The information would help Tepco figure out the best and safest way to clean the fuel up. if you're wondering, these machines are called "scorpions" because, with their camera-equipped tails above their bodies, they look quite like the arachnid:
The power company still isn't sure whether the robot's crawler belt stopped working due to the radiation levels inside or due to all the debris the first machine wasn't able to clear. It managed to send some data back, though, and TEPCO plans to evaluate whatever information it got.
Every little thing will help, after all, since the company chose to stick to its cleanup schedule even though both exploration missions failed. It will begin conjuring up plans for fuel removal this summer and will start the actual cleanup process in 2021. But before that, TEPCO will send a tiny underwater robot to explore the Unit 1 reactor in the next few weeks -- we'll let you know how that one fares, as well.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/18/fukushima-reactor-robot-2-breaks/
onebyone
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Radiation Levels at Fukushima Is So High It Killed Two Robots
By Whitney Webb
Feb. 23, 2017 07:18PM EST
While media attention has largely drifted away from the 2011 meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in the years since the disaster, a recent and disturbing development has once again made Fukushima difficult if not impossible to ignore.
On Feb. 2, Tokyo Electric Power Company or TEPCO, quietly released a statement regarding the discovery of a hole measuring 2 meters in diameter within the metal grating at the bottom of the containment vessel in the plant's No. 2 reactor.
Though news of this hole is indeed concerning, even more shocking was the associated jump in radiation detected in the area. According to estimates taken at the time of the hole's discovery, radiation inside the reactor was found to have reached 530 sieverts per hour, a massive increase compared to the 73 sieverts per hour recorded after the disaster. To put these figures in perspective, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's maximum amount of radiation exposure permitted for astronauts over their entire lifetime is 1 sievert.
Human exposure to 5 sieverts would kill half of those exposed within a month, while 10 sieverts would prove fatal to nearly all exposed within a matter of weeks. An official with Japan's National Institute of Radiological Sciences told the Japan Times that medical professionals with the organization had never even considered working with such high levels of radiation.
A nearly 1-square-meter hole is seen in a walkway in the containment vessel of the No. 2 reactor at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. It is thought that the heat of the melted nuclear fuel caused the walkway to give way. TEPCO.
TEPCO initially tried to counter public fears by stating that most of the reactor's nuclear fuel remained in the containment vessel despite the hole. However, on Feb. 3, TEPCO spokesman Yuichi Okamura was quoted as saying that "it's highly possible that melted fuel leaked through." At the time, TEPCO said that it would send a robot into the area to survey the full extent of the damage in order to definitively determine whether fuel had leaked outside of the reactor into the surrounding environment.
The first robot, deployed on Feb. 16, was unable to conduct any meaningful measurements, as the extreme conditions within the reactor forced operators to abandon it within the containment vessel. The "scorpion" robot, manufactured by Toshiba, was meant to record images of the reactor's interior and collect accurate—instead of estimated—data on the levels of radiation within. Within three hours of deployment, the device stopped responding to operators despite its stated ability to withstand high levels of radiation. TEPCO has not commented on its new plans to gauge the damage recently uncovered in the reactor in the wake of the robot's malfunction.
When a second robot was sent to investigate, it also failed.
One of the World's Worst Nuclear Disasters Grows Even worse
Despite a lack of widespread media coverage and TEPCO's reassurances that things are under control, there is concern that the nuclear disaster at Fukushima—already one of the worst nuclear disasters in human history—is quickly growing even worse.
PBS News reported last year that more than 80 percent of of the radioactivity from the three damaged reactors was released into the Pacific Ocean, as 300 tons of radioactive water have leaked from the reactors every day since an earthquake and subsequent tsunami crippled the plant in 2011.
The Pacific Ocean may have diluted much of the radiation, due to its massive volume, yet radiation and debris from the disaster has been detected along the western coast of Canada and the U.S. Traces of Fukushima radiation were first detected in early 2015, when trace amounts of cesium-134 and cesium-137 appeared in samples collected near Vancouver Island. Then, in December of last year, researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution detected seaborne cesium-134 along the Oregon coast.
Though no link between the presence of radiation has been officially established, fisheries along the entire western coast of North America have been collapsing. Last month, the U.S. secretary of commerce reported on the failure of nine salmon and crab fisheries in Alaska, California and Washington—all due to "unexpected" yet steep declines in fish populations.
While scientists and government authorities alike are "stumped" as to the cause, fish caught along the West Coast have showed high increases in the levels of cesium for years—as far back as 2014. Researchers have maintained that fish, however, are still "safe" to eat despite the fact that at least one group of doctors agrees that there is "no safe level of radionuclide exposure, whether from food, water or other sources, period."
The Japanese government, TEPCO and mainstream media continue to insist that this massive release of radiation into the environment has had no effect on human or environmental health. However, thyroid cancer rates have soared in Japan, with 131 children developing thyroid cancer in the six years since the disaster. That total is equivalent to about 600 thyroid cancer cases per million children, while the child thyroid cancer rate elsewhere is about one or two children per million per year.
Despite the marked increase in cancer rates, TEPCO and the Japanese government insist that Fukushima radiation is "unlikely" to result in a greater incidence of cancer cases. However, exposure to Iodine-131, the main radionuclide released into the air and water during the meltdown, is known to increase human risk of thyroid cancer and is the most clearly defined environmental factor associated with thyroid tumors, suggesting that a correlation between radiation and exposure likely exists.
This latest breach in one of the plant's damaged reactors as well as TEPCO's inability to even properly gauge the extent of the damage suggests that we have yet to see the full devastating potential of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Reposted with permission from our media associate MintPress News.
http://www.ecowatch.com/fukushima-radiation-robots-2280538279.html
By Whitney Webb
Feb. 23, 2017 07:18PM EST
While media attention has largely drifted away from the 2011 meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in the years since the disaster, a recent and disturbing development has once again made Fukushima difficult if not impossible to ignore.
On Feb. 2, Tokyo Electric Power Company or TEPCO, quietly released a statement regarding the discovery of a hole measuring 2 meters in diameter within the metal grating at the bottom of the containment vessel in the plant's No. 2 reactor.
Though news of this hole is indeed concerning, even more shocking was the associated jump in radiation detected in the area. According to estimates taken at the time of the hole's discovery, radiation inside the reactor was found to have reached 530 sieverts per hour, a massive increase compared to the 73 sieverts per hour recorded after the disaster. To put these figures in perspective, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's maximum amount of radiation exposure permitted for astronauts over their entire lifetime is 1 sievert.
Human exposure to 5 sieverts would kill half of those exposed within a month, while 10 sieverts would prove fatal to nearly all exposed within a matter of weeks. An official with Japan's National Institute of Radiological Sciences told the Japan Times that medical professionals with the organization had never even considered working with such high levels of radiation.
A nearly 1-square-meter hole is seen in a walkway in the containment vessel of the No. 2 reactor at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. It is thought that the heat of the melted nuclear fuel caused the walkway to give way. TEPCO.
TEPCO initially tried to counter public fears by stating that most of the reactor's nuclear fuel remained in the containment vessel despite the hole. However, on Feb. 3, TEPCO spokesman Yuichi Okamura was quoted as saying that "it's highly possible that melted fuel leaked through." At the time, TEPCO said that it would send a robot into the area to survey the full extent of the damage in order to definitively determine whether fuel had leaked outside of the reactor into the surrounding environment.
The first robot, deployed on Feb. 16, was unable to conduct any meaningful measurements, as the extreme conditions within the reactor forced operators to abandon it within the containment vessel. The "scorpion" robot, manufactured by Toshiba, was meant to record images of the reactor's interior and collect accurate—instead of estimated—data on the levels of radiation within. Within three hours of deployment, the device stopped responding to operators despite its stated ability to withstand high levels of radiation. TEPCO has not commented on its new plans to gauge the damage recently uncovered in the reactor in the wake of the robot's malfunction.
When a second robot was sent to investigate, it also failed.
One of the World's Worst Nuclear Disasters Grows Even worse
Despite a lack of widespread media coverage and TEPCO's reassurances that things are under control, there is concern that the nuclear disaster at Fukushima—already one of the worst nuclear disasters in human history—is quickly growing even worse.
PBS News reported last year that more than 80 percent of of the radioactivity from the three damaged reactors was released into the Pacific Ocean, as 300 tons of radioactive water have leaked from the reactors every day since an earthquake and subsequent tsunami crippled the plant in 2011.
The Pacific Ocean may have diluted much of the radiation, due to its massive volume, yet radiation and debris from the disaster has been detected along the western coast of Canada and the U.S. Traces of Fukushima radiation were first detected in early 2015, when trace amounts of cesium-134 and cesium-137 appeared in samples collected near Vancouver Island. Then, in December of last year, researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution detected seaborne cesium-134 along the Oregon coast.
Though no link between the presence of radiation has been officially established, fisheries along the entire western coast of North America have been collapsing. Last month, the U.S. secretary of commerce reported on the failure of nine salmon and crab fisheries in Alaska, California and Washington—all due to "unexpected" yet steep declines in fish populations.
While scientists and government authorities alike are "stumped" as to the cause, fish caught along the West Coast have showed high increases in the levels of cesium for years—as far back as 2014. Researchers have maintained that fish, however, are still "safe" to eat despite the fact that at least one group of doctors agrees that there is "no safe level of radionuclide exposure, whether from food, water or other sources, period."
The Japanese government, TEPCO and mainstream media continue to insist that this massive release of radiation into the environment has had no effect on human or environmental health. However, thyroid cancer rates have soared in Japan, with 131 children developing thyroid cancer in the six years since the disaster. That total is equivalent to about 600 thyroid cancer cases per million children, while the child thyroid cancer rate elsewhere is about one or two children per million per year.
Despite the marked increase in cancer rates, TEPCO and the Japanese government insist that Fukushima radiation is "unlikely" to result in a greater incidence of cancer cases. However, exposure to Iodine-131, the main radionuclide released into the air and water during the meltdown, is known to increase human risk of thyroid cancer and is the most clearly defined environmental factor associated with thyroid tumors, suggesting that a correlation between radiation and exposure likely exists.
This latest breach in one of the plant's damaged reactors as well as TEPCO's inability to even properly gauge the extent of the damage suggests that we have yet to see the full devastating potential of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Reposted with permission from our media associate MintPress News.
http://www.ecowatch.com/fukushima-radiation-robots-2280538279.html
terranMarine
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This is extremely worrisome
TaiShang
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Indeed. Fukushima needs to be placed at the top of the list on the non-traditional security challenges that East Asia faces.
patman
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Chernobyl can't be compared to anything , its a one of a kind disaster.
艹艹艹
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http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-02-...ed-to-move-back-to-radioactive-wasteland.html
Fukushima residents being forced to move back to radioactive wasteland
Friday, February 24, 2017 by: Vicki Batts
Tags: Fukushima, government, Japan, nuclear accidents
(Natural News) Would you want to return home if it meant living in radioactive conditions similar to Chernobyl? Some 6,000 Japanese citizens are being urged by the government to return to their homes in the nuclear wasteland created by the Fukushima disaster. Greenpeace reports that radiation levels in the area are still similar to that of Chernobyl, which to most people, would indicate the area is not ready for human inhabitants.
Government officials are reportedly planning on slashing housing support for the thousands of people that had been evacuated from the village of Iitate on March 31, on which date the evacuation order will end. It will have been just a short six years since the nuclear disaster occurred.
The village is located just 24 miles away from the power plant. According to Fox News, the Japanese government has told the former Iitate inhabitants that they have finished cleaning up the area and have decreased the average radiation level in the air to a mere 0.8 microsieverts per hour – a level that international organizations have recognized as safe for human life. The government announced that it would be discontinuing housing assistance to the affected residents one year after they have returned to their homes in Iitate.
Unsurprisingly, the government’s announcement has been met with skepticism from the locals, and a hefty amount of criticism from environmental groups and radiation experts from around the world. They say that the Japanese government is merely trying to save face — and money — by forcing the residents of Iitate to return to an unsafe environment.
Jans Vande Putte, a radiation specialist with environmental group Greenpeace and one of the authors of a report on the cleanup efforts in Iitate, told Fox News, “The Japanese government just wants to say that we can overcome. It’s like they’re running a PR campaign to say that everything is okay and we can now go back to normal.”
The Fukushima nuclear accident is considered to be the worst nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl meltdown happened in 1986. After a 9.0 earthquake rocked Japan, the tsunami that followed destroyed the backup generators at the Fukushima plant. Without the emergency generators, proper cooling could not take place — and three nuclear meltdowns ensued, along with explosions of hydrogen-air chemicals and the release of radioactive materials into the surrounding environment.
Even though the Japanese government insists that the radiation in and around the homes of Iitate, many experts disagree with their assertion.
Energy campaigner Ai Kashiwagi commented, “The relatively high radiation values, both inside and outside houses, show an unacceptable radiation risk for citizens if they were to return to Iitate.” Kashiwagi likened the exposure levels to getting a chest x-ray once a week, and noted that the level of exposure was “not normal or acceptable.”
Greenpeace has also said that a survey team they sent into the village found the levels of radiation dose rates at the homes were well above long-term radiation goals. According to them, the average radiation level exceeded the yearly 1 millisievert maximum recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.
At one man’s home, radiation levels outside the home reached values equivalent to 2.5 millisieverts per year. Inside the home, radiation was much higher — reaching equivalents of 5.1 to 10.4 millisieverts per year.
This is not just a little bit over; it is many times more than what is deemed acceptable by international organizations.
Experts agree that radiation levels outside the village and the supposedly-decontaminated area are even more dangerous. Some 75 percent of the 77-square mile area is heavily forested and mountainous, and Greenpeace contends much of the area’s radiation levels are comparable to the exclusion zone around Chernobyl. Even taking a walk through the woods, or eating food grown from the “decontaminated” soil puts people at a greater risk of high amounts of radiation exposure.
“It is still relatively unsafe to live there,” Vande Putte said. “If thousands of people go back it will be a bad situation and it’s just not wise to go back.”
more read：
Japan says Fukushima residents can return home, despite NGO report warning of high radiation level
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/0...-ngo-report-warning-high-radiation-level.html
Fukushima residents being forced to move back to radioactive wasteland
Friday, February 24, 2017 by: Vicki Batts
Tags: Fukushima, government, Japan, nuclear accidents
(Natural News) Would you want to return home if it meant living in radioactive conditions similar to Chernobyl? Some 6,000 Japanese citizens are being urged by the government to return to their homes in the nuclear wasteland created by the Fukushima disaster. Greenpeace reports that radiation levels in the area are still similar to that of Chernobyl, which to most people, would indicate the area is not ready for human inhabitants.
Government officials are reportedly planning on slashing housing support for the thousands of people that had been evacuated from the village of Iitate on March 31, on which date the evacuation order will end. It will have been just a short six years since the nuclear disaster occurred.
The village is located just 24 miles away from the power plant. According to Fox News, the Japanese government has told the former Iitate inhabitants that they have finished cleaning up the area and have decreased the average radiation level in the air to a mere 0.8 microsieverts per hour – a level that international organizations have recognized as safe for human life. The government announced that it would be discontinuing housing assistance to the affected residents one year after they have returned to their homes in Iitate.
Unsurprisingly, the government’s announcement has been met with skepticism from the locals, and a hefty amount of criticism from environmental groups and radiation experts from around the world. They say that the Japanese government is merely trying to save face — and money — by forcing the residents of Iitate to return to an unsafe environment.
Jans Vande Putte, a radiation specialist with environmental group Greenpeace and one of the authors of a report on the cleanup efforts in Iitate, told Fox News, “The Japanese government just wants to say that we can overcome. It’s like they’re running a PR campaign to say that everything is okay and we can now go back to normal.”
The Fukushima nuclear accident is considered to be the worst nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl meltdown happened in 1986. After a 9.0 earthquake rocked Japan, the tsunami that followed destroyed the backup generators at the Fukushima plant. Without the emergency generators, proper cooling could not take place — and three nuclear meltdowns ensued, along with explosions of hydrogen-air chemicals and the release of radioactive materials into the surrounding environment.
Even though the Japanese government insists that the radiation in and around the homes of Iitate, many experts disagree with their assertion.
Energy campaigner Ai Kashiwagi commented, “The relatively high radiation values, both inside and outside houses, show an unacceptable radiation risk for citizens if they were to return to Iitate.” Kashiwagi likened the exposure levels to getting a chest x-ray once a week, and noted that the level of exposure was “not normal or acceptable.”
Greenpeace has also said that a survey team they sent into the village found the levels of radiation dose rates at the homes were well above long-term radiation goals. According to them, the average radiation level exceeded the yearly 1 millisievert maximum recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.
At one man’s home, radiation levels outside the home reached values equivalent to 2.5 millisieverts per year. Inside the home, radiation was much higher — reaching equivalents of 5.1 to 10.4 millisieverts per year.
This is not just a little bit over; it is many times more than what is deemed acceptable by international organizations.
Experts agree that radiation levels outside the village and the supposedly-decontaminated area are even more dangerous. Some 75 percent of the 77-square mile area is heavily forested and mountainous, and Greenpeace contends much of the area’s radiation levels are comparable to the exclusion zone around Chernobyl. Even taking a walk through the woods, or eating food grown from the “decontaminated” soil puts people at a greater risk of high amounts of radiation exposure.
“It is still relatively unsafe to live there,” Vande Putte said. “If thousands of people go back it will be a bad situation and it’s just not wise to go back.”
more read：
Japan says Fukushima residents can return home, despite NGO report warning of high radiation level
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/0...-ngo-report-warning-high-radiation-level.html
Keel
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Fukushima nuclear reactor radiation at highest level since 2011 meltdown
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...-radiation-levels-highest-since-2011-meltdown
Extraordinary readings pile pressure on operator Tepco in its efforts to decommission nuclear power station
Cranes over the Fukushima Daiichi plant in February 2016. The decommissioning process is expected to take about four decades Photograph: Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images
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Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Friday 3 February 201710.19 GMTLast modified on Thursday 9 February 201707.01 GMT
Extremely high radiation levels have been recorded inside a damaged reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, almost six years after the plant suffered a triple meltdown.
The facility’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), said atmospheric readings as high as 530 sieverts an hour had been recorded inside the containment vessel of reactor No 2, one of three reactors that experienced a meltdown when the plant was crippled by a huge tsunami that struck the north-east coast of Japan in March 2011.
The extraordinary radiation readings highlight the scale of the task confrontingthousands of workers, as pressure builds on Tepco to begin decommissioning the plant – a process that is expected to take about four decades.
Even if a 30-percent margin of error is taken into account, the recent reading, described by some experts as “unimaginable”, is far higher than the previous record of 73 sieverts an hour detected by sensors in 2012.
Tepco pointed out, however, that the camera had probed deeper inside the reactor than before and had focused on a single point. Radiation levels at other spots filmed by the camera are estimated to be much lower, it added.
A single dose of one sievert is enough to cause radiation sickness and nausea; 5 sieverts would kill half those exposed to it within a month, and a single dose of 10 sieverts would prove fatal within weeks.
Tepco also said image analysis had revealed a hole in metal grating beneath the same reactor’s pressure vessel. The one-metre-wide hole was probably created by nuclear fuel that melted and then penetrated the vessel after the tsunami knocked out Fukushima Daiichi’s back-up cooling system.
“It may have been caused by nuclear fuel that would have melted and made a hole in the vessel, but it is only a hypothesis at this stage,” Tepco’s spokesman Tatsuhiro Yamagishi told AFP.
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“We believe the captured images offer very useful information, but we still need to investigate given that it is very difficult to assume the actual condition inside.”
The presence of dangerously high radiation will complicate efforts to safely dismantle the plant.
A remote-controlled robot that Tepco intends to send into the No 2 reactor’s containment vessel is designed to withstand exposure to a total of 1,000 sieverts, meaning it would survive for less than two hours before malfunctioning.
The firm said radiation was not leaking outside the reactor, adding that the robot would still prove useful since it would move from one spot to the other and encounter radiation of varying levels.
Tepco and its network of partner companies at Fukushima Daiichi have yet to identify the location and condition of melted fuel in the three most seriously damaged reactors. Removing it safely represents a challenge unprecedented in the history of nuclear power.
Quantities of melted fuel are believed to have accumulated at the bottom of the damaged reactors’ containment vessels, but dangerously high radiation has prevented engineers from accurately gauging the state of the fuel deposits.
Earlier this week, the utility released images of dark lumps found beneath reactor No 2 that it believes could be melted uranium fuel rods – the first such discovery since the disaster.
In December, the government said the estimated cost of decommissioning the plant and decontaminating the surrounding area, as well as paying compensation and storing radioactive waste, had risen to 21.5tn yen (£150bn), nearly double an estimate released in 2013.
This article was amended on 9 February to explain that the camera had probed deeper inside the No 2 reactor – and closer to the damaged nuclear fuel – than before, hence the high radiation estimate.
Fukushima Daiichi Status Updates
20 February 2017
On 16 February 2017, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the progress of investigation inside Unit 2 PCV at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international Missions in Japan. The full report is here.
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/focus/fukushima/status-update
1 February 2017
On 1 February 2017, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during January, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international Missions in Japan.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of January. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
4 January 2017
On 4 January 2017, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during December, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international Missions in Japan.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of December. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
2 December 2016
On 1 December 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during November, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international Missions in Japan.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of November. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
11 November 2016
The Japanese Government has provided the IAEA with a report that summarizes the events and highlights the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The IAEA provided its assessments, which are contained in full at the end of the report.
The IAEA acknowledges further progress towards the full operation of the Frozen Soil Wall and the results achieved by the operation of the sub-drain and groundwater drain systems. The IAEA notes the importance of the monitoring of changes of earth temperature and groundwater levels for assessing the effect of the overall countermeasures against the groundwater issues.
The progress made in preparing for the removal of fuel from the spent fuel pool of Unit 1 has been noted, including the measures that have been implemented to reduce the potential for the spread of contamination during the fuel removal activities.
The IAEA also notes that no significant changes were observed in the monitoring results for seawater, sediment and marine biota during the period from August 2016 until the end of September 2016. The levels measured by Japan in the marine environment are low and relatively stable. For the purpose of public reassurance, the IAEA encourages continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly considering the ongoing authorized discharges of treated and monitored groundwater into the ocean.
The IAEA considers that the extensive data quality assurance programme helps to ensure that stakeholders can be confident of the accuracy and quality of the sea area monitoring data. The IAEA continues to assist the Government of Japan in ensuring that the regularly updated Sea Area Monitoring Plan is comprehensive, credible and transparent. A proficiency test and two inter-laboratory comparison exercises are organized annually to test the sampling and analytical performance of the Japanese laboratories for the analysis of radioactivity concentration in seawater, sediment and marine organisms. The results of the fifth inter-laboratory comparison exercise study are currently being analysed while a sixth inter-laboratory comparison exercise study is being planned. A third proficiency test started in September 2016, which includes the analysis of radioactivity concentration in seawater.
Experts from the IAEA will visit Japan from 14 to 18 November 2016 to collect water and fish samples from coastal waters off Fukushima Prefecture to support the quality assurance of radioactivity data collection and analysis by the responsible authorities in Japan (https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/med...-from-coastal-waters-off-fukushima-prefecture).
2 November 2016
On 1 November 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during October, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international missions in Japan.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of October. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
3 October 2016
On 3 October 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during September, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international missions in Japan.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of September. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
16 September 2016
The Japanese Government has provided the IAEA with a report that summarizes the events and highlights the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The IAEA provided its assessments, which are contained in full at the end of the report.
In this assessment, the IAEA acknowledges the results of the investigation of the fuel debris location in the Unit 2 reactor, by applying the muons transmission method, and that they contribute to further assessment of the conditions inside the Unit 2 reactor and to developing an effective approach for the removal of fuel debris.
Regarding the Frozen Soil Wall, the IAEA notes that the established continuous monitoring of the changes of the earth temperature and groundwater levels is essential for assessing the effect of the overall countermeasures against the groundwater issues.
In addition, the IAEA assessment acknowledges that the lifting of the evacuation orders indicates Japan's efforts with regard to the environmental remediation and recovery activities in the areas affected by the accident. The IAEA encourages Japan to continue these efforts and its monitoring of radiation exposure doses of the residents and the provision of practical measures of radiation protection (e.g. measurement of individual doses, health care and consultations) for people returning to previously evacuated areas.
The IAEA also acknowledges that no significant changes were observed in the monitoring results for seawater, sediment and marine biota during the period from May 2016 to July 2016. The levels measured by Japan in the marine environment are low and relatively stable. For the purpose of public reassurance, the IAEA encourages continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly considering the ongoing authorized discharges of treated and monitored groundwater into the ocean.
The IAEA considers that the extensive data quality assurance programme helps to ensure that stakeholders can be confident of the accuracy and quality of the sea area monitoring data. The IAEA continues to assist the Government of Japan in ensuring that the regularly updated Sea Area Monitoring Plan is comprehensive, credible and transparent. A proficiency test and two inter-laboratory comparison exercises are organized annually to test the sampling and analytical performance of the Japanese laboratories for the determination of radionuclides in seawater, sediment and marine organisms. A fifth inter-laboratory comparison exercise study is currently underway and includes the analysis of the radioactivity concentration in seawater and marine sediment. A third proficiency test will start in September 2016 and includes the analysis of radioactivity concentration in seawater.
5 September 2016
On 1 September 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during August, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of August. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
2 August 2016
On 1 August 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during July, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of July. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
6 July 2016
On 4 July 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during June, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of June. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
8 June 2016
On 3 June 2016, the Tritiated Water Task Force has announced the release of a report as well as an outline of the report that presents the results of technical evaluations conducted by the Tritiated Water Task at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
The Tritiated Water Task Force is an expert’s group established under the governmental Committee on Contaminated Water Countermeasures to examine and consider various options for the handling of contaminated water in the site containing radioactive hydrogen (tritium).
As the current Multi-nuclide removal equipment installed at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is not technically capable of removing tritium, the treated contaminated water still contains tritium and is stored within the Fukushima Daiichi site. The report evaluates various options regarding the handling of this tritiated water.
The full text (in Japanese only) of the outline of the report is available on the website of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (see here).
3 June 2016
The Japanese Government has provided the IAEA with a report that summarizes the events and highlights the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The IAEA provided its assessments, which are contained in full at the end of the report.
In this assessment, the IAEA acknowledges further progress toward the achievement of a sustainable situation regarding groundwater and contaminated water issues, including the commencement of the freezing of the major part of the land-side impermeable wall (started in March 2016). Other technical measures, such as the completion of the separation of Unit 1 turbine building from the circulation water injection line, also demonstrate progress in water management. These activities, as well as the ground water bypass and drain pumping, indicate effective implementation of the overall water management strategy.
In addition, the IAEA assessment states that no significant changes were observed in the monitoring results for seawater, sediment and marine biota during the period from February 2016 to April 2016. The levels measured by Japan in the marine environment are low and stable. For the purpose of public reassurance, the IAEA encourages continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly considering the ongoing authorized discharges of treated and monitored groundwater into the ocean.
The IAEA continues to assist the Government of Japan in ensuring that the regularly updated Sea Area Monitoring Plan is comprehensive, credible and transparent. A proficiency test and two inter-laboratory comparison exercises are organized annually to test the sampling and analytical performance of the Japanese laboratories for the analysis of radionuclides in seawater, sediment and marine organisms. A fifth inter-laboratory comparison exercise study is currently underway and includes the analysis of the levels of radionuclides in seawater and marine sediment. The results of the first four inter-laboratory comparison exercise studies (organised in 2014–2015) were presented in an IAEA progress report released in April 2016. The report indicated that the participating Japanese laboratories produced reliable data on the level of radionuclides in seawater, sediment and fish samples collected near Fukushima (see here).
The IAEA considers that the extensive data quality assurance programme helps to ensure that stakeholders can be confident of the accuracy and quality of the sea area monitoring data.
2 June 2016
On 1 June 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during May, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of May. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
3 May 2016
On 2 May 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during April, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of April. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
4 April 2016
On 1 April 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during March, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of March. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
4 March 2016
On 4 March, Japan provided the IAEA with a comprehensive report summarizing the events and highlights on the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The IAEA had provided its assessments, which is contained in full at the end of the report.
Based on the information in the report, the IAEA recognizes the positive impact of the various countermeasures against groundwater ingress into the reactor buildings including the operation of various groundwater pumping systems. These countermeasures, together with the deployment of the sea-side impermeable wall, have led to a decrease in radioactivity in the port area.
The IAEA considers the removal of contaminated water from the Unit 4 seawater pipe trench and the plugging of the trench as important achievements for further risk reduction on-site.
No significant changes were observed in the monitoring results for seawater, sediment and marine biota during the period from October 2015 to January 2016. The levels measured by Japan in the marine environment are low and relatively stable. For the purpose of public reassurance, the IAEA encourages continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly considering the on-going authorised discharges of treated and monitored groundwater into the ocean.
The IAEA also considers that the extensive data quality assurance programme helps to ensure that all stakeholders can be confident of the accuracy and quality of the sea area monitoring data.
Finally, based on the information that has been made available in the report, the Joint IAEA/FAO Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture understands that the measures taken to monitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of food are appropriate, and that the food supply chain is under effective control of the relevant authorities.
1 March 2016
On 1 March 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during February, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of February. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
2 February 2016
On 1 February 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during January, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of January. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
7 January 2016
On 6 January 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during December 2015, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of December 2015. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
Radiation at Japan's Fukushima Reactor Is Now at 'Unimaginable' Levels
http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/02/08/unimaginable-levels-radiation-fukushima-pacific-ocean-leaks
As seen on Happening Now Feb 08, 2017
The radiation levels at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant are now at "unimaginable" levels.
Adam Housley, who reported from the area in 2011 following the catastrophic triple-meltdown, said this morning that new fuel leaks have been discovered.
He said the radiation levels - as high as 530 sieverts per hour - are now the highest they've been since 2011 when a tsunami hit the coastal reactor.
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...-radiation-levels-highest-since-2011-meltdown
Extraordinary readings pile pressure on operator Tepco in its efforts to decommission nuclear power station
Cranes over the Fukushima Daiichi plant in February 2016. The decommissioning process is expected to take about four decades Photograph: Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images
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Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Friday 3 February 201710.19 GMTLast modified on Thursday 9 February 201707.01 GMT
Extremely high radiation levels have been recorded inside a damaged reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, almost six years after the plant suffered a triple meltdown.
The facility’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), said atmospheric readings as high as 530 sieverts an hour had been recorded inside the containment vessel of reactor No 2, one of three reactors that experienced a meltdown when the plant was crippled by a huge tsunami that struck the north-east coast of Japan in March 2011.
The extraordinary radiation readings highlight the scale of the task confrontingthousands of workers, as pressure builds on Tepco to begin decommissioning the plant – a process that is expected to take about four decades.
Even if a 30-percent margin of error is taken into account, the recent reading, described by some experts as “unimaginable”, is far higher than the previous record of 73 sieverts an hour detected by sensors in 2012.
Tepco pointed out, however, that the camera had probed deeper inside the reactor than before and had focused on a single point. Radiation levels at other spots filmed by the camera are estimated to be much lower, it added.
A single dose of one sievert is enough to cause radiation sickness and nausea; 5 sieverts would kill half those exposed to it within a month, and a single dose of 10 sieverts would prove fatal within weeks.
Tepco also said image analysis had revealed a hole in metal grating beneath the same reactor’s pressure vessel. The one-metre-wide hole was probably created by nuclear fuel that melted and then penetrated the vessel after the tsunami knocked out Fukushima Daiichi’s back-up cooling system.
“It may have been caused by nuclear fuel that would have melted and made a hole in the vessel, but it is only a hypothesis at this stage,” Tepco’s spokesman Tatsuhiro Yamagishi told AFP.
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“We believe the captured images offer very useful information, but we still need to investigate given that it is very difficult to assume the actual condition inside.”
The presence of dangerously high radiation will complicate efforts to safely dismantle the plant.
A remote-controlled robot that Tepco intends to send into the No 2 reactor’s containment vessel is designed to withstand exposure to a total of 1,000 sieverts, meaning it would survive for less than two hours before malfunctioning.
The firm said radiation was not leaking outside the reactor, adding that the robot would still prove useful since it would move from one spot to the other and encounter radiation of varying levels.
Tepco and its network of partner companies at Fukushima Daiichi have yet to identify the location and condition of melted fuel in the three most seriously damaged reactors. Removing it safely represents a challenge unprecedented in the history of nuclear power.
Quantities of melted fuel are believed to have accumulated at the bottom of the damaged reactors’ containment vessels, but dangerously high radiation has prevented engineers from accurately gauging the state of the fuel deposits.
Earlier this week, the utility released images of dark lumps found beneath reactor No 2 that it believes could be melted uranium fuel rods – the first such discovery since the disaster.
In December, the government said the estimated cost of decommissioning the plant and decontaminating the surrounding area, as well as paying compensation and storing radioactive waste, had risen to 21.5tn yen (£150bn), nearly double an estimate released in 2013.
This article was amended on 9 February to explain that the camera had probed deeper inside the No 2 reactor – and closer to the damaged nuclear fuel – than before, hence the high radiation estimate.
Fukushima Daiichi Status Updates
20 February 2017
On 16 February 2017, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the progress of investigation inside Unit 2 PCV at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international Missions in Japan. The full report is here.
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/focus/fukushima/status-update
1 February 2017
On 1 February 2017, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during January, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international Missions in Japan.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of January. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
4 January 2017
On 4 January 2017, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during December, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international Missions in Japan.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of December. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
2 December 2016
On 1 December 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during November, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international Missions in Japan.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of November. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
11 November 2016
The Japanese Government has provided the IAEA with a report that summarizes the events and highlights the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The IAEA provided its assessments, which are contained in full at the end of the report.
The IAEA acknowledges further progress towards the full operation of the Frozen Soil Wall and the results achieved by the operation of the sub-drain and groundwater drain systems. The IAEA notes the importance of the monitoring of changes of earth temperature and groundwater levels for assessing the effect of the overall countermeasures against the groundwater issues.
The progress made in preparing for the removal of fuel from the spent fuel pool of Unit 1 has been noted, including the measures that have been implemented to reduce the potential for the spread of contamination during the fuel removal activities.
The IAEA also notes that no significant changes were observed in the monitoring results for seawater, sediment and marine biota during the period from August 2016 until the end of September 2016. The levels measured by Japan in the marine environment are low and relatively stable. For the purpose of public reassurance, the IAEA encourages continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly considering the ongoing authorized discharges of treated and monitored groundwater into the ocean.
The IAEA considers that the extensive data quality assurance programme helps to ensure that stakeholders can be confident of the accuracy and quality of the sea area monitoring data. The IAEA continues to assist the Government of Japan in ensuring that the regularly updated Sea Area Monitoring Plan is comprehensive, credible and transparent. A proficiency test and two inter-laboratory comparison exercises are organized annually to test the sampling and analytical performance of the Japanese laboratories for the analysis of radioactivity concentration in seawater, sediment and marine organisms. The results of the fifth inter-laboratory comparison exercise study are currently being analysed while a sixth inter-laboratory comparison exercise study is being planned. A third proficiency test started in September 2016, which includes the analysis of radioactivity concentration in seawater.
Experts from the IAEA will visit Japan from 14 to 18 November 2016 to collect water and fish samples from coastal waters off Fukushima Prefecture to support the quality assurance of radioactivity data collection and analysis by the responsible authorities in Japan (https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/med...-from-coastal-waters-off-fukushima-prefecture).
2 November 2016
On 1 November 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during October, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international missions in Japan.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of October. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
3 October 2016
On 3 October 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during September, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international missions in Japan.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of September. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
16 September 2016
The Japanese Government has provided the IAEA with a report that summarizes the events and highlights the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The IAEA provided its assessments, which are contained in full at the end of the report.
In this assessment, the IAEA acknowledges the results of the investigation of the fuel debris location in the Unit 2 reactor, by applying the muons transmission method, and that they contribute to further assessment of the conditions inside the Unit 2 reactor and to developing an effective approach for the removal of fuel debris.
Regarding the Frozen Soil Wall, the IAEA notes that the established continuous monitoring of the changes of the earth temperature and groundwater levels is essential for assessing the effect of the overall countermeasures against the groundwater issues.
In addition, the IAEA assessment acknowledges that the lifting of the evacuation orders indicates Japan's efforts with regard to the environmental remediation and recovery activities in the areas affected by the accident. The IAEA encourages Japan to continue these efforts and its monitoring of radiation exposure doses of the residents and the provision of practical measures of radiation protection (e.g. measurement of individual doses, health care and consultations) for people returning to previously evacuated areas.
The IAEA also acknowledges that no significant changes were observed in the monitoring results for seawater, sediment and marine biota during the period from May 2016 to July 2016. The levels measured by Japan in the marine environment are low and relatively stable. For the purpose of public reassurance, the IAEA encourages continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly considering the ongoing authorized discharges of treated and monitored groundwater into the ocean.
The IAEA considers that the extensive data quality assurance programme helps to ensure that stakeholders can be confident of the accuracy and quality of the sea area monitoring data. The IAEA continues to assist the Government of Japan in ensuring that the regularly updated Sea Area Monitoring Plan is comprehensive, credible and transparent. A proficiency test and two inter-laboratory comparison exercises are organized annually to test the sampling and analytical performance of the Japanese laboratories for the determination of radionuclides in seawater, sediment and marine organisms. A fifth inter-laboratory comparison exercise study is currently underway and includes the analysis of the radioactivity concentration in seawater and marine sediment. A third proficiency test will start in September 2016 and includes the analysis of radioactivity concentration in seawater.
5 September 2016
On 1 September 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during August, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of August. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
2 August 2016
On 1 August 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during July, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of July. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
6 July 2016
On 4 July 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during June, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of June. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
8 June 2016
On 3 June 2016, the Tritiated Water Task Force has announced the release of a report as well as an outline of the report that presents the results of technical evaluations conducted by the Tritiated Water Task at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
The Tritiated Water Task Force is an expert’s group established under the governmental Committee on Contaminated Water Countermeasures to examine and consider various options for the handling of contaminated water in the site containing radioactive hydrogen (tritium).
As the current Multi-nuclide removal equipment installed at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is not technically capable of removing tritium, the treated contaminated water still contains tritium and is stored within the Fukushima Daiichi site. The report evaluates various options regarding the handling of this tritiated water.
The full text (in Japanese only) of the outline of the report is available on the website of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (see here).
3 June 2016
The Japanese Government has provided the IAEA with a report that summarizes the events and highlights the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The IAEA provided its assessments, which are contained in full at the end of the report.
In this assessment, the IAEA acknowledges further progress toward the achievement of a sustainable situation regarding groundwater and contaminated water issues, including the commencement of the freezing of the major part of the land-side impermeable wall (started in March 2016). Other technical measures, such as the completion of the separation of Unit 1 turbine building from the circulation water injection line, also demonstrate progress in water management. These activities, as well as the ground water bypass and drain pumping, indicate effective implementation of the overall water management strategy.
In addition, the IAEA assessment states that no significant changes were observed in the monitoring results for seawater, sediment and marine biota during the period from February 2016 to April 2016. The levels measured by Japan in the marine environment are low and stable. For the purpose of public reassurance, the IAEA encourages continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly considering the ongoing authorized discharges of treated and monitored groundwater into the ocean.
The IAEA continues to assist the Government of Japan in ensuring that the regularly updated Sea Area Monitoring Plan is comprehensive, credible and transparent. A proficiency test and two inter-laboratory comparison exercises are organized annually to test the sampling and analytical performance of the Japanese laboratories for the analysis of radionuclides in seawater, sediment and marine organisms. A fifth inter-laboratory comparison exercise study is currently underway and includes the analysis of the levels of radionuclides in seawater and marine sediment. The results of the first four inter-laboratory comparison exercise studies (organised in 2014–2015) were presented in an IAEA progress report released in April 2016. The report indicated that the participating Japanese laboratories produced reliable data on the level of radionuclides in seawater, sediment and fish samples collected near Fukushima (see here).
The IAEA considers that the extensive data quality assurance programme helps to ensure that stakeholders can be confident of the accuracy and quality of the sea area monitoring data.
2 June 2016
On 1 June 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during May, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of May. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
3 May 2016
On 2 May 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during April, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of April. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
4 April 2016
On 1 April 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during March, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of March. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
4 March 2016
On 4 March, Japan provided the IAEA with a comprehensive report summarizing the events and highlights on the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The IAEA had provided its assessments, which is contained in full at the end of the report.
Based on the information in the report, the IAEA recognizes the positive impact of the various countermeasures against groundwater ingress into the reactor buildings including the operation of various groundwater pumping systems. These countermeasures, together with the deployment of the sea-side impermeable wall, have led to a decrease in radioactivity in the port area.
The IAEA considers the removal of contaminated water from the Unit 4 seawater pipe trench and the plugging of the trench as important achievements for further risk reduction on-site.
No significant changes were observed in the monitoring results for seawater, sediment and marine biota during the period from October 2015 to January 2016. The levels measured by Japan in the marine environment are low and relatively stable. For the purpose of public reassurance, the IAEA encourages continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly considering the on-going authorised discharges of treated and monitored groundwater into the ocean.
The IAEA also considers that the extensive data quality assurance programme helps to ensure that all stakeholders can be confident of the accuracy and quality of the sea area monitoring data.
Finally, based on the information that has been made available in the report, the Joint IAEA/FAO Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture understands that the measures taken to monitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of food are appropriate, and that the food supply chain is under effective control of the relevant authorities.
1 March 2016
On 1 March 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during February, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of February. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
2 February 2016
On 1 February 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during January, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of January. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
7 January 2016
On 6 January 2016, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the sea water monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during December 2015, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all missions in Tokyo.
The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of December 2015. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.
Radiation at Japan's Fukushima Reactor Is Now at 'Unimaginable' Levels
http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/02/08/unimaginable-levels-radiation-fukushima-pacific-ocean-leaks
As seen on Happening Now Feb 08, 2017
The radiation levels at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant are now at "unimaginable" levels.
Adam Housley, who reported from the area in 2011 following the catastrophic triple-meltdown, said this morning that new fuel leaks have been discovered.
He said the radiation levels - as high as 530 sieverts per hour - are now the highest they've been since 2011 when a tsunami hit the coastal reactor.
onebyone
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Radiation Levels Are Soaring Inside the Damaged Fukushima Nuclear Plant
Photo: AP
Radiation levels inside a damaged reactor at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant have hit a record high, and are the worst since the plant suffered a triple meltdown nearly six years ago. The latest readings now pose a serious challenge as officials prepare to dismantle the stricken facility.
Radiation levels inside the containment vessel of reactor No. 2 at Fukushima has reached 530 sieverts per hour—a figure described by experts as “unimaginable.” The readings, taken by Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings Inc. (Tepco), were taken near the entrance of a space immediately below the pressure vessel, which contains the reactor core.
The radiation level inside the plant now far exceeds the previous high of 73 sieverts per hour, which was recorded soon after the triple meltdown in March 2011. Tepco made the readings by analyzing electronic noise caused by the radiation in video images. The company says this technique has a margin of error of plus or minus 30 percent (so even at the extreme low ball, the levels are no lower than 370 sieverts per minute—but possibly as high as 690!).
Needless to say, this plant is not fit for human life. Just one dose of a single sievert is enough to cause radiation sickness and nausea. Exposure to four to five sieverts would kill about half of those exposed to it within a month, while a single dose of 10 sieverts is enough to kill a person within weeks.
These surging radiation levels are complicating plans to dismantle the plant. According to the National Institute of Radiological Sciences, medical professionals aren’t prepared to treat patients who have been exposed to the levels of radiation currently experienced at the facility. This is a big problem for Tepco, which plans to remove fuel debris as part of the decommissioning process. The dismantling of Fukushima is scheduled to start in 2021 and could take nearly a half-century.
Officials with Tepco aren’t entirely sure why radiation levels are on such a dramatic upward trend. Either previous readings were insufficient or incorrect, or conditions inside the plant are changing. Problem is, the interior condition of the plant is still a big mystery. The high readings suggest that some of the melted fuel that escaped the pressure vessel is lingering nearby. Should this be confirmed, it would mark the first time that tainted debris has been found in any of the three reactors that suffered core meltdowns. Tepco has been unable to confirm the condition of the melted fuel owing to the extreme and inhospitable conditions inside.
Tepco has discovered a 6.5-foot-wide hole in the metal grate under a pressure vessel in reactor No. 2's containment vessels at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. (Image: Tepco)
In other news, a remotely-operated vehicle discovered a horrific 6.5-feet (two-meter) hole in the metal grating under the pressure vessel in the reactor’s primary containment vessel. The company suspects the gash was created by nuclear fuel that melted and then pierced through the vessel after the tsunami knocked out Fukushima Daiichi’s back-up cooling system.
“It may have been caused by nuclear fuel that would have melted and made a hole in the vessel, but it is only a hypothesis at this stage,” explained a Tepco spokesperson to AFP. “We believe the captured images offer very useful information, but we still need to investigate given that it is very difficult to assume the actual condition inside.”
This investigation will prove easier said than done. Tepco was hoping to send a newly developed robot into reactor No. 2, but that doesn’t seem possible now given the intense radiation inside. The remotely-operated machine was designed to withstand exposure of up to 1,000 total sieverts. At the previous peak of 73 sieverts per hour, it could run for about 10 hours. But at the newly recorded 530 sieverts per hour, it would last no more than two hours. Consequently, Tesco is planning to send the robot into reactor No. 1 in March, while its survey plan for reactor No. 2 is now on hold.
Scary stuff, to be sure. When nuclear goes wrong, it really, really goes wrong.
[The Japan Times, The Guardian, AFP]
http://gizmodo.com/radiation-levels-are-soaring-inside-the-damaged-fukushi-1791958714
Photo: AP
Radiation levels inside a damaged reactor at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant have hit a record high, and are the worst since the plant suffered a triple meltdown nearly six years ago. The latest readings now pose a serious challenge as officials prepare to dismantle the stricken facility.
Radiation levels inside the containment vessel of reactor No. 2 at Fukushima has reached 530 sieverts per hour—a figure described by experts as “unimaginable.” The readings, taken by Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings Inc. (Tepco), were taken near the entrance of a space immediately below the pressure vessel, which contains the reactor core.
The radiation level inside the plant now far exceeds the previous high of 73 sieverts per hour, which was recorded soon after the triple meltdown in March 2011. Tepco made the readings by analyzing electronic noise caused by the radiation in video images. The company says this technique has a margin of error of plus or minus 30 percent (so even at the extreme low ball, the levels are no lower than 370 sieverts per minute—but possibly as high as 690!).
Needless to say, this plant is not fit for human life. Just one dose of a single sievert is enough to cause radiation sickness and nausea. Exposure to four to five sieverts would kill about half of those exposed to it within a month, while a single dose of 10 sieverts is enough to kill a person within weeks.
These surging radiation levels are complicating plans to dismantle the plant. According to the National Institute of Radiological Sciences, medical professionals aren’t prepared to treat patients who have been exposed to the levels of radiation currently experienced at the facility. This is a big problem for Tepco, which plans to remove fuel debris as part of the decommissioning process. The dismantling of Fukushima is scheduled to start in 2021 and could take nearly a half-century.
Officials with Tepco aren’t entirely sure why radiation levels are on such a dramatic upward trend. Either previous readings were insufficient or incorrect, or conditions inside the plant are changing. Problem is, the interior condition of the plant is still a big mystery. The high readings suggest that some of the melted fuel that escaped the pressure vessel is lingering nearby. Should this be confirmed, it would mark the first time that tainted debris has been found in any of the three reactors that suffered core meltdowns. Tepco has been unable to confirm the condition of the melted fuel owing to the extreme and inhospitable conditions inside.
Tepco has discovered a 6.5-foot-wide hole in the metal grate under a pressure vessel in reactor No. 2's containment vessels at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. (Image: Tepco)
In other news, a remotely-operated vehicle discovered a horrific 6.5-feet (two-meter) hole in the metal grating under the pressure vessel in the reactor’s primary containment vessel. The company suspects the gash was created by nuclear fuel that melted and then pierced through the vessel after the tsunami knocked out Fukushima Daiichi’s back-up cooling system.
“It may have been caused by nuclear fuel that would have melted and made a hole in the vessel, but it is only a hypothesis at this stage,” explained a Tepco spokesperson to AFP. “We believe the captured images offer very useful information, but we still need to investigate given that it is very difficult to assume the actual condition inside.”
This investigation will prove easier said than done. Tepco was hoping to send a newly developed robot into reactor No. 2, but that doesn’t seem possible now given the intense radiation inside. The remotely-operated machine was designed to withstand exposure of up to 1,000 total sieverts. At the previous peak of 73 sieverts per hour, it could run for about 10 hours. But at the newly recorded 530 sieverts per hour, it would last no more than two hours. Consequently, Tesco is planning to send the robot into reactor No. 1 in March, while its survey plan for reactor No. 2 is now on hold.
Scary stuff, to be sure. When nuclear goes wrong, it really, really goes wrong.
[The Japan Times, The Guardian, AFP]
http://gizmodo.com/radiation-levels-are-soaring-inside-the-damaged-fukushi-1791958714
samsara
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The Robots Sent Into Fukushima Just Keep Dying
By Yvette Tan, 2017-03-03
The robots sent in to investigate the nuclear fallout at Fukushima just aren't good enough.
Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) head of decommissioning admitted on Thursday that more creativity was needed in developing its robots sent to the reactive zone.
The Fukushima nuclear power plant was massively damaged in 2011, when three of the six nuclear reactors suffered meltdown after being struck by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and associated tsunami waves.
More than 100,000 residents of the nearby Fukushima Prefecture had to be relocated, and the government has spent the last five years struggling with the aftermath. The incident is regarded as the world's largest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
Part of the clean-up includes robots, sent in to probe the site, because radiation levels are too high for humans.
But earlier last month, a robot sent into Fukushima's No. 2 reactor was forced to abort its mission after it was blocked by deposits — believed to be a mixture of melted fuel and broken pieces of structure.
Two previous robots had also failed in its missions after one was stuck in a gap and another was abandoned after being unable to find fuel during six days of searching.
This is an example of one of the robots TEPCO had sent to probe the area in the past.
"We should think out of the box so we can examine the bottom of the core and how melted fuel debris spread out," TEPCO Head of Decommissioning Naohiro Masuda said.
Mr Masuda also added that he wants another robot sent in before deciding on methods to remove the reactor's debris.
Despite the failed probe missions, officials have added that they want to stick to their schedule of starting the site clean up in 2021.
Decommissioning the site is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars and last around 40 years.
Fukushima's No. 2 reactor was found in February to have a radiation level of 530 sieverts.
Exposure to four sieverts is enough to be lethal, according to the National Institute of Radiological Sciences.
South Korea's low-cost carrier Jeju Air also announced on Tuesday that it would not use Fukushima Airport due to fears of radiation.
Some of its customers had reportedly posted online that they would not use the airline because they didn't want to "board airplanes that flew over Fukushima."
By Yvette Tan, 2017-03-03
The robots sent in to investigate the nuclear fallout at Fukushima just aren't good enough.
Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) head of decommissioning admitted on Thursday that more creativity was needed in developing its robots sent to the reactive zone.
The Fukushima nuclear power plant was massively damaged in 2011, when three of the six nuclear reactors suffered meltdown after being struck by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and associated tsunami waves.
More than 100,000 residents of the nearby Fukushima Prefecture had to be relocated, and the government has spent the last five years struggling with the aftermath. The incident is regarded as the world's largest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
Part of the clean-up includes robots, sent in to probe the site, because radiation levels are too high for humans.
But earlier last month, a robot sent into Fukushima's No. 2 reactor was forced to abort its mission after it was blocked by deposits — believed to be a mixture of melted fuel and broken pieces of structure.
Two previous robots had also failed in its missions after one was stuck in a gap and another was abandoned after being unable to find fuel during six days of searching.
This is an example of one of the robots TEPCO had sent to probe the area in the past.
"We should think out of the box so we can examine the bottom of the core and how melted fuel debris spread out," TEPCO Head of Decommissioning Naohiro Masuda said.
Mr Masuda also added that he wants another robot sent in before deciding on methods to remove the reactor's debris.
Despite the failed probe missions, officials have added that they want to stick to their schedule of starting the site clean up in 2021.
Decommissioning the site is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars and last around 40 years.
Fukushima's No. 2 reactor was found in February to have a radiation level of 530 sieverts.
Exposure to four sieverts is enough to be lethal, according to the National Institute of Radiological Sciences.
South Korea's low-cost carrier Jeju Air also announced on Tuesday that it would not use Fukushima Airport due to fears of radiation.
Some of its customers had reportedly posted online that they would not use the airline because they didn't want to "board airplanes that flew over Fukushima."
Jlaw
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Japanese leaders don't care for their citizens.http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-02-...ed-to-move-back-to-radioactive-wasteland.html
Fukushima residents being forced to move back to radioactive wasteland
Friday, February 24, 2017 by: Vicki Batts
Tags: Fukushima, government, Japan, nuclear accidents
(Natural News) Would you want to return home if it meant living in radioactive conditions similar to Chernobyl? Some 6,000 Japanese citizens are being urged by the government to return to their homes in the nuclear wasteland created by the Fukushima disaster. Greenpeace reports that radiation levels in the area are still similar to that of Chernobyl, which to most people, would indicate the area is not ready for human inhabitants.
Government officials are reportedly planning on slashing housing support for the thousands of people that had been evacuated from the village of Iitate on March 31, on which date the evacuation order will end. It will have been just a short six years since the nuclear disaster occurred.
The village is located just 24 miles away from the power plant. According to Fox News, the Japanese government has told the former Iitate inhabitants that they have finished cleaning up the area and have decreased the average radiation level in the air to a mere 0.8 microsieverts per hour – a level that international organizations have recognized as safe for human life. The government announced that it would be discontinuing housing assistance to the affected residents one year after they have returned to their homes in Iitate.
Unsurprisingly, the government’s announcement has been met with skepticism from the locals, and a hefty amount of criticism from environmental groups and radiation experts from around the world. They say that the Japanese government is merely trying to save face — and money — by forcing the residents of Iitate to return to an unsafe environment.
Jans Vande Putte, a radiation specialist with environmental group Greenpeace and one of the authors of a report on the cleanup efforts in Iitate, told Fox News, “The Japanese government just wants to say that we can overcome. It’s like they’re running a PR campaign to say that everything is okay and we can now go back to normal.”
The Fukushima nuclear accident is considered to be the worst nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl meltdown happened in 1986. After a 9.0 earthquake rocked Japan, the tsunami that followed destroyed the backup generators at the Fukushima plant. Without the emergency generators, proper cooling could not take place — and three nuclear meltdowns ensued, along with explosions of hydrogen-air chemicals and the release of radioactive materials into the surrounding environment.
Even though the Japanese government insists that the radiation in and around the homes of Iitate, many experts disagree with their assertion.
Energy campaigner Ai Kashiwagi commented, “The relatively high radiation values, both inside and outside houses, show an unacceptable radiation risk for citizens if they were to return to Iitate.” Kashiwagi likened the exposure levels to getting a chest x-ray once a week, and noted that the level of exposure was “not normal or acceptable.”
Greenpeace has also said that a survey team they sent into the village found the levels of radiation dose rates at the homes were well above long-term radiation goals. According to them, the average radiation level exceeded the yearly 1 millisievert maximum recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection.
At one man’s home, radiation levels outside the home reached values equivalent to 2.5 millisieverts per year. Inside the home, radiation was much higher — reaching equivalents of 5.1 to 10.4 millisieverts per year.
This is not just a little bit over; it is many times more than what is deemed acceptable by international organizations.
Experts agree that radiation levels outside the village and the supposedly-decontaminated area are even more dangerous. Some 75 percent of the 77-square mile area is heavily forested and mountainous, and Greenpeace contends much of the area’s radiation levels are comparable to the exclusion zone around Chernobyl. Even taking a walk through the woods, or eating food grown from the “decontaminated” soil puts people at a greater risk of high amounts of radiation exposure.
“It is still relatively unsafe to live there,” Vande Putte said. “If thousands of people go back it will be a bad situation and it’s just not wise to go back.”
more read：
Japan says Fukushima residents can return home, despite NGO report warning of high radiation level
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/0...-ngo-report-warning-high-radiation-level.html
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