November 3, 2014

Nov 3, 2014 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • Radiation experts appeal to international organizations over Japan’s “disastrous consequences” from using an incorrect risk model. Scientists for Accurate Radiation Information (SARI) has sent an open letter to standard-setting bodies around the world, including the IAEA, World Health Organization, and America’s Nation Academy of Sciences. The letter says, “The nuclear reactor accident at Fukushima Daiichi that followed the earthquake and tsunami in 2011 prompted well-intended measures that have had disastrous consequences. These were not caused by the radiation itself but by the social stress, the forced evacuation, and the ongoing displacement of tens of thousands of people. Both the stress and the population relocations are based on the fear of low-dose radiation that originated from the use of the linear no-threshold (LNT) model for radiation-induced cancers and its associated ‘no safe dose’ mantra.” SARI adds that the mistakes made subsequent to the Chernobyl accident in 1986 were repeated with Fukushima, causing adverse health consequences, but little discernable benefit to the affected population. SARI believes that most of the evacuated residents should have been returned home early-on, resulting in extremely low exposures that would have harmed no-one. The group asks that a firm, unconditional statement from the world’s organizations (above) should be shared with the Fukushima residents showing that repopulation would not increase their risk of cancer. Two of SARI’s esteemed members, America’s Dr. Mohan Doss and England’s Dr. Wade Allison, will be part of a conference in Tokyo on December 3rd, entitled “1st Scientific Advisory Meeting for Radiation and Accurate Information”. SARI asks that the above-mentioned “firm statement” be sent to the group, which will be subsequently conveyed to Japan by Doss and Allison. The full letter, as well as a survey asking for public opinion on the matter, can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/openlet
  • Unit #3 rubble dust did not contaminate Fukushima rice paddies. Nuclear Regulation Authority Commissioner Toyoshi Fuketa says it is unlikely that radioactive particles from the unit #3 rubble removal contaminated rice fields 20 kilometers away. In August, 2013, detectible contamination was found in the paddies, spawning Press-broadcast speculations by local residents which assumed the radioactivity was because of dust from debris removal. Last July, A Kyoto University professor made a formal claim that the rice contamination came from the debris removal based on radiation monitors they used which were nearly 50 kilometers from F. Daiichi. The Agriculture Ministry called for an NRA investigation, and the agency asked Tepco to delay disassembly of the unit #1 temporary cover to prevent the possibility of a recurrence. Although the NRA affirmed that the work stirred up 110 billion Becquerels of radioactivity, the particles were too big to be carried beyond the nuke site’s property boundaries. Fuketa suggested that the particles had an environmental impact inside the plant compound, but not beyond. He said that the rice paddy contamination may have come from river and/or well water. The NRA is considering the potential for radioactive dust dispersal during debris removal, nonetheless. Not to let the issue rest, the Asahi Shimbun found someone who disagreed with Fuketa, saying it is unlikely that factors other than debris cleanup could have caused the detected level of contamination at the rice farms. Nonetheless, Tepco and Tokyo over-reaction to initial speculations has caused a lengthy delay in the necessary removal of debris from unit #1. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html — http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201411010037
  • Tepco has removed one of the six large plastic covers that comprise the unit #1 enclosure roof. It occurred without incident on Friday. None of the surrounding radiation monitors showed an increase. The removed cover will stay off for a month to see if any radioactive material will be dispersed. Then it will be re-installed for the winter. Tepco will not remove all six sections of the roof until March. Tepco initially planned to begin removing it by the end of last March, but the company delayed the schedule after local residents and a few researchers voiced concern that debris removal with unit #3 in 2013 may have contaminated nearby rice crops. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20141031p2g00m0dm064000c.html For images of the removal of the roof section, see http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2014/201410-e/141031-01e.html
  • Former PM Koizumi continues his antinuclear crusade. In the wake of Japan’s recent problems with bringing solar and wind-powered electricity into the grid (due to inherent oscillations in output), Koizumi rejected utility claims of being unable to insure the fluctuations will not cause grid problems. He said that with sufficient government support, these difficulties could be overcome. He added that if governments around the world would make the commitment, renewables could soon replace nuclear energy. Koizumi also attacked the situation at F. Daiichi over the recently delayed timetable for de-fueling unit #1, pointing to a history of human errors and technical failures that began on 3/11/11. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20141102_05.html
  • The 233rd edition of the Carnival of Nuclear Energy bloggers, has been posted at Brian Wang’s Next Big Future site. This edition includes posts by Rod Adams, Dan Yurman, Meredith Angwin, Jim Conca, Brian Wang, Rick Maltese, Jim Hopf, and myself. http://nextbigfuture.com/2014/11/carnival-of-nuclear-energy-233.html