Sea radiation '3 times higher than thought'. Tepcos estimate way off
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The total amount of radioactive substances released into the sea as a result of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is believed to have been three times the initial estimate by the plant's operator, according to the Japan Atomic Energy Agency.
A team led by senior researcher Takuya Kobayashi estimated the actual quantity at 15,000 terabecquerels, including substances in polluted water and substances released into the air that eventually fell into the sea. Tera means one trillion.
The figure is more than triple the estimate by Tokyo Electric Power Co. Also, the new estimate does not include cesium-134, meaning the actual total could be even larger.
The research team will announce its findings at a conference of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan scheduled to start in Kitakyushu on Sept. 19.
TEPCO's calculation was based on the premise that polluted water containing high levels of radioactive substances was only released into the sea from April 1 to 6.
TEPCO estimated a total of 4,700 terabecquerels of radioactive substances--iodine-131, cesium-134 and cesium-137--leaked into the sea during that period.
Based on the density of radioactive materials near the nuclear plant's water-intake facility, Kobayashi's team calculated backward to the March 21 to April 30 period. Radioactive substances were first detected in the sea on March 21.
The team simulated the proliferation of the substances in the ocean based on its new estimate and confirmed that the results matched data from the sea near the nuclear plant.
(Sep. 10, 2011)
Radionuclide Stew
:(
The Northwest Pacific Ocean is now a witches caldron of deadly poison. The once great fishery is destroyed by the defective Mark-1 designs of the General Electric Corporation. TEPCO and the others were equally to blame.
The ecological, public health and economic damages cannot be undone in a millenia. This is worse than when Rome sowed Carthage with salt.
:(
Well, Here Comes Some More!
Yokohama's Solution of Ever-Increasing Radioactive Ashes from Sewer Sludge: Dump In the Ocean as Landfill
http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2011/09/yokohamas-solution-of-ever-increasing...
"My image of Yokohama City has been cosmopolitan, international, modern (i.e. what tourists think). In the nuclear crisis like Japan has had since March 11, I would have assumed the city like this would act in a conservative, responsible way that would never harm any of the residents or the visitors."
"According to the city, the ashes measure less than the national safety standard of 8,000 becquerels/kg and therefore they can be disposed in a normal manner. The ashes have so far tested the maximum 6,468 becquerels/kg."
The ashes are destined for the "Minami Honmoku Waste Final Processing Facility" which turns out to be a landfill site on the Tokyo Bay!
See photos & read the article in full. Pretty unbelievable.
I hear Christmas is big in
I hear Christmas is big in Japan.
I have a card in mind to send to TEPCO. I mean after all the cheer they have brought to my spring and summer, not to mention the clouds of death they rained upon their own country nor the lies and general BS they have shoveled on us all, I feel like I should at least send a card.
Maybe we could pass it around, I'm sure the sentiment runs deep here.
Some "Ideas" for Tepco's Christmas Card
Oh yes! I love your idea of sending TEPCO a Christmas card...
Maybe a charming illustration of Santa sliding down an incinerator chimney that is blowing radioactive smoke?
OR
Rudolph exclaiming, "Gee Santa, now ALL the reindeer have glowing, red noses!"
OR
How about reports that Santa refuses to fly in the jet stream?
I am sure many of us here can come up with numerous ideas...
Tennis shoes to the Christmas Tree
It is not entirely clear that TEPCO can afford to purchase a Christmas card. This $20T radionuclide cleanup effort, massive relocation effort and radioactive health crisis, have tapped-out the Tokyo Electric Power Company.
The Fukushima Daiichi Category+7 nuclear disaster has brought Japan, Inc. to the edge of national bankruptcy.
We are VERY lucky that these core meltdowns did not occur in Heartland USA. Certainly this could occur in the future, even the near future.