Fukushima after 4 years

[safeorigin]

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Dec 3, 2015 (emphasis added): Higher levels of Fukushima cesium detected offshore — Scientists monitoring the spread of radiation in the ocean from the Fukushima nuclear accident report finding an increased number of sites off the US West Coast showing signs of contamination from Fukushima. This includes the highest detected level to date from a sample collected about 1,600 miles west of San Francisco. The level of radioactive cesium isotopes in the sample, 11 Becquerel’s per cubic meter… is 50 percent higher than other samples collected along the West Coast so far… Working with Japanese colleagues, [Ken Buesseler, a WHOI marine radiochemist] also continues to independently monitor the ongoing leaks from Fukushima Dai-ichi by collecting samples… During his most recent trip this October they collected samples of ocean water, marine organisms, seafloor sediment and groundwater along the coast near the reactors. Buesseler says the levels of radioactivity off Fukushima remain elevated – some 10 to 100 times higher than off the US West Coast today, and he is working with colleagues at WHOI to try to determine how much radioactive material is still being released to the ocean each day.

Ken Buesseler, WHOI: “These new data are important for two reasons… the changing values underscore the need to more closely monitor contamination levels across the Pacific. Second, these long-lived radioisotopes will serve as markers for years to come for scientists studying ocean currents and mixing in coastal and offshore waters… [F]inding values that are still elevated off Fukushima confirms that there is continued release from the plant.”

Statesman Journal, Dec 3, 2015: Higher levels of Fukushima radiation detected off West Coast — Higher levels of radiation from Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident are showing up in the ocean off the west coast of North America, scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution reported today. And an increased number of sampling sites are showing signs of contamination… This year, Buesseler has added about 110 new sample results to 135 already on the project’s web site. They include the highest detected level to date, from a sample collected about 1,600 miles west of San Francisco.

Reuters, Dec 3, 2015: Radiation from Japan nuclear disaster spreads off U.S. shores… and contamination is increasing at previously identified sites… Tests of hundreds of samples of Pacific Ocean water confirmed that Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant continues to leak… The latest readings measured the highest radiation levels outside Japanese waters to date some 1,600 miles (2,574 km) west of San Francisco. The figures also confirm that the spread of radiation to North American waters is not isolated to a handful of locations, but can be detected along a stretch of more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) offshore.

Record levels of Fukushima radiation detected off West Coast ? Massive plume stretches for more than 1,000 miles ? Reuters: Contamination is spreading off U.S. shores ? Radioactive cesium reaches 11 Bq/m3 at multiple locations (MAP)

Within a week of the Fukushima accident in 2011, U.S. authorities knew that parts of Fukushima had melted down completely, and instead of telling the public, they insisted radiation levels were safe and changed the “acceptable radiation levels”. (source)

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission wrote a report on March 18, 2011 (only one week after the tsunami hit Fukushima) which has now been declassified. (source) The report says:

The source term provided to NARAC was: (1) 25% of the total fuel in unit 2 released to the atmosphere, (2) 50% of the total spent fuel from unit 3 was released to the atmosphere, and (3) 100% of the total spent fuel was released to the atmosphere from unit 4.

Unit 4 released more cesium than if 800 nuclear bombs exploded above ground. (source)

Declassified Documents Show US Government Misled Public About Severity Of Fukushima Radiation - AlternativeFreePress.com

[niky]

Record levels of Fukushima radiation detected off West Coast ? Massive plume stretches for more than 1,000 miles ? Reuters: Contamination is spreading off U.S. shores ? Radioactive cesium reaches 11 Bq/m3 at multiple locations (MAP)

Declassified Documents Show US Government Misled Public About Severity Of Fukushima Radiation - AlternativeFreePress.com

Interesting that the site cuts off qualifier statements from the original articles:

Higher levels of Fukushima cesium detected offshore
Higher levels of Fukushima radiation detected off West Coast
Radiation from Japan nuclear disaster spreads off U.S. shores | Reuters

In which the researcher himself says that while the situation requires careful monitoring, Fukushima radiation levels are now thousands of times lower than back in 2011, and that the highest readings off the American coast are still over 500 times lower than government prescribed safety limits. 11 becquerels per cubic meter is, funnily enough, just over half as much radiation as the average banana.

[safeorigin]

some updates.

'Scorpion' robot mission inside Fukushima reactor aborted

estimated radiation level of 650 sieverts per hour destroyed the robots... that is compared to the 73 sieverts per hour reading back in 2012

Fukushima nuclear reactor radiation at highest level since 211 meltdown | Environment | The Guardian

atmospheric reading is at 530 sieverts per hour with a margin of error of 30%



apparently, there's a massive 2 meter hole created by the nuclear fuel which is reported to have contaminated ground water
Highest radiation reading since 3/11 detected at Fukushima No. 1 reactor | The Japan Times
Footage points to difficulty in removing possible melted fuel at Fukushima plant - The Mainichi

[uls]

ano kaya reaction ng mga pro-west pinoys dito

(Japan is "west" ok?)

Japan estimates Fukushima water release to start in '''spring or summer''' | Reuters

Japan says Fukushima water release to start in ‘spring or summer’ | Fukushima News | Al Jazeera

The Japanese government has said it will start releasing contaminated water from Fukushima, the nuclear power plant devastated by a tsunami in 2011, into the ocean sometime “around this spring or summer”.

if this was china alam na natin magiging reaction

but it's japan so i'm curious........