Japan Encourages a Wider Evacuation ... (Japan Raises Possibility of Breach in Reactor Vessel)

The New York Times ^ | March 25, 2011 | HIROKO TABUCHI, KEITH BRADSHER and DAVID JOLLY

[SteveH]

TOKYO — New signs emerged on Friday that parts of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant are so damaged and contaminated that it will be harder to bring the plant under control soon.

[...]

Hidehiko Nishiyama, deputy director-general of the Japan Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, mentioned damage to the reactor vessel on Friday as a possible explanation of how water in the adjacent containment building had become so radioactive. A senior nuclear executive who insisted on anonymity but has broad contacts in Japan said that there was a long vertical crack running down the side of the reactor vessel itself. The crack runs down below the water level in the reactor and has been leaking fluids and gases, he said.

The severity of the radiation burns to the injured workers are consistent with contamination by water that had been in contact with damaged fuel rods, the executive said.

“There is a definite, definite crack in the vessel — it’s up and down and it’s large,” he said. “The problem with cracks is they do not get smaller.”

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Is this site gonna melt?

[martin_fierro]

"Is nuclear wessel."

ok, just kidding. Now I'm series again.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“The problem with cracks is they do not get smaller.”

That’s been a problem with the women in my life too!

[SteveH]

She's gonna blow!

[freebird5850]

I knew this was going to happen. TEPCO has been trying to “ease” everything in the news. They should’ve been forthcoming and treat this as a major disaster from the start. Shame on them, we’ll never believe anything they have to say ever again. Man up or get out of the way.

[RummyChick]

This is actually quite serious and something many of us here on this site believed was happening due to the circumstances and way it was being handled.

Of course, all kinds of people told us we were wrong.

We said that MOX fuel was an issue and it was a cause for concern that it uses weapons grade plutonium.

We were told we were wrong.
People here also said that radiation couldn’t get to the US. It has - even as far as Colorado.

The US has admitted all the monitors here are not working properly. I wouldn’t trust the US Government anyway.

Will the West Coast get enough radiation to be dangerous long term? Perhaps not.

But this turn of events will create all kinds of problems.

Do you want a Mazda made in Japan after a MOX 3 reactor melts down with a breach in the containment?

And what about Japan selling off US debt because they need capital for this disaster?

What about Japanese ships?
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/japanearthquake/2011-03/25/content_12228118.htm

This disaster will have far reaching economic impact.

[sissyjane]

Well, that “crack” won’t gain you any more women friends.Hahaha...

[RummyChick]

Their town hall meetings are starting to look like meetings in the US

28. A resident explains his fears during a town hall meeting on the impact of radiation exposure from the nearby leaking Fukushima nuclear facilities, on March 22 in the town of Kawamata, Fukushima Prefecture. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

[RummyChick]

interesting story about what went on in the Reactor plant as the earthquake hit
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/25/us-japan-quake-worker-interview-idUSTRE72O75V20110325?WT.tsrc=Social%20Media&WT.z_smid=twtr-reuters_%20com&WT.z_smid_dest=Twitter

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I often attend the CPhI pharmaceutical convention in Tokyo held every April. It has about 15,000 attendees from around the world.

Just got an email today explaining that the show will be postponed until next year, and cited safety considerations, travel restrictions and fear.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

‘Well, that “crack” won’t gain you any more women friends.Hahaha...’

Don’t need any more! Gotta good skinny one!
And,,,,
“Japan Encourages a Wider Evacuation “

Just seems ripe for a wider crack joke!

[BenKenobi]

“People here also said that radiation couldn’t get to the US. It has - even as far as Colorado.”

And you get more radiation from the sun.

Got anymore fearmongering to promote.

Maybe Coloradoans should put on a hat.

[BenKenobi]

“I knew this was going to happen. TEPCO has been trying to “ease” everything in the news. They should’ve been forthcoming and treat this as a major disaster from the start. Shame on them, we’ll never believe anything they have to say ever again. Man up or get out of the way.”

They successfully and safely shut down all the 6 reactors. This article is all speculation. Is there a crack? Maybe. Is there a leak from the containment vessel in one reactor? Maybe.

Is Japan going to expand evacuation? Maybe. Long on heat short on light and actual facts.

[Nachoman]

TEPCO management: “Problem is under study.”

Translation: “We’re going to glow like street lamps.”

[RummyChick]

“And you get more radiation from the sun.”

Oh really?

Iodine 131 is produced by fissionable materials NOT THE SUN.

It can cause thyroid issues -thus why they use potassium iodide for exposure to this type of radiation.

And somehow it made it’s way 5000 miles when Freepers said it couldn’t.

It did.

Now if it made it here, 5000 miles away - what’s it going to be like in Tokoyo?

Do Californians need to take potassium iodide right now.

No.

But don’t tell me this nuke issue isn’t a very big problem.

It is.

But if you don’t think it is that big of deal feel free to go volunteer in that area around the plant. They are in need of volunteers.

[RummyChick]

Speaking of facts..

what are the answers to these questions - before you can say all of this is no big deal

“What are the radio elements in the dust in the air?
Expected total dose from internalised fleck of 100 microcuries activity over a 2 year period to lung and lymph?? What is the particle count? What is its rate of radioactivity? What is the size range of the fission dust? What tissue is the deposition site if ingested? What is the biological turn over half time of each one? What total absorbed dose over a 2 year period does that amount to? How likely is this to happen to a person. How many people will it happen to? Why is it that authorities are talking of alpha and beta emitting particles in the plumes as external skin dose only? These are potential internal emitters. “

http://nuclearhistory.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/mox-is-the-problem-with-reactor-no-3-tepco-tells-reuters/

[SuziQ]

People here also said that radiation couldn’t get to the US. It has - even as far as Colorado.

There has not been, nor is there likely to be, any large amounts of radiation in the US from the Japanese reactors. What has been detected so far hasn't been much above levels that are naturally occuring, depending on the location in the US. Some parts of the US are naturally more 'radioactive' than others.

I'm not saying that the situation isn't dangerous, or that the reactors might not eventually fail, but most of the world, even most of Japan, hasn't had a problem yet, with dangerously large amounts of radiation.

[RummyChick]

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/news/20110325-OYT1T00127.htm

This is a Japanese Daily Paper.

Anyone want to translate to verify that it says that the fuel rod casing is coming off

as in
They have measured
Zirconium-95 concentration was 0.23 becquerels per cubic centimeter elsewhere.

Here is the purpose of the cladding

http://energyfromthorium.com/2011/03/19/fuel-rod-lifecycle/

As Tepco warned, the possibility of re-criticality IS NOT ZERO.

So if the cladding is coming off..just what do you think is going to happen???

This means a nuclear chain reaction could restart. Will it? Don’t know. But it is not a safe situation right now.

But hey oh, there is nothing to worry about according to posters here.....

So go volunteer to help around that Nuke Plant.

[RummyChick]

The issue really isn’t that Colorado will get levels of radiation that will eventually kill them.

The issue is that if it is in Colorado (when many people said it couldnt even get there), more than 5000 miles away, then what is going on in Japan.

I firmly believe they aren’t telling the real truth.

Here is more confirmation that Zirconium -95 was found several hundred meters from the plant in the sea

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=2694766%2C18

BUT

“A spokesman for the Japanese prime minister’s office tells VOA there is no clear evidence that the cladding has been breached.”

Now, if you have kept up on what has been going on with this and the way the officials have reacted...would you want to risk the health of your infant on the word of spokesman for the Prime Ministers office.

It is about to hit the fan in Japan and everyone had better be ready.

People here can mock all they want - but the effect on the economy will have a spiral effect. All hell is going to break lose if word gets out that Reactor 3 has gone Critical.