Presence of Cesium was detected about 10 hours ago. That means at least a partial meltdown. Only way you can read Cesium outside the vessel.
They detected both cesium and iodide.
I thought that it might have been carried out in the steam released which may not have meant a meltdown at all.
“Presence of Cesium was detected about 10 hours ago. That means at least a partial meltdown. Only way you can read Cesium outside the vessel.”
http://www.wptz.com/r/23008321/detail.html
“The Vermont Department of Health said the radioactive Cesium-137 was confirmed by lab officials Tuesday in soil sampled March 17. Cesium-137 is a byproduct of nuclear fission and can cause cancer when ingested in high doses, according to the Department of Health. The substance does not appear naturally.” March 17, 2010
As far as I know, Vermont Yankee plant did not have a meltdown. If it did, you had better call Jane Fonda, Michael Moore and Al Gore.
I'm not sure about that - I believe that there has been some damage to the fuel rods where low water levels allowed melting of the metal housing of the fuel rods themselves, but if I understand the definition of "meltdown", the fuel rods essentially have to melt down into and through the floor of the containment housing.
There is information out there, on another thread that describes the situation with some detail, but in a manner that us non-nukes can understand.
The fact that they're flooding Unit 1's reactor with sea water and Boron indicates that they are basically scuttling that unit. It's the oldest of the units in that plant anyway, and I've seen a couple of posts indicating that it was nearing the time frame when it would be de-commissioned anyway.