Radioactive materials found near Fukushima Daiichi
Highly radioactive materials have been found in a town near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The plant operator says they are likely to have been contaminated in the March 2011 nuclear accident. Four radioactive objects were found last month and this month on the riverbed of the Ide River that runs through Naraha Town in Fukushima Prefecture. Tokyo Electric Power Company checked the radioactive cesium in the materials. The utility says the ratio of cesium 137, whose half-life is about 30 years, is higher than that of cesium 134, whose half-life is about 2 years. TEPCO says a similar ratio is found in materials more than 2 years after radioactive contamination. The company says it is trying to identify the objects. It is not known why they were discovered about 15 kilometers from the nuclear plant. TEPCO officials say it is possible they were blown by hydrogen explosions in the 2011 disaster or were emitted by the plant around that time.
Jul. 23, 2013 - Updated 23:19 UTC
Decontamination slow, effectiveness in doubt
Decontamination to reduce radioactive pollution caused by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident has been slow, and its effectiveness has been called into question. NHK compared data from before and after decontamination at 43 districts in 21 municipalities across Fukushima Prefecture. In 33 of the districts, or 77 percent of the total, radiation levels were still higher than the government-set standard of one millisievert per year. In areas near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, where decontamination has been carried out on an experimental basis, radiation levels remain 10 to 60 times higher than the official limit. The Environment Ministry says decontamination had only been conducted in about 3 percent of residential areas in the evacuation zone as of the end of March.
Jul. 23, 2013 - Updated 11:55 UTC
Experts estimate decontamination costs at $50 bil.
Experts estimate that cleaning up radioactivity in Fukushima Prefecture would cost 50 billion dollars, more than 4 times the amount that has been earmarked. Experts from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology studied the cost of decontamination for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. They estimate that decontamination in no-entry zones will cost up to 20 billion dollars, and in other areas, 31 billion dollars. The estimate is based on the government-set unit costs and information provided by municipalities. It includes the cost of removing, transporting and storing radioactive waste such as contaminated soil. The central government has so far allocated about 11 billion dollars for the cleanup, but has not made clear what the total cost might be. The project is substantially behind schedule. Critics question its effectiveness, as radiation levels remain high in some areas even after decontamination. A member of the group, Junko Nakanishi, says the government is conducting the work without knowing how much it would cost to achieve the level that would meet residents' expectations. She says the government should study cost performance before deciding whether to complete the decontamination or reallocate the money to help people rebuild their lives.
Jul. 23, 2013 - Updated 10:36 UTC
Nuclear regulator rebukes TEPCO
A senior official of Japan's nuclear regulator has rebuked the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant for being too slow to find ways to stop contaminated groundwater from seeping into the ocean. Highly radioactive water has been detected in the plant's monitoring wells near the Pacific Ocean since May. On Monday, Tokyo Electric Power Company admitted for the first time that tainted water is leaking into the ocean. TEPCO reached the conclusion after analyzing data on water levels in the wells in relation to tide levels. The Nuclear Regulation Authority plans to study ways to determine the origin of the contamination, as well as measures to stop the leak at its meeting on Monday next week.
Jul. 23, 2013 - Updated 10:36 UTC
Fishermen in Fukushima angry at TEPCO over leak
Fishermen in Fukushima have expressed anger at Tokyo Electric Power Company's acknowledgement on Monday that contaminated underground water is seeping into the ocean. About 100 fishermen attended a private briefing session on Tuesday by the operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Officials from the utility reportedly said the contaminated water hasn't spread much. They also explained their plan to build walls along the coast to prevent tainted water from leaking into the ocean. Some fishermen reportedly said Tokyo Electric Power Company officials may have deliberately concealed the information. Others said they cannot trust the firm. Fishermen are also worried about the impact of the announcement on their plan to resume fishing on a trial basis in September. The head of a local fisheries cooperative said they will not be able to reassure consumers by drawing a line in the sea to separate safe and contaminated areas. He said TEPCO's announcement has dealt a serious blow to their plan to resume fishing.
Jul. 23, 2013 - Updated 10:36 UTC
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire