There's no universal definition for what it takes to be a melt down. Some people will say its has to breach the containment system, others will say its when the rods start to melt into a mess. That's just for the reactors. The storage pools can actually be more dangerous because normally every spent fuel rod the reactor ever uses gets stored on-site near the reactor somewhere. These reactors have been running for thirty-something years so there is a huge pile of spent rods here. They must be kept cool [that's why they're stored in circulating water]. If they don't stay cool, they will melt their metal housings and start to form a pool of hot radioactive "muck" that can then potentially breech the containment system. The cesium that the press reported as being detected in the air at Fukushima a couple days ago would indicate that at the least some type of meltdowns have already occurred. That's not an end of the world scenario, but it does make me worry about the odds that any of the fifty, and then hundred-eighty workers on site will pull through this unharmed. Instead of business as usual everywhere the whole world should be around their tvs and computers watching Fukushima; these workers are throwing themselves into the fire for the safety of the people of Japan, the region, even the whole world. Failure, however unlikely, is unthinkable.



It isn't just the US. According to AP and Reuters some people in Finland made a run on potassium iodine before Hawaii did. That's just an other example, there is irrational fear elsewhere as well.

They have reason to be somewhat concerned on the west coast about radiation. If "worst comes to worst" they will get some exposure. But iodine pills aren't going to do anything for people in the US. They don't protect against radiation in general. They only prevent the body from absorbing radioactive isotopes of iodine. It would take too long for radioactive iodine to get here. The body would still be fully exposed to all other radioactive elements [i.e. cesium, plutonium and so on; all of which have half lives long enough to reach the United States]. Remember all those hand made "balloon bombs" that the Japanese secretly released to float via the jet stream to the United States? Cesium has a thirty year half life. So enter a worst case scenario where they loose control of a single reactor or a single storage pool, and the meltdown breeches the top of the containment system & starts dispersing by the wind: it would reach here, and it would impact the health of the people here. We're not talking "The Day After" type radiation poisoning. "Just" a meager increase in cancer rates. The American people [especially out west] have already been exposed to worse by our own government with all its cold war activities when we would secretly detonate nukes or release radioactive gas for experimentation purposes without evacuating anyone. [some, not droves of] People have been dying from it for decades, and surviving it for decades, and our government won't even pay for their medical treatments or release the names of the long-dead policy makers responsible for it.

More like "this is what I remember about it." Just the gist of it, mainly. You'll have to forgive this olde lady her bad memory on some tings, hun.

My best friend was so depressed at school the other day because the tsunami was co ing right were her family lived in California. I tried to cheer her up and it worked! I think they're all okay.

There is still the most of radiation in the nuclear fuel which permanently got to be cooled whether it is at work or in the holding basin for spent atomic fuel. If the water is finished there will be an enourmous strong radiation. So if explosions come to it, radioactive particles will be spread with the wind. The melted matter will burn into the ground. Japan is lucky, the most of the fall out of former explosions has been carried away over the pacific and under Fukujima there is a 2000 meter strong layer of rocks without water. So there will no radiation transported with the water, in case of a meltdown. I hope they can start pumpings right soon, when they have electricity again. A catastrophy like this would have much worse follows on a populous continent.

Don't explain it, you ruin the mystique of the wit!

I posted this in the YouTube thread because, while related to this topic, I didn't really think it would be appropriate posted here. But for those who have heard of UCLA student Alexandra Wallace (or even if you haven't yet heard of her), you'll probably be interested.

-- Nephele

Breaking News:

The situation in Fukujima is out of control, radioactivity at reactor two is about 10 million times higher than normal. The radiation was measured in the water inside of the reactor. Rescue teams leaving the plant. Radiation in the pacific near Fukujima is 1850 times higher than normal now.

That's heartbreaking - it seemed as if they were getting close to bringing the situation under control.

I truly hope they can find a solution.

Did anyone see the pictures of the road that was absolutely decimated and then completely repaired in Japan? That would take months in the UK! I can't help but feel very proud for the Japanese for their reaction after this tragedy. In other countries, rioting and looting and lawlessness is often allowed to continue, and here, even though many people are still living in hardship, they are just getting on with it and getting the job done. I know things still look bleak, with more troubles ahead of them, but I also really believe that Japan will rise out of this.

I think we all hope this. Japanese culture really enriches the world, but their nuclear industrie never got to take criticism and public control. So their information policy is an desaster. Green Peace measured the radioactivity 35 kilometers from Fukujima. People receive in a couple of days the maximal dose of radiation for a year. I think they neglect vital interests of the people for the nuclear business and cover it with patriotism and rallying calls. US Government suggests an 80 kilometer radius of evacuation since more than a week. Its hard to decide whether this is possible in Japan at the moment to move millions of people, but it mus be done as soon as possible.

addition:

Meanwhile tepco the operator company of Fukujima 1 told, the 10 million times higher radiation was a mistake of the measurement. The technicians left the reactor before a second measurement was finished. In fact there a lot of irritating news. I can't understand why human beeings have to measure radioactivity in the reactor while robots are ready to overtake that job. The world is ready to help, perhaps the Japanese Government should accept some more of it.

I just heard on the news that Japan was hit by another earthquake today a 6.5 in the eastern part and there might be another tsunami. They said no reports have come in about damage or anything though, still- that sucks.

It is awful about the radiation.

Oh, no, not again!

Here is a short article about it.

I caught up with it a bit during a lull at work. Thankfully, the tsunami warning was suspended.

Also, it appears that the radioactivity spike was massively overstated. It's acknowledged that levels were higher than are safe, but nowhere near as terrible as initially thought.

Thank whatever powers are out there.

Yesterday they had a soccer game in Osaka, and players the globe over were sending their hopes and prayers to Japan, which was heartwarming.
Not so much has changed here, but more and more people in Sendai are being found alive, and buildings and roads are being rebuilt.

I expected the aftershocks to continue for about a month, but luckily no more tsunamis!!