BBC: Radiation Leak Found Outside of Fukushima Plant

Mon, 2011-03-28 07:25 — mdmcdonald

 

Highly radioactive water has been found for the first time outside one of the reactor buildings at Japan's quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant, officials say.

Japanese Disaster Spawns Nuclear Safety Reviews Worldwide

Sun, 2011-03-27 16:04 — Kathy Gilbeaux

While many feared radiation from a stricken Japanese nuclear facility would drift across the Pacific and settle on the United States, fallout of a different kind certainly has—deep concern about the safety of nuclear reactors.

The belated brouhaha follows a series of disasters at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which lost power and experienced what’s thought to be a partial meltdown of two reactor cores after the country was struck by a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 11.

In the days that followed the catastrophe, conflicting reports about the causes of explosions, the amount of radiation released, and the prospects of ending the threats helped fuel confusion and shine a spotlight on the issue of nuclear safety and preparedness. Americans and others worldwide began asking that age-old question, “Can it happen here?”

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) - Higher Levels of Radioactive Iodine in Seawater Detected - March 26, 2011

Sat, 2011-03-26 16:48 — Kathy Gilbeaux

UPDATE AS OF 9:30 A.M. EDT, MARCH 26, 2011

Japanese scientists yesterday detected higher levels of radioactive iodine in seawater at water outlets near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

"Iodine 131 was detected at a level 1,250 times the national safety limit," Hidehiko Nishiyama of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said during a news conference. Officials said there is no immediate danger to residents near the plant from these levels.

Samples taken on Friday were significantly higher than those taken on Wednesday, which had 147 times the legal concentration of I-131. Authorities said the concentration of radioactive materials in the water will decrease as the water is diluted by ocean currents. Indeed, a sample taken at 8:50 a.m. on Friday had one-fifth the concentration of I-131 as the earlier measurement. Three subsequent measurements that morning showed fluctuation. All were below the highest level found at 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

Secretary Clinton Signs Memorandum of Understanding With the World Bank on World Water Day

Fri, 2011-03-25 17:37 — mdmcdonald

 

http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/clinton_mou_world_bank_water_day

 

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Bank on World Water Day at World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC on Tuesday, March 22. The MOU will strengthen support to developing countries seeking a water secure future. Secretary Clinton and World Bank President Robert Zoellick delivered brief remarks. Secretary Clinton said:

"...The water crisis is a health crisis, it's a farming crisis, it's an economic crisis, it's a climate crisis, and increasingly, it is a political crisis. And therefore, we must have an equally comprehensive response.

Radiation risk is only within the evacuation zones, says WHO, as of March 19

Wed, 2011-03-23 23:08 — AlMac99

According to The World Health Organization (WHO), as of March 19 info sharing, it seems unlikely that significant amounts of radiation will affect areas outside of Japan. Rumours are circulating about radiation drifting to other countries. Based on available information, this does not appear to be the case. Exposure to radioactive material released from the affected facilities will be largely limited to the evacuation zone within Japan.

There is therefore currently very little risk for Pacific island countries and territories due to the considerable distances involved, even for the Pacific countries and territories nearest to Japan.

 

As such, WHO does not currently recommend any measures for persons outside of Japan (including the Pacific island countries and territories) where residents should continue with their normal activities.

CSM: "Japan says high seawater radiation levels are no cause for alarm"

Wed, 2011-03-23 11:39 — mdmcdonald

Japanese authorities began testing for radiation in seawater near the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on Tuesday, but officials stressed that the elevated levels are no cause for worry

Within this article:

"...Jun Misono of Tokyo’s Marine Ecology Research Institute said that while radioactive iodine breaks down relatively quickly, cesium is more persistent and can accumulate in marine animals, such as fish. “We need to carefully monitor the amount of radiation that continues to be emitted and evaluate the impacts,” he told national broadcaster NHK."

 

For More Information:

LA Times: "Tokyo tap water not safe for infants, officials warn"

Wed, 2011-03-23 08:31 — mdmcdonald

Levels of radioactive iodine are found to be about double the safe levels for children under age of 1. Black smoke billows from a reactor at the stricken Japanese nuclear plant.

For More Information:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-japan-tokyo-water-20110324,0,7951826.story

Food contamination fears spread beyond Japan's borders

Mon, 2011-03-21 14:42 — mdmcdonald

 

World health officials warn of the dangerous cumulative effects from eating food contaminated by radiation leaking from Japan's crippled nuclear plant. One Japanese restaurant in Taiwan is serving up radiation gauges alongside its meals.

For more information:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fgw-japan-quake-food-20110322,0,100029.story

AP: Japan tragedy seared into the world's imagination

Sun, 2011-03-20 08:32 — mdmcdonald

 

 

TOKYO – There are events in history that sear themselves into the world's collective imagination, and enter the realm where myth meets heartbreaking reality.

Japan's tragedy is one of those events. Already, it seems reasonable to surmise it could prove one of the most significant calamities of our time — one that shapes policies, economies, even philosophies for decades to come in an increasingly interconnected world.

There is the sheer, surreal force of the images emerging from afflicted zones: cars perched on rooftops, ships sitting in rice paddies, helicopters in a David-and-Goliath battle against radiation-spewing nuclear reactors.

Japan Raises Severity Rating of Nuclear Disaster

Fri, 2011-03-18 08:51 — mdmcdonald

Japan has raised the severity rating of its nuclear disaster, as firefighters continue efforts to cool highly radioactive fuel rods at a nuclear reactor complex crippled by last week's earthquake and tsunami.

Japan on Friday increased the severity of the crisis at the Fukushima site from 4 to 5 on a 7-point international nuclear event scale. 

Firefighters are dousing water on damaged reactor buildings with powerful hoses.  But they have to limit their time inside the complex due to the high radiation levels. 

Japanese engineers also are extending an emergency power cable to the nuclear reactor complex.  A steady supply of power could enable workers at the Fukushima plant to get water pumps working again. 

 

For More Information:

Winds from Japan won't endanger Californians, state experts say

Fri, 2011-03-18 04:34 — mdmcdonald

 

Winds passing over Japan's stricken nuclear power plant are reaching California and moving inland, but health experts say the plumes pose no danger to the public.

There is mounting alarm in the public's mind as news continues of explosions and loss of reactor cooling water at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, and its intensely radioactive fuel rods.

But winds from Japan have been blowing eastward across the Pacific at altitudes four to five miles high, and are "continually mixing with the upper atmosphere," said Kenneth Bowman, a noted atmospheric physicist at Texas A&M University and an expert on computer-based modeling of wind behavior.

 

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/18/MNGU1IDTMQ.DTL

Nuclear Emergency at Fukushima Site Appears to be Coming Under Control

Mon, 2011-03-14 03:20 — mdmcdonald

Given the events of the past few days, it may be prudent to consider that new concerns may arise.  However, it appears that the Fukushima nuclear powerplant are beginning to come under control.  Reactors are still shutdown and emergency procedures are starting to come under control.  However, cooling procedures appear to be taking effect.

Full assessments of radiation releases need to take place.  Local radiation exposures near the Fukushima nuclear powerplant have been noted.  Those directly affected are undergoing medical evaluations.

MAPS

The geospatial mapping dimension of scientific visualization is crucial to gaining situational awareness.  

 

Below are initial map images following the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan that will provide initial views of the immediate situation. 

 

 

post-event imagery from GeoEye available for Japan. 

You can get the KML for Google Earth here:

 

WHO Members Back U.S., Russia Efforts to Keep Smallpox Cache - WSJ.com

Thu, 2011-01-20 18:07 — mdmcdonald

 

 
" Members of the World Health Organization on Thursday backed efforts by the U.S. and Russia to keep the last known stocks of the smallpox virus for research to combat terrorism, in an initial debate over the fate over what's left of one of the world's most lethal pathogens. "
 
 

 

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