Japan quakes

[dctokyo]

Update: Here is a little information on what we really know has happened regarding the nuclear reactors in Fukushima.

There is a possibility that one or more of the reactors will meltdown. A meltdown does not mean that radiation will fly all over the place Chernobyl-style. Reports indicate that the primary containment vessel remains intact.

A small amount of radiation leaked this morning. It is only apparently enough to be dangerous to people in the immediate area, but residents within 30-kilometers have been evacuated as a precaution.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said a fourth reactor at the complex was on fire and more radiation had been released.

He said the reactor, even though it was unoperational, was believed to be the source of the elevated radiation release because of the hydrogen release that triggered the fire.

“Now we are talking about levels that can damage human health. These are readings taken near the area where we believe the releases are happening. Far away, the levels should be lower,” he said.

“Please do not go outside. Please stay indoors. Please close windows and make your homes airtight. Don’t turn on ventilators. Please hang on your laundry indoors,” he said.

“These are figures that potentially affect health, there is no mistake about that,” he said.

He said a reactor whose containment building caught fire Monday has not contributed greatly to the increased radiation. The radiation level around one of the reactors stood at 400,000 microsiverts per hour, four times higher than the safe level.

Officials said 50 workers are still there trying to put water into the reactors to cool them. They say 800 other nonessential staff were evacuated.

The 400,000 microserverts (400 millisieverts) per hour reading was taken right next to the reactor in question. What does that mean? Here is a very good explanation from Gakuranman, who has been updating a very informative liveblog on the subject: http://gakuranman.com/great-tohoku-earthquake/

Remember, although these figures may suggest that the level of radiation being recorded at Fukushima is not extremely high, the danger is constant exposure over a period of time. For this reason, people within the 20km evacuation zone are at high risk of serious harm.

7,000-10,000 millisieverts – Person dies from radiation poisoning. (Full body exposure).
1,000 – Nausea and vomiting (Full body exposure).
500 – Will reduce levels of peripheral blood lymphocytes (white blood cells that defend your body) (Full body exposure).
200 – No clinical conditions confirmed below this number
10 – Radiation from the sun
6.9 – CT scan
2.4 – 1 year’s worth of natural radiation
0.6 Stomach X-ray
0.2 – A return air trip from Tokyo to New York
0.05 – Chest X-ray (or the level of radiation expected to be maintained around a nuclear power plant)


At this point, there is nothing indicating that anything close to a dangerous amount of radiation is being blown towards Tokyo.