Reactor #2 At Fukushima Detonates (third reactor explosion...now fourth!)

I found that link about the GE units in service there..

Info

Originally posted by Konah
NHK World is reporting a "white vapor" continuously rising from the building, but at the moment the authorities are unsure as to what it is.

NHK World Live (with translator)

Hmm lets take a wild guess.....

Toxic RADIOACTIVE gas with plutonium in it?

This is an epic cluster @^@%#


next up; " Godzirra! "

Originally posted by reg

Originally posted by JacKatMtn
The latest from reuters...

Radiation levels rise four-fold at stricken Japan reactor

The radiation reading at 08:31am local time (2331 GMT) climbed to 8,217 microsieverts an hour from 1,941 about 40 minutes earlier, Tokyo Eletcric Power Co said.

I just heard this on the TV. Excuse my ignorance on the subject but is that a high amount? or if not what would be considered a dangerous level? thanks

10,000 mSv (10 sieverts) as a short-term and whole-body dose would cause immediate illness, such as nausea and decreased white blood cell count, and subsequent death within a few weeks. Between 2 and 10 sieverts in a short-term dose would cause severe radiation sickness with increasing likelihood that this would be fatal.

www.world-nuclear.org...

They aren't far from that dose right there.

reply to post by Valhall


Nearly? They already are...read "between 2-10".

NHK news just reported that the reactor containment vessel is probably leaking highly radioactive water at the bottom.

NHK News

reply to post by hillynilly


MOX was used in the 3rd reactor, not the 2nd - so there would be no plutonium released from this new reactor explosion. However, waste was stored above the container CNN was reporting, so this would now be released as well (including the possibly breached containment vessel).

Originally posted by AmatuerSkyWatcher
reply to post by JacKatMtn

 

NHK now reporting a "vapour" coming from the top of reactor number 3 now, they don't know what it is.....

edit on 14-3-2011 by AmatuerSkyWatcher because: (no reason given)

I think it's safe to say that whatever it is........it isn't good

Could this get any worse? Wait, don't answer that...

Originally posted by Valhall

Originally posted by reg

Originally posted by JacKatMtn
The latest from reuters...

Radiation levels rise four-fold at stricken Japan reactor

The radiation reading at 08:31am local time (2331 GMT) climbed to 8,217 microsieverts an hour from 1,941 about 40 minutes earlier, Tokyo Eletcric Power Co said.

I just heard this on the TV. Excuse my ignorance on the subject but is that a high amount? or if not what would be considered a dangerous level? thanks

10,000 mSv (10 sieverts) as a short-term and whole-body dose would cause immediate illness, such as nausea and decreased white blood cell count, and subsequent death within a few weeks.

www.world-nuclear.org...

They aren't far from that dose right there.

Damm, that's what I feared you'd say.

Poor Japan How brave are those working at the plant trying to save it though? My prayers go to them and their families

It's confusing to understand sieverts, rads, rems...

This link might help explain dosimetry.

The old US Military terminology has been replaced by "microsieverts" and frankly, I don't even understand that.

Wikipedia may make more sense.

Jesus, you all better pray that there isn't a leak in the containment vessel as well as the suppression chamber!

With this radioactive material leaking probably, will we even make it to 2012....Maybe the Mayans meant 3-21-11

reply to post by MedievalGhost


Yes its really terrible, and it doesnt help that a lot of people are cut off as a result of the damage from the earthquake, roads damaged etc, an the shortage of fuel for people wanting to drive, its awful . Are you in Japan at the minute?

Explosion may be more severe than previous incidents; containment vessel possibly damaged NYT is reporting.

www.nytimes.com...

reply to post by MedievalGhost



My first thought on my way to the coffee pot this morning was, "I'll take a family." If the can get to Ft. Lauderdale...I'll pick em up at the airport.

Honestly.

# BREAKING NEWS: TEPCO admits possibility of meltdown at Fukushima reactors (09:29)

Kyodo News

Ya think?

reply to post by Valhall


I'm sorry for barging in on this thread, but to clarify;
10,000 millisieverts are what the article is referring to.
(8000 roughly)µSv= microsieverts (smaller)

We would need quite a bit more radiation to approach immediately lethal levels.

Government official on NHK just reported that the reactor's containment vessel is it's last line of defense. And this is supposedly breached now. Meltdown appears imminent. How many reactors, who knows...

NHK News

Originally posted by Negotium of Verum
reply to post by Valhall

 

I'm sorry for barging in on this thread, but to clarify;
10,000 millisieverts are what the article is referring to.
(8000 roughly)µSv= microsieverts (smaller)

We would need quite a bit more radiation to approach immediately lethal levels.

edit on 14-3-2011 by Negotium of Verum because: blargh

Oh...thank you! You are absolutely correct, and I absolutely misread. That's good news.

Anyone else find it strange that a reactor designed back in 1967 and initially scheduled to be shut down by now would still be in use when there are much safer 2nd and 3rd generation designs available? The Japanese were known for buying new appliances and cars every 5 years whether they needed them or not. To keep an antique power plant that was only designed to survive a 6.5 quake online seems nuts. You would think they would have had to at least take it offline shut it down and check for cracks after the 7.2 quake they had a couple weeks ago?