Japanese Nuclear Waste Leak -- AMOUNTS AND RATES

[Dogmudgeon]

4 * 10^8 Bq, the approximate equivalent of 2 x 10-7 mSv exposure.

I had though of adding more commentary, but this says it all. I did highlight some of the text to emphasize the relative seriousness of the accident, and made the exponents in the scientific notation clearer by using circumflex notation (e.g., 10^2 = ten squared, or 100).

But get your information from the horse's mouth -- read it here: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/07071901-e.html

Press Release (Jul 19,2007)

Plant Status of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station as of July 19

The Niigata-Chuetsu-Oki earthquake occurred in Niigata Prefecture on July
16 at 10:13 a.m. led to automatic scram of units 2, 3, 4 and 7 of
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station. Since the occurrence of the
earthquake, we have examined both indoor and outdoor facilities of all
seven units including units 1, 5 and 6, which were offline for periodic
outage at the time of the earthquake. The findings from the examination
as of today are as follows:

- Four units--K-2, K-3, K-4, and K-7--that scrammed automatically on July
16 are currently in a stable cold shutdown condition.

- Two incidents regarding the leak of radioactive materials were identified:
(1) Water leakage containing radioactive materials into the Japan Sea (K-6.)
The amount of radioactivity released to the sea is about 9 x 10^4 Bq
(equivalent to an exposure of about 2 x 10-9 mSv.) It is presumed that
water spilled over from the spent fuel pool to the reactor building
refueling floor (controlled area) subsequently dripped down to the
uncontrolled area via cable and conduit of the refueling machine. Detailed
investigation on the cause is underway.

(2) Detection of iodine and particulate radioactive materials at the monitor
of main exhaust stack (K-7.)
The amount of radioactivity released from the stack to date is about 4 x
10^8 Bq (equivalent to an exposure of about 2 x 10-7 mSv.).
Note: Regulatory limit of annual exposure for an ordinary person is 1 mSv.
Ordinary people are exposed to natural radiation of 2.4 mSv per annum.

- We have completed visual examination of both indoor and outdoor facilities
and identified issues as shown in the attached sheet.

We will put together inspection plan for important facilities including
reactor internals and execute in-depth inspection based on the plan. We will
also adequately restore numerous damages found in facilities that are not
related to nuclear safety.

Note the section that reads "We have completed visual examination of both indoor and outdoor facilities and identified issues as shown in the attached sheet." That sheet contained a list of damages that was presented as evidence that the accident was "grave". It was posted on DU no fewer than three times, if memory serves me. Yet the release/exposure information was NOT posted. I did not see it in a single American or European press report -- I had to search the Tepco website in both Japanese and English. Then, because I did not trust my math, I waited 12 hours and then double-checked.

Read, discuss, and enjoy.

--p!

[applegrove]

1. Really scary. n/t

[struggle4progress]

2. And we know TEPCO telling the truth now: don't even think about the fact that the company ...

... has a long history of lying to the public, and please don't consider the fact that they changed their story in this case at least three times in three days. Surely anybody could be confused about whether they released no liquid, or two quarts of liquid, or five hundred gallons of liquid. Surely that sort of accuracy is good enough for nuclear work. And who cares whether the current number is an estimate that the company just pulled out of its ass, or whether it is the result of some reading from one of the many pieces of equipment not designed for quakes this size?

[Dogmudgeon]

3. You're right

Perhaps Tepco is lying.

Perhaps there was little or no damage at all.

Perhaps they phonied that damage to get a big, fat insurance settlement and be let off the hook for other misdeeds.

Maybe they want to get out of the nuclear industry altogether.

After all, the amounts of radioactivity are so small that they are at the lower limits of detectability. Even if there was a million times the exposure, it would still be no threat to public or even worker safety.

On the other hand, this press release was put out right after the quake -- check the date. Tepco didn't change their story -- the press tried to turn it into a "wowser", which clearly didn't work.

The Japanese authorities are conducting an inspection now. The investigation will be announced I believe this week. If Tepco is found to have lied, there will be several Japanese prison cells waiting for their principals.

I'll leave the paranoid fantasies to the conspiracy theorists and fundamentalists.

--p!

[struggle4progress]

4. A press release dated 19th was "put out right after the quake" of the 16th?

On day 1, Tepco said no leaks, no damage. The next story was no damage, 2 quarts leaked. Your "right after the quake" release on the third day has a third version of the release volume.