Contaminated seawater used to cool damaged reactors is being drained into the sea.

[jpak]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fg-japan-quake-nuclear-20110327,0,4288592.story

<snip>

At the No. 1 reactor, readings indicated the presence of cesium-136 and yttrium-91 in the cooling water, according to a statement on the nuclear agency's website.

Tokyo Electric Power Co., or Tepco, resorted to using more than 5,300 tons of ocean water to keep its reactors and adjacent fuel storage pools cool after the magnitude 9 Tohoku earthquake and resulting tsunami on March 11 knocked out the normal cooling system. But the salt in seawater is corrosive to the reactors, and engineers are trying to pump it out and drain it into the sea.

Tepco began pumping fresh water into reactors Nos. 1 and 3 on Friday, and fresh water may be used to cool the spent fuel pools at the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors beginning Sunday, Nishiyama said.

So far, radiation in the ocean appears to be limited to the area close to the plant. Levels of iodine-131 19 miles off the coast were still within acceptable limits, Nishiyama said. The radioactive particles do not threaten sea life, he added.

<more>

[Poll_Blind]

1. Oh, well, we can just use the other Pacific Ocean. Didn't we bring a spare?

Didn't we?

PB

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Just fuck me. I cannot even come up with a coherent comment. nt

[kestrel91316]

3. Well, I don't know where else people think it could or should go.

It's not like there is some sealed "landfill" to hold onto it forever. And the radiation can't simply be filtered out.

One more reason we don't need any more of these monstrosities to foul up our planet.

[PoliticAverse]

4. They could always market it...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30169195@N00/2327967008

[Turbineguy]

5. It's a case of worse choice

or worst choice.

The only thing (and it's not all that positive), the stuff has short half lives.

[flamingdem]

6. [phone]

[flamingdem]

7. Without the worlds eyes on them they never would admit to their dumpage nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. The sea is BIG! That's what I keep hearing.