Conditions at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear reactor have continued to deteriorate, with Japanese officials now trying to cool the reactors by dropping water from helicopters. Panic and uncertainty are spreading throughout Japan as officials struggle to cool nuclear reactors that continue to spew radioactive steam and particles into the atmosphere. At this time, official Japanese directives have evacuated everyone within twelve miles of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex. Those within 20 miles have been asked to remain indoors at all times.
The top-ranking nuclear official in the U.S., however, has described the situation in much more dire terms, instructing U.S. citizens within a 50-mile radius of the plant to flee if possible, but to stay indoors if they are unable to get out of the area.
The primary issue involved in cooling the reactors and the spent fuel rods is ensuring that enough water is present to keep everything covered. After the earthquake and tsunami struck the area on Friday, so much damage occurred that there is no longer power to the facility, which means that none of the internal cooling mechanisms are functional.
Because of the jostling and the resulting damage, the water that is usually in place to cover all of the sensitive radioactive elements has evaporated or leaked out of the structures. As spent fuel rods become exposed to the air, they release a tremendous amount of radiation - so much so that it would represent a lethal dose to anyone in the area for more than a few moments.
With radiation levels dangerously high in the immediate area of the plant, officials have been forced to try to cool the reactors from a great distance. So far, high-pressure water hoses and dropping water from helicopters seems to be having little effect on cooling the reactors.
Nuclear Energy Institute - Clean-Air Energy
The Nuclear Energy Institute is the policy organization of the nuclear energy and technologies industry and participates in both the national and global ...
The top-ranking nuclear official in the U.S., however, has described the situation in much more dire terms, instructing U.S. citizens within a 50-mile radius of the plant to flee if possible, but to stay indoors if they are unable to get out of the area.
The primary issue involved in cooling the reactors and the spent fuel rods is ensuring that enough water is present to keep everything covered. After the earthquake and tsunami struck the area on Friday, so much damage occurred that there is no longer power to the facility, which means that none of the internal cooling mechanisms are functional.
Because of the jostling and the resulting damage, the water that is usually in place to cover all of the sensitive radioactive elements has evaporated or leaked out of the structures. As spent fuel rods become exposed to the air, they release a tremendous amount of radiation - so much so that it would represent a lethal dose to anyone in the area for more than a few moments.
With radiation levels dangerously high in the immediate area of the plant, officials have been forced to try to cool the reactors from a great distance. So far, high-pressure water hoses and dropping water from helicopters seems to be having little effect on cooling the reactors.
Nuclear Energy Institute - Clean-Air Energy
The Nuclear Energy Institute is the policy organization of the nuclear energy and technologies industry and participates in both the national and global ...
