Radioactive water is being released into the Pacific to make storage room in the damaged Japanese nuclear power plant. The disaster that hit Japan and which has left workers scrambling to fix problems with nuclear power facilities is taking a new turn now, with workers beginning to pump contaminated water from the plant into the Pacific Ocean to free up storage space for yet more radioactive water. The earthquake and tsunami that hit the country on March 11 was destructive enough, but the aftermath has been just as terrible. It is predicted that it will take two full days to remove the less-radioactive water from the power plant.
Japanese officials have noted that the radioactive water should not affect animals in the area, as radioactive material is quickly and effectively diluted in such a large body of water as the Pacific. Still, the move has some a bit concerned. Noted Junichi Matsumoto, an official with Tokyo Electric Power Company, "We think releasing water with low levels of radiation is preferable to allowing water with high levels of radiation to be released into the environment."
Said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, "Even if they say the contamination will be diluted in the ocean, the longer this continues, the more radioactive particles will be released and the greater the impact on the ocean. We are strongly urging TEPCO that they have to take immediate action to deal with this." Despite concerns, experts note that the dumping of radioactive water is unlikely to have any serious effects. Noted William Burnett of Florida State University when asked about the ability of the water to dilute quickly, "It’s a very large ocean." One can only hope that sentiment is true.
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force ...
Japanese officials have noted that the radioactive water should not affect animals in the area, as radioactive material is quickly and effectively diluted in such a large body of water as the Pacific. Still, the move has some a bit concerned. Noted Junichi Matsumoto, an official with Tokyo Electric Power Company, "We think releasing water with low levels of radiation is preferable to allowing water with high levels of radiation to be released into the environment."
Said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, "Even if they say the contamination will be diluted in the ocean, the longer this continues, the more radioactive particles will be released and the greater the impact on the ocean. We are strongly urging TEPCO that they have to take immediate action to deal with this." Despite concerns, experts note that the dumping of radioactive water is unlikely to have any serious effects. Noted William Burnett of Florida State University when asked about the ability of the water to dilute quickly, "It’s a very large ocean." One can only hope that sentiment is true.
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force ...
