A worst-case scenario may be playing out in Japan, where officials believe that one of the cores of the damaged nuclear reactor may have been breached. Workers were pulled out of the damaged nuclear facility at Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant again today after evidence emerged that one of the reactor cores may be damaged. If a reactor core is in fact breached, then it likely means that much higher levels of radiation - and much higher volumes - have been released from the plant already. Some of that may help to explain why tap water and vegetables as far away as Tokyo are already testing for elevated levels of radiation. At one point yesterday, plant workers waded into water that contained levels of radiation 10,000 times higher than what would be considered safe. Some of the burns sustained by the workers led officials to believe that a reactor core breach may have occurred.
In short, it appears that the dire situation in Japan is only getting worse for now. "The situation today at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant is still very grave and serious. We must remain vigilant," Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said. "We are not in a position where we can be optimistic. We must treat every development with the utmost care."
The uncertainty and helplessness that surrounds the situation is difficult to fathom and must be nearly impossible to endure. A damaged reactor core is likely to change the entire scope of the operation and it may force more drastic measures in the near term. It also means that much more contamination was probably already released than has been previously estimated. Officials are guessing that, if a breach has occurred, it was probably a result of the explosion that rocked the plant on March 14. The Prime Minister also issued an apology to the farmers and business owners whose products and production have been irreparably damaged by the radiation leaks.
Energy Resources: Nuclear power
Nuclear power produces around 11% of the world's energy needs, and produces huge amounts of energy from small amounts of fuel, without the pollution that ...
In short, it appears that the dire situation in Japan is only getting worse for now. "The situation today at the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant is still very grave and serious. We must remain vigilant," Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said. "We are not in a position where we can be optimistic. We must treat every development with the utmost care."
The uncertainty and helplessness that surrounds the situation is difficult to fathom and must be nearly impossible to endure. A damaged reactor core is likely to change the entire scope of the operation and it may force more drastic measures in the near term. It also means that much more contamination was probably already released than has been previously estimated. Officials are guessing that, if a breach has occurred, it was probably a result of the explosion that rocked the plant on March 14. The Prime Minister also issued an apology to the farmers and business owners whose products and production have been irreparably damaged by the radiation leaks.
Energy Resources: Nuclear power
Nuclear power produces around 11% of the world's energy needs, and produces huge amounts of energy from small amounts of fuel, without the pollution that ...
