A high level of radioactive iodine has been detected in seawater near Japan's troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The facility was hit by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said on Saturday that iodine 131 in excess of 1,250 times regulated standards was found in seawater collected 330 meters south of a plant water outlet at 8:30 AM on Friday.
The agency says there is no immediate threat to people within the 20-kilometer evacuation zone. The agency adds that as seawater is dispersed by ocean currents the contamination level will decline.
Iodine 131 at146.9 times regulated standards was detected in seawater in the area on Wednesday.
2011年3月27日日曜日
2011年3月14日月曜日
Power cuts force businesses to suspend operations
The rotating blackouts that began on Monday across Tokyo and surrounding areas have prompted businesses in the region to suspend their activities.
Electronics maker Toshiba halted operations at 2 plants and an office in areas subject to the power cuts.
Toshiba says it does not know how long the suspension will be in place, nor how it will affect earnings.
Chemical company Showa Denko has shut down 8 of its plants for 3 days. The company says that if the suspension is prolonged, it may be unable to supply its customers.
Many supermarkets and convenience stores plan to close their doors during the blackout hours.
Major department store operators closed some of their outlets, and say they haven't decided what to do from Tuesday.
Automobile parts maker Yorozu turned off all lighting at its head office in Yokohama, near Tokyo.
Chairman Akihiko Shido says the daily power cuts are detrimental to his company's production. He urges Tokyo Electric Power Company to restrict the blackouts to once every several days.
Monday, March 14, 2011 20:
Electronics maker Toshiba halted operations at 2 plants and an office in areas subject to the power cuts.
Toshiba says it does not know how long the suspension will be in place, nor how it will affect earnings.
Chemical company Showa Denko has shut down 8 of its plants for 3 days. The company says that if the suspension is prolonged, it may be unable to supply its customers.
Many supermarkets and convenience stores plan to close their doors during the blackout hours.
Major department store operators closed some of their outlets, and say they haven't decided what to do from Tuesday.
Automobile parts maker Yorozu turned off all lighting at its head office in Yokohama, near Tokyo.
Chairman Akihiko Shido says the daily power cuts are detrimental to his company's production. He urges Tokyo Electric Power Company to restrict the blackouts to once every several days.
Monday, March 14, 2011 20:
2011年3月13日日曜日
Nuclear accident rated at level 4
The Japanese government rates the accident at the Fukushima Number One nuclear power plant at level 4 on an international scale of 0 to 7.
Two radioactive substances, cesium and radioactive iodine, were detected near the Number One reactor at the plant on Saturday. Their presence indicates nuclear fission of uranium.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said that fuel in the reactor partially melted. It's the first such accident in Japan.
A level 4 on the International Nuclear and Radiologocal Event Scale includes damage to fuel and release of significant quantities of radioactive material within an installation.
It's the same level as a criticality accident at a nuclear fuel processing plant in Tokai Village in Ibaraki Prefecture, south of Fukushima, in 1999.
The agency called the accident very regrettable even though it was triggered by an earthquake.
Two radioactive substances, cesium and radioactive iodine, were detected near the Number One reactor at the plant on Saturday. Their presence indicates nuclear fission of uranium.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said that fuel in the reactor partially melted. It's the first such accident in Japan.
A level 4 on the International Nuclear and Radiologocal Event Scale includes damage to fuel and release of significant quantities of radioactive material within an installation.
It's the same level as a criticality accident at a nuclear fuel processing plant in Tokai Village in Ibaraki Prefecture, south of Fukushima, in 1999.
The agency called the accident very regrettable even though it was triggered by an earthquake.
False claims circulating by e-mail
In the wake of the devastating earthquake in northeastern Japan, chain e-mails and misinformation are circulating on the Internet.
E-mails warn that a massive fire at an oil refinery in Chiba triggered by the quake could contaminate rainfall with toxic substances. They advise people to use umbrellas and raincoats for protection.
The oil company that operates the refinery says that what the message suggests is not true. It notes that the liquefied petroleum gas from tanks which has burned off hardly affects the human body.
The chain e-mails apparently aim to gain attention by propagating sensationalist misinformation.
On Twitter, groundless warnings, including one reading that "another quake will hit western Japan", have been posted. In some malicious messages, people pretending to be quake victims called for help.
The government warns such misinformation could spread fast on the Internet, hampering rescue and evacuation efforts of those actually affected by the quake.
It advises people to reference any claims found in e-mails with information provided by local authorities and relevant companies.
E-mails warn that a massive fire at an oil refinery in Chiba triggered by the quake could contaminate rainfall with toxic substances. They advise people to use umbrellas and raincoats for protection.
The oil company that operates the refinery says that what the message suggests is not true. It notes that the liquefied petroleum gas from tanks which has burned off hardly affects the human body.
The chain e-mails apparently aim to gain attention by propagating sensationalist misinformation.
On Twitter, groundless warnings, including one reading that "another quake will hit western Japan", have been posted. In some malicious messages, people pretending to be quake victims called for help.
The government warns such misinformation could spread fast on the Internet, hampering rescue and evacuation efforts of those actually affected by the quake.
It advises people to reference any claims found in e-mails with information provided by local authorities and relevant companies.
Nuclear reactors in serious status
Work on cooling nuclear reactors is facing difficulties at 2 power plants in quake-hit Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan.
At the Fukushima Number One Power Plant, both the number one reactor, and the number two reactor's emergency generators broke down, making it difficult to pump water into the reactors. That allowed temperatures in the reactors to rise.
Pressure inside the containment vessel of the reactors also remains higher than normal.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company, the plants' operator, tried to restore depressurizing equipment using a mobile generator. But the plan failed as the equipment had already been damaged by tsunami waves.
At the Number Two Plant, cooling water temperatures in its 3 reactors remain at 100 degrees Celsius--more than 3-times higher than the normal operating temperature.
The utility is considering other options to restore failed cooling systems for these reactors.
On Saturday, the government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said 2 radioactive substances, cesium and iodine, had been detected near the Number One reactor at the Number One power plant. This indicates nuclear fission of uranium fuel. The agency announced some fuel in the reactor had partially melted. Sea water is being used to try to cool that reactor.
The electric company is not sure how soon it will be able to completely halt the reactors at the 2 power stations.
At the Fukushima Number One Power Plant, both the number one reactor, and the number two reactor's emergency generators broke down, making it difficult to pump water into the reactors. That allowed temperatures in the reactors to rise.
Pressure inside the containment vessel of the reactors also remains higher than normal.
The Tokyo Electric Power Company, the plants' operator, tried to restore depressurizing equipment using a mobile generator. But the plan failed as the equipment had already been damaged by tsunami waves.
At the Number Two Plant, cooling water temperatures in its 3 reactors remain at 100 degrees Celsius--more than 3-times higher than the normal operating temperature.
The utility is considering other options to restore failed cooling systems for these reactors.
On Saturday, the government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said 2 radioactive substances, cesium and iodine, had been detected near the Number One reactor at the Number One power plant. This indicates nuclear fission of uranium fuel. The agency announced some fuel in the reactor had partially melted. Sea water is being used to try to cool that reactor.
The electric company is not sure how soon it will be able to completely halt the reactors at the 2 power stations.
2011年3月12日土曜日
Many take shelter in Tokyo
The earthquake caused train service to be suspended across Tokyo. Many people had to seek shelter in various facilities, including schools, community halls and sports centers.
Government ministries and agencies in central Tokyo have also been opened as shelters, among them an auditorium and 9 job-placement offices.
On top of that, some restaurants and commercial buildings have voluntarily made their facilities available.
People who wanted to get home formed long lines at stations in central Tokyo to take a taxi or bus.
Bus companies increased their service and continued operation until late into the night. Some railways that resumed their services also extended their hours.
Saturday, March 1
Government ministries and agencies in central Tokyo have also been opened as shelters, among them an auditorium and 9 job-placement offices.
On top of that, some restaurants and commercial buildings have voluntarily made their facilities available.
People who wanted to get home formed long lines at stations in central Tokyo to take a taxi or bus.
Bus companies increased their service and continued operation until late into the night. Some railways that resumed their services also extended their hours.
Saturday, March 1
High level of radiation observed at nuclear plant
Fukushima Prefecture says a high level of radiation has been measured near the Fukushima Number One nuclear power station.
The prefecture says the radiation level rose to 1,015 mircrosieverts per hour on Saturday.
One hour of exposure to this amount of radiation is equivalent to the permissible amount of radiation an ordinary person receives in one year. It is about twice the level that requires power companies to notify the government of an emergency situation.
The government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says the power station's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, observed the radiation level near a gate on the hillside of the plant at 3:29 PM on Saturday, before an explosion was reported at the nuclear plant.
Saturday, March 12, 2011 18:43
The prefecture says the radiation level rose to 1,015 mircrosieverts per hour on Saturday.
One hour of exposure to this amount of radiation is equivalent to the permissible amount of radiation an ordinary person receives in one year. It is about twice the level that requires power companies to notify the government of an emergency situation.
The government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says the power station's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, observed the radiation level near a gate on the hillside of the plant at 3:29 PM on Saturday, before an explosion was reported at the nuclear plant.
Saturday, March 12, 2011 18:43
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