2011-03-15

As if things could not get better in Japan ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_I_nuclear_accidents

It's seems it's one disaster after another.

I'm not sure which is more damaging, the tsunami or the nuclear plant explosions.

This -

The Japanese National Police Agency has officially confirmed 3,676[6][7] deaths, 1,990[6][7] injuries, and 7,558[6][7] people missing across 16 prefectures, but estimated numbers are far higher, ranging from thousands to tens of thousands dead or missing.[35] The earthquake and tsunami caused extensive and severe damage in Japan, including heavy damage to roads and railways as well as fires in many areas, and a dam collapse. Around 4.4 million households in northeastern Japan were left without electricity and 1.4 million without water.[

or this -

Radiation sickness typically occurs at about 1000 millisieverts total dose.[159] Normal background radiation varies from place to place but is around 2.4 millisievert per year (or about 0.3 µSv/h).[160]




At 400 mSv/h near No. 3 reactor, experts are urging a rapid rotation of emergency crews at Fukushima I, to limit their exposure to its DNA-destroying energy.[161] At these levels, the 50 workers still on site ran the real risk of developing radiation sickness.[161] Public health physicians are saying that the levels are much higher than the limit set for workers in occupational health settings of 20 millisieverts annually.[161] The general population faced separate risks from chronic exposure to lower-level contaminants released into the environment.[161]



Radioactive isotopes from nuclear accidents, like Fukushima I, emit alpha particles. Outside the body they are not usually a problem, but if swallowed or inhaled, they can do great damage. The isotope iodine-131 is easily absorbed by the thyroid. Caesium-137 is also a particular threat because it behaves like potassium and is taken-up by the cells throughout the body. Strontium-90 behaves like calcium, leading to accumulation in bones and teeth.[161]



Increases in cancer rates could be expected to follow a significant radiation leak.[161]
I have a deep morbid sense that the reality of the situation will never ever be fully publicly disclosed, not in this lifetime.

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