Thousands evacuate as Fukishima nuclear emergency is declared

[Peter Lemkin]

TEPCO Admits To Finding Radioactive Cesium 1Km Off Coast Of Fukushima



Submitted by Tyler Durden on 10/22/2013 22:03 -0400

The dismal news keeps coming for the Fukushima nuclear power facility. According to NHK World, TEPCO is admitting to detecting radioactive cesium about one kilometer off shore. While the level is low, it is the secoond time radioactive substances have been found that far offshore and it is believed to be from wastewater leaking out with the groundwater. The company, reassuringly, says the leak poses no environmental risk... As if that was not enough, Bloomberg reports TEPCO also found high levels of radiation in the drainage ditches and wells at the site. Of course, this will likely be met with cries of delight by Abe who will "need to build a bigger wall" to contain the leaks and thus create a Keynesian utopia from the 'broken nuclear plant fallacy' that is ongoing.

Via NHK World,

Tokyo Electric Power Company says a very small amount of radioactive cesium has been detected about one kilometer off the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant it operates.

TEPCO has been analyzing seawater taken at 5 locations outside the plant's harbor. This is to monitor the spread of radioactive substances in wastewater that's believed to be seeping out with groundwater.

A sample taken last Friday about one kilometer offshore was found to contain 1.6 becquerels of cesium-137 per liter.

The level is far below the 90 becquerels-per-liter limit for releasing cesium-137 into the sea. But it is the second time the substance has been detected at this location since monitoring began in August. The previous finding was on October 8th.

TEPCO says it does not know why cesium has been found at that specific spot. But the company says it poses no environmental risk as the level is near the minimum detection threshold. It adds that hardly any cesium is being found elsewhere in the sea outside of the port.

Via Bloomberg,

Co. found 59,000 Bq/L of beta radiation levels from water taken yesterday at B-2 drainage ditch at Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant, higher than previous record of 34,000 Bq/L in Oct. 17 sample, according to an e-mailed statement from the utility.

Co. detects 350,000 Bq/L of tritium radiation at monitoring well "No. 1-12" near turbine buildings, according to a separate statement

First time to take sample from monitoring well "No. 1-12"

Co. found record 790,000 Bq/L of tritium radiation near H4 storage tank area on Oct. 17

We just can't wait to see the Olympic sailing events with boats whose hulls are lead-shielded...
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-10-22...-fukushima

Without becoming overly technical, the above 'its nothing much to worry about' position of TEPCO is both unscientific and absurd. As to the levels in the sea one Km off-shore, think of how much moving/circulating water is there to dilute to that level - BUT, two phenomena are well known which will concentrate those levels in living tissues in the sea for great distances [or in those who eat things from the sea]: bioaccumulation and bioconcentration. There are also other radioactive elements being emitted - some with very long half-lives or in such quantities that with moderate half-lives they still will do tremendous damage. This is really already worse than Chernobyl and to get worse still - only how much worse is unknown.

The levels of radioactives in the areas around the plant itself are alarming and will become more so with time [all the damaged reactors are disintegrating and/or slowly undergoing certain processes that will cause more leakage or a potential meltdown]. Moving the fuel rods out will be a perilous activity under the present conditions, and even a small 'slip up' could cause enormous radiation releases. TEPCO is obviously unable or unwilling to really deal with the situation - which is far from 'local' - although the local situation is worst - the problem extends for hundreds of Km on land and sea at alarming levels and many thousands of Km at dangerous levels that will or could become alarming. Thanks GE! ['they bring good things to life']