Uranium and other radioactive materials, such as caesium and technetium, have been found in tiny particles released from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors.
This could mean the environmental impact from the fallout may last much longer than previously expected according to a new study by a team of international researchers, including scientists from The University of Manchester.
The team says that, for the first time, the fallout of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor fuel debris into the surrounding environment has been “explicitly revealed” by the study.
The scientists have been looking at extremely small pieces of debris, known as micro-particles, which were released into the environment during the initial disaster in 2011. The researchers discovered uranium from nuclear fuel embedded in or associated with caesium-rich micro particles that were emitted from the plant’s reactors during the meltdowns. The particles found measure just five micrometres or less; approximately 20 times smaller than the width of a human hair. The size of the particles means humans could inhale them.
The reactor debris fragments were found inside the nuclear exclusion zone, in paddy soils and at an abandoned aquaculture centre, located several kilometres from the nuclear plant.
It was previously thought that only volatile, gaseous radionuclides such as caesium and iodine were released from the damaged reactors. Now it is becoming clear that small, solid particles were also emitted, and that some of these particles contain very long-lived radionuclides; for example, uranium has a half-life of billions of years.
Dr Gareth Law, Senior Lecturer in Analytical Radiochemistry at the University of Manchester and an author on the paper, says: “Our research strongly suggests there is a need for further detailed investigation on Fukushima fuel debris, inside, and potentially outside the nuclear exclusion zone. Whilst it is extremely difficult to get samples from such an inhospitable environment, further work will enhance our understanding of the long-term behaviour of the fuel debris nano-particles and their impact.”
The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) is currently responsible for the clean-up and decommissioning process at the Fukushima Daiichi site and in the surrounding exclusion zone. Dr Satoshi Utsunomiya, Associate Professor at Kyushu University (Japan) led the study.
He added: “Having better knowledge of the released microparticles is also vitally important as it provides much needed data on the status of the melted nuclear fuels in the damaged reactors. This will provide extremely useful information for TEPCO’s decommissioning strategy.”
At present, chemical data on the fuel debris located within the damaged nuclear reactors is impossible to get due to the high levels of radiation. The microparticles found by the international team of researchers will provide vital clues on the decommissioning challenges that lie ahead.
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Hi all,
Personally I am very worried about this whole issue (Fukushima disaster). I don’t even know whether I can trust the water that is coming out of the tap in my kitchen.
Also, I do not understand that the International Olympic Committee allows the coming Summer Olympics 2020 to take place in Tokyo, Japan and even the baseball games sports center is being built very close to a nuclear waist facility.
(Youtube.com: Boycott Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 2-27-2018 | Organic Slant)
I mean: In Japan most of the foods are contaminated.
(YouTube.com: Fukushima’s Food Fallout: Testing Groceries for Radiation in Japan)
And high levels of radiation have been detected in Tokyo.
(YouTube.com: High levels of radiation are detected in a Tokyo residential area.)
(YouTube.com: Shocking Tokyo Japan Radiation Test by Dr. Chris Busby (Fukushima Fallout)
Also, there is a video on YouTube that indicates, that, since five years after the disaster (2011-2016), woman in Japan already are having children with severe birth defects.
(YouTube.com: Wave of babies born in Japan with extra arms and legs due to Fukushima radiation)
If I were the Head of the Olympic Committee in my country, which obviously and unfortunately, I am not, I would say: I forbid everybody (athletes, coaches, judges, officials, fans, family members) to go to the Summer Olympics 2020 in Tokyo. I would even go so far as to let them all show up at my office, and let them sign an official document, stating that they are not going and that they are staying at home. Simply, because, I would not like to have the burden of the responsibility on my neck, that people are being exposed to such high health risks…!!
And I’d say: Anybody who refuses to sign the document, or has signed the document and decides to go anyway. If any strange diseases, or severe birth defects show up in the coming years: I am really sorry, but, do not come crying to me. I warned you not to go…!!
Don’t get me wrong. I am a big fan of sports at Olympic level. When I was young I would get up in the middle of the night, to watch gymnastics on TV. But 2 weeks of being in an area with such high radiation levels and contaminated foods, in order to achieve an Olympic medal, is not worth all the possible very unpleasant health consequences that might occur and might go on for years, or possibly might be irreversible.
Can’t the International Olympic Committee ask another city, for example Rio de Janeiro to redo the summer Olympics of 2016, or London to redo the Summer Olympics of 2012, or Beijing to redo the Olympics of 2008…?
And what scares me the most, is, that the entire media on the entire planet is silent about the subject (Olympic Summer Games Tokyo 2020 and the Fukushima disaster)..
Luckily I found this video on YouTube: ‘Boycott Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 2-27-2018 | Organic Slant)’. Finally someone said something about this subject…
Kind regards,