[ RadSafe ] High radiation levels detected at Fukushima grounds a month after explosions

[Perle, Sandy]

It is positive that we are actually be provided data for specific
locations, and I am assuming that the data provided is accurate. The dose
rates don't surprise me since that would be expected where there has been
a breech of particulates, liquid, etc. What would be more interesting is a
map of the population zones in and around the plant to determine which
areas are inhabitable and individuals can come home, or, uninhabitable due
to the rates. The isotopic make-up is also important of what is there to
take decay into account.

A very tragic situation. The people in and around Fukushima have endured
the unthinkable, a devastating earthquake, a Tsunami and now the nuclear
plant disaster. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the people in
Japan with the knowledge that you will endure these tragedies.

Regards,

Sandy

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Sander C. Perle
President
Mirion Technologies
Dosimetry Services Division
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On 4/26/11 6:40 AM, "RRGWNYEnviro at aol.com" <RRGWNYEnviro at aol.com> wrote:

>
>High radiation levels detected at Fukushima grounds a month after
>explosions
>
>2011/04/26
>_http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201104250130.html_
>(http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201104250130.html)
>Please check the latest developments in this disaster. From Toshio Jo,
>managing editor, International Division, The Asahi Shimbun.
>
>
>* * *
>High levels of radiation were detected on the grounds of the Fukushima
>No.
>1 nuclear power plant one month after explosions spewed radioactive
>materials, according to Tokyo Electric Power Co.
>The findings were shown in a map depicting radiation levels that TEPCO
>released for the first time on April 24.
>Radiation levels in the air around the No. 1 and No. 3 reactor buildings
>were especially high, mainly because the explosions damaged the buildings
>and
>spread radioactive materials.
>The air in an area to the northwest of the No. 3 reactor building had
>radiation levels of up to 70 millisieverts per hour. That building was
>damaged by
>explosion on March 14, three days after the Great East Japan Earthquake
>and
>tsunami crippled the plant.
>TEPCO first compiled the radiation level map on March 22 and has
>periodically updated it. The map is used to monitor radiation exposure of
>workers at
>the Fukushima plant and prepare new work plans for the plant grounds.
>Workers check radiation levels in the air every seven to 10 days or
>before
>any work procedure starts.
>If unusually high radiation levels are detected, further testing of
>rubble
>in the area is conducted to determine the cause of the high levels.
>Radiation levels as high as 130 millisieverts per hour were confirmed
>around the No. 1 and No. 3 reactor buildings in late March.
>Because radiation decreases with the passage of time, subsequent testing
>found lower levels.
>But if the level of 70 millisieverts per hour continues to the northwest
>of
>the No. 3 reactor building, a worker who remains in that area for four
>hours will have been exposed to more than the upper limit of 250
>millisieverts
>established for individuals engaged in work at the Fukushima plant.
>Workers exposed to that total level of radiation will not be allowed to
>work in the area.
>On March 20, concrete rubble found west of the No. 3 reactor building had
>radiation levels of 900 millisieverts per hour. Even after that rubble
>was
>removed, radiation levels in the air measured between 10 and 30
>millisieverts
>per hour.
>Another pile of rubble emitting radiation levels of 300 millisieverts per
>hour was found near the No. 3 reactor building.
>Almost all of the contaminated rubble was concrete from the No. 1 reactor
>building that was damaged in a hydrogen explosion on March 12 as well as
>from
>the No. 3 reactor building, hit by an explosion there on March 14.
>According to calculations by the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan, the
>equivalent of 190,000 terabecquerels of radioactive iodine had been
>spewed
>from the reactor buildings by March 15. A terabecquerel is equivalent to
>1
>trillion becquerels.
>That high level meant the Fukushima plant accident had already reached
>the
>worst level 7 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale,
>matching the assessment given to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
>A pipe installed to move radiation-contaminated water from the trench of
>the No. 2 reactor to a central waste processing facility was found to
>have
>radiation levels of 160 millisieverts per hour on its surface.
>Areas within the plant ground at a distance from the reactor buildings
>were
>also found to have radiation levels that exceeded 1 millisievert per
>hour.
>High radiation levels in the air were found even after rubble in the area
>was removed.
>The rubble, removed by remote-controlled heavy equipment, has been placed
>in 50 containers and moved to a temporary storage area within the plant
>grounds. A considerable amount of rubble remains, however.
>While TEPCO officials continue to remove the rubble to allow for easier
>work within the plant, one official said the radiation would not have a
>major
>effect on work because the contamination has already been figured into
>the
>road map for work procedures.
>(This article was written by Keisuke Katori and Hidenori Tsuboya.)
>Very truly yours,
>M.Sato
>RRG: Ryokan Route Gento (Grand Mali Park)
>WNY: West Noga (area) Yokohama
>Environment Monitoring


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