[ RadSafe ] Spewing Radiation

[Jerry Cohen]

I can live with radiation leaks and emissions, but when it "spews", I worry. 
Maybe this is just another example of what the NYT considers fair, balanced, and 
objective reporting.
I don't understand the inordinate efforts to prevent seepage of radioactivity 
into the ocean. I believe that dumping radioactive contaminated water into the 
ocean is the safest and most expedient means of dealing with the problem. The 
oceanic capacity to dilute to safe levels is essentially infinite. Monitoring 
radioactivity levels near the release point and preventing intrusion into areas 
of high concentration would be a reasonable precaution, but in a relatively 
short time, the convective forces of the ocean would naturally dilute these 
concentrations to safe levels.----Even if the New York Times does not approve.
Jerry Cohen



________________________________
From: "Egidi, Phil" <Phil.Egidi at dphe.state.co.us>
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List 
<radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Sent: Tue, August 2, 2011 8:17:23 AM
Subject: [ RadSafe ] NY Times article today on Fukashima

Radsters,

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/world/asia/02japan.html?_r=1&hp

Radiation levels of 10 Sv/h and the workers are protected by their anti-C's?
Surface activity levels, (Bq/cm^2) I could understand being protected by 
clothing, but readings in Sv/h?.  It's not just the folks in India who need to 
clarify their units...
I want a pair of whatever those guys are wearing if they are protected at 10 
Sv/h...

<snip>
Tokyo Electric Power, said that workers on Monday afternoon had found an area 
near Reactors No. 1 and 2, where radiation levels exceeded their measuring 
device's maximum reading of 10 sieverts per hour - a fatal dose for humans.
<snip>
The company said the workers who found the reading were safely protected by 
antiradiation clothing. Tokyo Electric said it has closed off an area of several 
yards around where the lethal radiation level was found. The company said this 
would not hamper efforts to build a new cooling system and remove contaminated 
water.

The plant has continued to spew radiation since the disaster, though levels have 
been dropping. The operator is working to install a new makeshift cooling system 
by early next year that will allow it to finally shut down the plant's three 
damaged reactors.

That effort includes removing thousands of tons of highly contaminated water 
from the reactor buildings. On Monday, Tokyo Electric also said it will begin 
constructing a new wall that will extend some 60 feet underground to prevent 
radioactive groundwater from seeping into the nearby Pacific Ocean.


Phil Egidi
CDPHE
Don't shoot, I just pass 'em on...




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