Blog #9: Twice As Much Radiation as Previously Expected From Fukushima

Friday, October 28th, 2011

3:38 PM

A statement on MSNBC’s website from the Associated Press suggests that twice the amount previously thought of a radioactive substance called cesium-137 has been released into the atmosphere from the nuclear disaster at Fukishima in March. This amount in total reached about 40% of the amount of cesium released in the Chernobyl disaster. The data that was collected to make this statement comes from worldwide sensors compiled by Andreas Stohl of the Norwegian Institute for Air Research. The study stated that the previous study was inaccurate because the data was only collected in Japan. The study also did not look into any health risks associated with the radioactive chemical, which can last decades in the environment at large, producing carcinogenic radiation. The new study says that approximately one fifth of the cesium fell onto the Japanese landmass, while the other four fifths blew into the sea. The previous study also stated that the spent fuel pool for the reactor was not releasing cesium, however, Stohl’s study has found that the emissions of cesium 137 from the area decreased significantly after the workers began spraying the area with water.

The search for reliable energy in a world with an ever-expanding need for electricity has led us to dangerous territory. The fact that we could make an entire region uninhabitable for generations as a side-effect of producing energy that accounts for roughly 6% of the world’s energy should be alarming to most people. There are serious detrimental effects on the environment from the burning of fossil fuels, but nuclear power may be no better if we continue to have nuclear disasters similar to this and Chernobyl. This problem, though relatively contained now, is already global in nature because of all of the radioactive material that fell into the ocean, and will continue to emit radiation there for quite some years. No experts can objectively speculate about how many cases of cancer and other diseases will result from the sea-borne radiation from Fukushima.

Sources:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45067270/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.Tqrw3mDN7_c

http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/11/28319/2011/acpd-11-28319-2011.html