This information is a few days old, as I have been travelling, but as I have done several times already, please allow me to share with you the UK's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir John Beddington's of April 7th. It is a good overview, and shows that things are slowly getting better with regard to the nuclear plant issue;
Fukushima:Overview
Sir John begun the briefing by saying that we should not relax completely on the subject of Fukushima - the situation is still serious – but that there has been significant progress. This “progress” is the reason why the FCO travel advice was relaxed last night. Sir John explained that the Japanese have now established power to the nuclear plant and are using fresh water to cool the reactors. These two facts, coupled with the natural progressive decay of iodine, mean that any effects of radiation are significantly reduced. From time to time, Sir John went on, there will be small releases of radiation into the environment, but this will be nothing like the radiation produced by the meltdown of a reactor or an explosion in a fuel pond. TEPCO is now injecting nitrogen into the main containment unit – mainly unit 1 – in order to cut down the possibility of hydrogen based explosions. Sir John says that the UK supports this move and urged that people should not be alarmed by resultant steam that will sometimes emit from the plant. This is a natural side effect of the hydrogen injections. In summary, the practical actions taken by the Japanese – connecting power and using fresh water – coupled with the natural processes of iodine 131 decaying, mean that the situation at Fukushima is improving in general. Sir John assured that the threat of radiation to the Tokyo region has significantly reduced.
Q: Can you say something about the continuing concerns about food and water from the area?
Sir John and his colleagues from the UK’s Health Protection Industry and the Department of Health, reiterated that significant amounts of radiation have been released into the water, and that seafood from the Fukushima area should not be eaten; the risk to Tokyo has disappeared. People are urged to take their lead from the guidance of the Japanese government.
Land contamination
The briefing went on to cover the issue of land contamination – there are high concentrations of radioactivity on agricultural land. It might be possible for people to live in certain areas, but the soil there might be contaminated for months or years to come. Sir John and colleagues continued: the Japanese will put legislation in place to make sure that food from these areas does not get into the food chain. We were reminded that it is “still early days” but that Japanese regulations are more stringent than those of other countries.
Q: There is concern over milk, eggs, dairy products, etc. Is there anything you can say about that?
Sir John reinforced the fact that the Japanese will continue to test food, and that their regulations are stringent; this means that any detection of radiation will quickly become apparent. The primary concern was radioactive iodine; cesium getting onto the soil is also an issue. But the latter is easy to detect and regulate, it was assured. Milk may be banned in a wider area, even in areas that people can live quite safely, but this is yet to be announced.
Q: Can you explain more about the Nitrogen injections by TEPCO?
Sir John explained that these will go on for a few more days. He continued: reactors are surrounded by containment vessels. At present, the potential for explosions is being kept as low as possible, so there is a drop in the chances of explosive activity. The Japanese are moderating the situation.
Q: Parents and children have returned to school in Toyko – should they receive iodine tablets?
Iodine should only be taken when a radioactive plume comes overhead, Sir John said, so the need to take it is probably over. Common sense tells us that there is no need for iodine at present. Sir John expressed that you shouldn’t take these tablets unless it is suggested by Japanese authorities. The UK is not recommending that people take them. David Fitton from the British Embassy in Tokyo said that the Embassy is still providing the tablets to those who would like them, but that this operation is being kept under review.
Q: Why is “new” iodine 131 not being produced in the reactors?
It just isn’t, Sir John said. Iodine is only produced when a reactor is producing electricity. When reactors are switched off, all iodine will start decaying and the amounts will naturally go down. There is no iodine in the storage ponds at all, he assured.
Q: For people who are volunteering in the quake affected area, is the 80km exclusion zone still in force?
Sir John said that the UK will be reviewing this at the next SAGE meeting. At present they are monitoring the worst case scenarios, including the impact of bad weather conditions, and calculating what the likely dosages would be. Sir John and his team will then provide advice into COBRA; it is a “work in progress”.
Q: The amounts of radiation dumped into the ocean seemed large, are there implications for seafood on a larger scale?
They do seem like large volumes but in relation to the size of the Pacific Ocean they are miniscule, said Sir John. From a practical perspective, larger scale impact is enormously unlikely because the Pacific Ocean is so large. Sir John assured that the Japanese are monitoring levels in fish and food and have banned produced from the region.
Q: Any comments on the ongoing seismic activity in Eastern Japan?
Sir John acknowledged that aftershocks are natural after such a major earthquake, but that their intensity will decay over time. Sir John stated that he is a biologist and not a geologist. The conclusion of today’s briefing was that “things are getting better” and that the Japanese are now making progress on what is a difficult problem.
Stay calm! Our thoughts, prayers, and hopes for a quick recovery are with all those who have been affected by this crisis.
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