Fukushima Fuel Faults

This caused reactors 1 through 3 to go into a meltdown and it created a situation where Japan was on the brink of a major environmental disaster. To fully understand the different events there will be a focus on: factors that caused the meltdown, why this did not impact the other three reactors, the consequences, who is responsible and how these incidents can be prevented in the future. Together, these elements will highlight the underlying effects of this disaster and its impact on the region. ("Fukushima Accident")

The Tohoku tsunami resulted in the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident with three reactors melting down: the largest nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster (Kyutoku et al., 2012). Officials from the Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency reported that radiation levels inside and outside the plant were up to 1,000 times and 8 times normal levels respectively (Tabuchi and Walk, 2011). The reactors of the nuclear plant sustained major damage to the cooling system meaning that radioactive isotopes were released into the air, ultimately leading to contamination of soil, water and food. Radioactive chemicals were found in tap water in many cities, as well as in the soil and food products (Hur, 2011). Damage and destruction of water treatment and sewage systems increase the likelihood of outbreaks of cholera and typhoid, although outbreaks are less likely to

Nearly 40 years of nuclear weapons production at Rocky Flats had left facilities, groundwater, soil, and surface waters contaminated with chemical and radioactive substances that posed potential health and safety risks to the public and workers” (Rocky Flats Plant (USDOE)). Accidents at those sites further contribute to environmental contamination. “Manufacturing activities, accidental industrial fires and spills, and support activities including waste management resulted in the release of hazardous and radioactive substances, hazardous wastes, and hazardous waste constituents to air, soil, sediment, groundwater, and surface water at Rocky Flats.” (Rocky Flats Plant (USDOE)). Similar to the contamination that is spread by the detonation of the atomic bomb, the contaminations caused by the manufacturing plants also have a very long half-life which means the contamination recovery from these sites will take a significant amount of time as well.

This is because in everyday news report on the restoration of the Tohoku region, For this reason it is difficult to see the collision between the nation, TEPCO and the citizen of Fukushima, the citizens of Fukushima and the other citizens, also between the citizens of Fukushima. Fukushima prefecture isn’t willing to close up the conflict and radioactive material problem. There’s a collision of compensation, hazard of radioactivity, a question of right or wrong of refuge, energy policy.

Nuclear bombs are starting to become an issue in this day in age with uprising technology. Nuclear chemicals have always been a safety problem but with the growing number of plants it’s starting to become a higher risk. One of the alarming effects that nuclear plants are creating is radiation, radiation can create so many

On March 11th, 2011, the northern section of Japan was hit by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 15 meter tsunami, causing the death of over 15000 people. (Spacey) Even though the earthquake and the tsunami caused a tremendous amount of deaths in the northern region of Japan, the meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear power plant caused a severe damage to northern Japan’s ecosystem that people still cannot go back to their homes; despite it is 4 years after the disaster. After the earthquake, the tsunami destroyed the power supply used by Fukushima’s three nuclear power stations, causing severe levels of meltdown to be occurred inside the reactors in the timespan of 3 days. It was not until 2 weeks after the tragedy, when the reactors were finally stabilized, and took several months to approach what is called a “cold shutdown condition”, in which the fission in the reactors are completely stopped.(Fukushima A)

Taking up residence in the exclusion zone, replacing the human inhabitants is the Cesium-137. With a half-life of 30 years, and since it takes about 10 half-lives for any radionuclide to disappear, it will maintain ownership of the exclusion zone for centuries. Once radioactive cesium enters an ecosystem, it quickly becomes ubiquitous, contaminating water, soil, plants and animals. It has been detected in a large range of Japanese foodstuffs, including spinach, tea leaves, milk, beef, and freshwater fish up to 200 miles from Fukushima. Routine ingestion of foods contaminated with so-called “low levels” of radioactive cesium has been shown to lead to its bio-accumulation in the heart and endocrine tissues, as well as in the kidneys, small intestines, pancreas, spleen and liver. This process occurs much

The explosion that occurred on February where gallon drums, if the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant nuclear waste were buried deep in the salt shaft, led to the closure of the facility for months. In addition, the incidence raised questions on the Department of Energy’s ability to keep tabs on the content of nuclear container that were buried at the site. Experts asserted that the risk of an additional eruption is real and had several effects on 21 workers who were exposed to low-level doses of radiation (Lopez 85). Currently, investigators for the energy department have not determined the reason behind the explosion and why radioactive waste products buried more than feet below the ground has a chemical reaction that led to radioactivity. In addition, there are no experts to assert that the accident occur with other drums that were containing the same kind of waste products from nuclear plants. Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is located in an ancient salt bed dug out as a conventional salt mine. Apparently, it was designed that once it is filled up and plugged, the salt could gradually breakdown around the waste and seal it for the period of 10,000 years (Rechard and Voegele 61). Thus, the dump is designed to ensure that waste and radioactivity do not escape. During the explosion, the radioactivity was released and traveled up the vent shaft and gave 21 workers who were on the surface a small dose of radiation that was detected in

The hazardous radioactive nuclear waste stockpiles, created over several decades due to the expansion of nuclear industry in the domains of power generation, science, industry, military and medical fields, is an intensified global concern today. There are several categories of nuclear waste and the most unfavorable are the intermediate level and the high level nuclear leftovers because of their radioactivity (International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) 2013, p.9). The majority of this highly radioactive waste is produced in nuclear power generation as spent fuel in nuclear reactors. According to International Atomic Energy Agency there are 30 countries, operate 449 nuclear reactors for power generations and another 60 nuclear power plants

Radioactive waste contains radioactive substances, which are used for the production of nuclear power and in other scientific fields such as nuclear fission or nuclear technology (Hidaka, Yuan, and ebrary, 2012). Currently, although the use of radioactive materials has provided great benefits to society, the radioactive waste issue has been widely discussed in terms of being a huge problem that may affect natural environmental systems, and also human health (Ojovan & Knovel, 2011).

The environmental fears of Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and the Fukushima power plant have yet to be completely realized .Chernobyl had the Red Forest, where a whole forest of pine trees died and were removed. Mutations were reported on vegetation and wildlife. The Fukushima power plant has yet to begin assessing the environmental impact it is certain there will be many. Chernobyl placed many food restrictions on plant and animal consumption, and several remain today. Therefore, more research is needed to understand and protect communities from these environmental concerns. The potential for an accident and the problem of waste disposal reaffirm the hazards and fears associated with nuclear energy and the consequences on the environment. Although, exposure to low-level radiation occurs daily the health concerns over cancer and radiation remain a priority for health professionals. The link to cancer and radiation are confirmed in a report by the EPA “There is no firm basis for setting a "safe" level of exposure.... In setting limits, EPA makes the conservative (cautious) assumption that any increase in radiation exposure is accompanied by an increased risk of stochastic (random) effects.” The consequence of nuclear accidents verifies the dangers associated with nuclear power. Radiation is dangerous with the risk of poisoning and cancer. Three Mile Island did not kill anyone in 1979, but the long-term

also with the continuing threat of a nuclear meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. For the past several days, tens of millions of people have been living with the fear of major radiation leaks from the crippled plant” (EIU).

Atmospheric fallout radionuclides(FRN), such as 7Be, 10Be, 137Cs, 210Pb, 239Pu and 240Pu, effectively tag surface sediments and the concentration declines markedly with depth and are preferentially absorbed to clay minerals and organic matter due to their high specific surface area which renders them chemically

An explosion occurred at Nuclear facility at Tomsk town of Siberia (formerly USSR). The site of the plant is located in the Russian Federation and is about 16 km from the regional capital of Tomsk and covers an area of 192 sq kilometers with an area surrounding it of 1560 sq kilometers which is designated as a supervisory zone in which the routine measurements of nuclear radiations are carried out to monitor the impact of the plant. Tomsk has a nuclear processing plant at area Tomsk 7 which includes approximate 100000 population. The Explosions occurred on 6th April 1993 in one of the complex. The accident happened when there was a cleaning of one of the underground storage tank was going on. The workers poured Nitric acid (HNO3) and eventually the chemical reaction occurred resulting the explosion and forming the clouds of radioactive material to contaminate the surrounding area of about 120 sq kms and tens of thousands of people got exposed to the to increased level of radiation. The radiation also caused contamination of Air, soil and water resources.

in general are highly used for nuclear energy, for both good and bad ways. Good uses of