Power company officials, in Japan, have announced that blackouts will begin, and last for about 3 hours each time. The blackouts will affect millions of households.
Japanese Self Defense Forces say they have rescued 19,000 people, so far.
Tag Archives: japan
Strong Quake Warnings Issued for Japan
NHK reporting that the Japanese government is warning of strong earthquakes. Asking people to prepare. They named at least 4 prefectures including Chiba.
Fukushima Press Conference shows Confusion, Unit 4 Explosion
Officials at latest press conference have made statements that make it clear that there is confusion as to what is going on at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Statements made include the fact that there is confusion over types of units of radiation measurement. Also, confusion over what is causing smoke coming from reactor 3, and confusion over what is causing some radiation readings to go up.
Now saying that reactor 4 actually exploded yesterday (not just fire). Photos presented as proof, and to explain how spent fuel rods were exposed.
Fukushima Officials asking for help from Military
Fukushima officials say they are asking for help from the Japanese Self Defense Forces. Situation rapidly changing at Fukushima plant 1 (Daiichi).
Smoke from reactor 3. Radiation levels increasing. Officials admit they are having trouble making clear which unit of measurement they are using for radiation levels. Containment vessel in reactor 3 might be damaged. Cause unknown at this point. Confirming damage to reactor 2 suppression chamber.
Smoke from Fukushima may be Reactor 3 Spent Fuel Rods
Reuters, and NHK, reporting that the white smoke from Fukushima Daiichi, is coming from reactor 3. It is suspected to be coming from the Spent Fuel Rod Pool of reactor 3.
NHK reporting another fire at the plant. No details on the new fire.
West Coast U.S. buying up Iodide Pills
A Miami Herald article says people living on the West Coast of the United States are buying up anti-radiation pills.
nukepills.com, in North Carolina, has sold 6,500 orders of iodide pills (it is still being incorrectly called iodine pills) in four days. Normally they sell only 100 in the same time period. Most of the orders came from Washington state, Oregon and California.
The problem with Iodide, is that it can be a health hazard if misused. Iodide builds up in the thyroid, and can cause health issues. Another problem is that the more Iodide is used the less effective it is. Radioactive Iodine-131 causes thyroid cancer.
When Iodide and oxygen mix you get Iodine. So Iodine is a byproduct.
4 deadly Radiations
Radiation emitted by the Fukushima plant include the following four types: iodine-131, cesium-137, strontium-90 and plutonium-239.
Iodine-131 causes thyroid cancer, even with the smallest of amount of exposure.
Strontium is similar to calcium, so the body absorbs it into the bones thinking it is calcium. Strontium can remain in your bones for years, and can cause cancer like leukemia.
Cesium is like potassium, in that it circulates to every part of the body. It causes cancer in your body’s organs.
Plutonium-239 is what makes up most of a nuclear fuel rod. Causes lung cancer.
All these radiations are active for years. Plutonium is active tens of thousands of years. This is why the area directly surrounding Chernobyl is still off limits, since 1986. Also, there are islands that had been used in nuclear testing during the Cold War, that are still off limits.
France tells Citizens to Leave Japan
On 13 March 2011, the French embassy in Japan told French citizens to leave.
The memo described a worst case scenario that had most of Japan being hit by radioactive clouds. The memo also warned of overuse of Radiation Pills (Iodide), “Excessive repeated use can be harmful to your health.”
Radiation Cloud from Fukushima
NHK reporting that there is a constant stream of white smoke coming from the Fukushima nuclear plant 1 (Daiichi).
NHK has a helicopter about 30km away from the plant, transmitting live video. The Japanese government has declared a no fly zone over the plant, because of the radiation.
Example of Bad Iodine
“Radioactive Iodine is a natural product of the nuclear fuel decay. Radioactive Iodine accumulates in the thyroid and it causes high doses that can be accumulated by this organ. And as we know from Chernobyl, thyroid cancer was one of the major consequences.”
Vladimir Saenko from Nagasaki University