Posts Tagged Fukushima
Anti-Nuclear Hysterics, not Melted Reactors to Blame for Fukushima Health Impacts
Posted by John Wheeler in News on March 11, 2012
As is often the case, the passage of time yields clarity about events, and the nuclear power plant accident at Fukushima is no different. It has become clear that the misinformation and hysterics by anti-nuclear groups and individuals were mostly wrong. Their doomsday prophesizing actually worsened human suffering and environmental impacts by contributing to unwise decisions by political leaders in Japan and elsewhere to shut down nuclear plants. In contrast, bloggers and experts from within the nuclear community accurately predicted outcomes and human health impacts. Read the rest of this entry »
MOX Fuel in Fukshima Daiichi Adds Little Risk to Public
Posted by John Wheeler in Myth Busting & Analysis, News on March 27, 2011
There is a good deal of misinformation being circulated about the potential harm to people in Japan from plutonium present in mixed oxide (MOX) fuel in the unit 3 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi. The real story comes from an independent group of scientists who make up the American Nuclear Society Special Committee on Nuclear Non-Proliferation . Their conclusion?
Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel has been used safely in nuclear power reactors for decades. The presence of a limited number of MOX fuel assemblies at Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 has not had a significant impact on the ability to cool the reactor or on any radioactive releases from the site due to damage from the earthquake and tsunami.
Is NRC’s Jaczko Positioning the Administration to Ratchet US Nuclear Emergency Planning Zones from 10 to 50 miles?
Posted by John Wheeler in News on March 20, 2011
The Japanese government had established a 20 km (12.8 mile) evaluation zone around the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, a recommendation supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The US NRC had several experts on the ground to assist the Japanese government. The Americans had access to the same information that was available to Japanese authorities and the IAEA. Then on Thursday March 17, 2011 an unusual thing happened.
NRC Chairman Jaczko came straight from a meeting in the White House and told members of Congress that Americans in Japan should evacuate to a distance of 50 miles from the reactors. His comments sparked alarm across the globe because he also stated the Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 fuel storage pool was dry, the uncovered used nuclear fuel was overheating, and they could expect large releases of airborne radioactive contamination.
Japan’s Nuclear Plants and their Operators are Performing Amazingly Well to Protect the Health & Safety of the Public
Posted by John Wheeler in News on March 13, 2011
My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Japan as they deal with this natural disaster of unprecedented magnitude.
While I’ve been unable to post blogs or record a podcast this weekend, I’ve been trying to stay engaged by sharing news and bits of analysis via my twitter feed. There has been some excellent fact based coverage of the reactor damaging event at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Unfortunately, very little of the excellent coverage is coming from mainstream media sources.
