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TEPCO: 4 more years needed to stop radioactive water leaks at Fukushima

51 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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I guess I should have "highlighted" the word "secretly"...

Okamura, now a general manager in TEPCO’s on-site nuclear power division, pledged to keep the water secretly stored

**

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Scientifically proven and reported in.mainstream media " Lol..then if it's government approved scientific data reported in mainstream media it.must be true then? ROFL..so LDP overseen mainstream media released info is believable gospel now is it? That's pretty funny, I better re- read politics / PR crisis management 101 again then. LOL.

The articles I was referring to, from the mainstream media were in Nature.com, Huffington Post, Time Magazine and Forbes.

Does the LDP control them? At no point have I suggested or claimed that the mainstream media were Japanese.

It is the mainstream, international media, that is reporting on the state of food in Fukushima.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Utrack, radioisotopes are no different in ionic form than non-radioactive isotopes. Ionic form is a chemical property that is the same for ALL isotopes of an element and is NOT different between the radioactive and non-radioactive ones. Clay, bentonite or otherwise, can't distinguish between a radioactive atom and a non-radioactive one. If it would trap radioactive hydrogen, like tritium, then it would trap ALL hydrogen radioactive or not.

I have yet to see a ministry or big business clamouring to relocate to the vast spaces left after the tsunami-I wonder why not?

Maybe because with the evacuation and so few people returning their is no workforce to attract any big companies.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

“Contaminated water floating around and posing a constant risk of leaks disturbs the steady progress toward decommissioning,” he told The Associated Press in an interview this week.

Entry to the damaged plants is not possible. The amount of radiation emitted does not allow machine nor man to enter for any useful time period. Therefore, talk of decommissioning is not feasible at present

Meanwhile, radiation continues to build in the environment and to concentrate increasingly in all of us.

Also, there is constant talk of how safe it is and the food is untainted yet, I have yet to see a ministry or big business clamouring to relocate to the vast spaces left after the tsunami-I wonder why not?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Chernobyl and Fukushima are very different incidents and due to their nature can't be compared.

Both contain important info for scientists.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Reported by whom? Verified by whom?

Scientists.

WHO's scientists reported that few would die from Fukushima (recently verified by the low thyroid cancer results). They (WHO's scientists - do you see the constant) previously stated 4000 would die as a result of Chernobyl.

Don't worry, I'm sure someone will be along shortly to say that LDP own WHO...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The WHO only states what is reported

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Utrack -

This is a triple nuclear reactor meltdown. 3 reactors .... Europe is contaminated with one reactor meltdown ... Can anyone else do the math.. ..

WHO - Chernobyl - up to 4000 deaths. WHO Fukushima - Few deaths. Chernobyl - land conataminated so that produce couldn't be eaten for years across a wide area of Europe including Wales. Fukushima - land contaminated in an area very close to the accident site. How's that for maths?

Marcelito. Yes, radiation levels have decreased significantly since the start of the crisis. Hence the reason the majority of food in Fukushima is safe to eat. Hence the reason that most of the seafood is safe to eat. The researchers (that's researchers not TEPCO) have studied Japanese seafood because, well how many times have we heard on here that fish swim through a region? It's not Fukushima fish... it's all fish etc... They've studied the seafood and found that it's only the fish closest to Fukushima and those that are bottom dwllers with high levels of radiation. And not ones in the market place.

ROFL..so LDP overseen mainstream media released info is believable gospel now is it? That's pretty funny, I better re- read politics / PR crisis management 101 again then. LOL.

Does the LDP control mainstream media? Does the LDP control Time? Nature Magazine? Forbes? Huffington Post? etc etc

LOL?

LOL indeed. Instead of sarcastic rhetoric I suggest you actually read up some science.

Smith - still waiting for you to show me where I've defended TEPCO...

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Mike, radioisotope are ionic in form and frequency therefore and element. And yes radioisotope are cation in frequency and are trapped by anion ionic frequency elements such as sodium bentonite clay

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Down playing this situation does a great disservice to the people of Japan. I charge TEPCO, The Government of Japan and others with the crimes being committed. This is a triple nuclear reactor meltdown. 3 reactors .... Europe is contaminated with one reactor meltdown ... Can anyone else do the math.. .. The out dated concepts about nuclear radiation and the mis·information being disseminated is harmful because people feel helpless about being able to do anything about the contamination from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Meltdowns that is in their immediate area and this is criminal on so many levels . . It is just let the cover ups happening in the US right now.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

On the other hand Sodium bentonite clay may remove the tritium element from the water.

But in reality it won't.

Tritium is an isotope of hydrogen, not an element. And chemically it is the same as all other hydrogen isotopes. So unless someone believes that sodium bentonite will also remove all the non-radioactive hydrogen from the water, then it is silly to believe that it would selectively remove the tritium.

How about we keep all the reactors offline til AFTER you get your mess under control?

So if Toyota has car recall cars then ALL cars of every manufacturer should be recalled, right?

This 'ice barrier' has been an utter failure

The ice barrier hasn't even been put online, so just HOW can it be an utter failure?

Just enough time to radiate the food we eat ,the air we breath and the water we drink to stay alive.

The food you eat, the air you breath and the water you drink have all been radiated since the day you were born. They have been radiated since the Earth formed and they will continue to be radiated until the Earth is destroyed when the sun becomes a red giant.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Marcelito, it's a fact that the radiation levels have decreased. It's a fact that food from the region is back to pre-accident levels> It's a fact that japanese seafood is mostly free from radiation. These are all scientifically proven and you don't need an environmental science degree to understand it. And it's not pro-nuclear rhetoric, it's quantifiable facts. And reported in mainstream media.

few, if any-one will eat enough contaminate food to suffer any adverse health effects. Again, scientifically proven. But that's just pro-nuclear rhetoric isn't it? To use science and research to prove a point Just rhetoric.

I was buying and eating Fukushima produce in April 2011. So what's your point?

And Smith, one question... you accuse me of defending Tepco. Can you point out where I've done that please?

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

You know that the acceptable levels of contamination in food are substantially stricter in Japan than the rest of the world. Call that BS all you like doesn't change the truth

Secondly I don't support the near village. I do support nuclear power and to answer your question over the next 90 years if there was no nuclear and we continued with the extra gas and coal there would be a further 180000 deaths. You may deem that other forms of energy are safer. Yet the statistics and science proves otherwise. Wind is cleaner but not consistent nor renewable. Solar is cleaner. But not consistent etc

What is worse than before? The radiation in the water isn't. The radiation in the land isn't. In fact the only thing worse than before is the rhetoric from the anti nuclear supporters.

And as I predicted you didn't use any science in your response...because...

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

Heda_Madness: "Just remember that the Japanese food safety limits are the strictest in the world.. and those from Europe of a certain age will have eaten food and drunk water that was substantially more contaminated than Japanese food for a long time."

Utter BS. They are strict when it comes to imports. When it comes to exports they are willing to take the issue to the UN when another country says they won't import foods from the affected regions because Japan is not being transparent, and because of the CONSTANT lies being told by the government and TEPCO. Lest we forget, it was only the week before last that TEPCO FINALLY admitted there had been a meltdown despite saying there was not, but they could not have known (and you still defended them!). And do you REALLY believe in the whole 'strict about food' when it comes to labeling, sales of products from the affected areas (despite bans), etc.?

Do you honestly wonder why you get so many thumbs down when you support, without question, the nuclear village and proclaim nuclear power is safe, cheap, and environmentally friendly? (especially when your 'proof' is that it was far worse before!).

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Why would anyone in their right mind want to retrieve the nuclear debris from the meltdowns... Someone in J Govt wants to do this as well as Someone at TEPCO. The technology does not exist and may not ever exist to safely retrieve the corium.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This doesn't however answer the questions of negligence and deception from Tepco, perhaps things weren't as bad as they might have been, but could we trust them to inform people if they were? and will we finally see some accountability?

No it doesn't. And yes, they still need to be held accountable for what they're responsible for. And I've never tried to absolve them for any blame.

Nothing in life is safe. Just ask the people of Lockerbie who were sat watching TV when a 747 was blown up over their heads. Crossing the road isn't safe etc but the risk from this is negligible.... it's certainly safer than driving in Japan...

Just remember that the Japanese food safety limits are the strictest in the world.. and those from Europe of a certain age will have eaten food and drunk water that was substantially more contaminated than Japanese food for a long time.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

You would be surprised head_madness I think.

Im not in constant fear as such nor do I think my chances of being effected have greatly changed since before the event living a normal life in Tokyo. I think the truth, like most often, lay somewhere in the middle, is it as bad or good either side with their respective agendas try to say it is, probably not. Completely harmless unlikely, but perhaps negligible, the end of the world as some said, clearly they were wrong.

I think all things considered we were fairly lucky, and agree the science for the most part suggests most people have little to be concerned about as things currently stand.

This doesn't however answer the questions of negligence and deception from Tepco, perhaps things weren't as bad as they might have been, but could we trust them to inform people if they were? and will we finally see some accountability?

It doesn't go anyway to fixing the issues of a self regulated industry based on potentially the most dangerous substances on earth allowing this to happen in the first place.

It also ignores the fact this is all quite precarious, other large quake, systems or backup systems failure could turn this into something that is a very real threat, can anyone predict that, not easily but we are relying on many of the people whom allowed this to happen in the first place, and not because they didn't know but because they were trying to save money or increase profits.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Wow a '9 and a -7 for quoting the independent expert. Wonder why such negativity? I mean we have had contributors on here claim that dilution doesn't work with radiation. We have one claiming that radioactive water is being pumped PUMPED into the ocean...we have claims that it's worse than Chernobyl yet despite this we have a scientist, someone who specializes in this field telling us thst the radiation is 1/1000th what it was. We have the WHO telling us few will die...we have no health threats from radiation outside of a very small area...yet we are still told by the JT experts that it's worse than Chernobyl.

We have scientists eating food from the area showing no build up of radio nuclides in their bodies. The vast majority of food from the region is at levels that are back to pre accident levels. Yet we still have claims that it's worse than Chernobyl.

We have people questioning whether they should eat food or water. Despite everything that science had told us.

We just have irrational fear.

The ssituation is constantly improving. Few will die. These are simple facts supported by science.

And yes I know I'll get voted down in the region of double figures and one or maybe two of you will try and respond. But you want use science in your responses. Because you can't.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Just enough time to radiate the food we eat ,the air we breath and the water we drink to stay alive. Thank you for your honesty Tepco.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

After battling radioactive water leaks for five years at Japan’s crippled Fukushima DaiIchi nuclear plant, the utility that ran it says it will need another four to finish the job.

But wait...........Abe told us all that everything is under control in Fukushima

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Okamura, now a general manager in TEPCO’s on-site nuclear power division, pledged to keep the water secretly stored

My "misreading"... however...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sometimes I wonder if in 20-30 years I'll regret living in this country, eating its food and drinking its water, as long as I have since the accident...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Well, that is true, it's not leaking now, it's being pumped into the ocean.

Indeed ! TEPCO is nothing else than an eco-terrorist sponsored and backed by the state.

“Contaminated water floating around and posing a constant risk of leaks disturbs the steady progress toward >>decommissioning,” he told The Associated Press in an interview this week.

Funny liars. According to TEPCO, that water is floating around and enough decontaminated to be release in the ocean but well, still contaminated enough so any leaks are indeed a risk, double snake language as usual.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I am OK with the plan. Please go ahead.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Just empty the tanks. They will not hurt a thing.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

'TEPCO has cut groundwater infiltration to 150 tons per day, nearly one-third of the amount two years ago, mainly by pumping out groundwater upstream and directing it to the ocean.'

Interesting. Because the fact ground water is not leaking doesn't mean the water being pumped out hasn't been irradiated or still carries radioactive particles.

After all the problem is the three 'China Syndrome' events or as the article put it;

'The three damaged reactors still need to be cooled with water to keep their melted cores from overheating.' There are decades needed to solve this problem, the plant is literally on top of these melted cores. In the Chernobyl reactor the meltdown poured outside of the reactor on the floor next to it.

The utility hopes the underground ice barrier will eliminate all groundwater inflow.'

This 'ice barrier' has been an utter failure, and in all probability will never do anything. Besides the fact, it has always been a temporary device meant for the short term.

'Radioactive water continues to leak into the ocean, but at a far lesser rate than it did early in the disaster.'

Well, that is true, it's not leaking now, it's being pumped into the ocean.

When in reality, all information Japanese people receive about nuclear energy and its alternatives has long been tightly controlled by both TEPCO and the government. The language being used is just double speak, designed to deceive and create the illusion all is going well.

The burning questions are:

How many are actually fooled by the political spin around the Fukushima Daichi nuclear accident?

How long are TEPCO and the government going to pretend this is not the world's worst nuclear accident?

How long are those responsible going to continue to put corporate profit as a first priority in all decisions?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

When you have radioactive water leaking into the worlds oceans it's no longer a TEPCO/Japanese problem it is a world problem that calls for world action. What we all don't eat fish from our oceans. Time has come for the world and all countries to take action and bring this worldwide disaster to an end 4 more years is way to long. What happens if there is another earthquake in the mean time. Why haven't other countries come to Japan's aide and done anything about this disaster. What about the children effected by this leak. I'm sorry but this is why no other nuclear power plant should be let back online again....THINK PEOPLE !!!!

4 ( +5 / -2 )

Oh its TEPCO so you have to multiply by 10. So 40 years. Yup that sounds about right.

5 ( +7 / -3 )

Yes. In exactly 4 years they will stop the leaks that have now existed for 5 years and have resisted every crackpot plan they've come up with thus far.

3 ( +5 / -3 )

“We will bring an end to the problem by 2020,”

We believe you! Meanwhile, studies are showing that it will not longer be 30 years, or 40, or even 50 for decommissioning and clean up of the plant but that it may take up to a century now. So, now, how does this guy's timeline fit into that when they have not even found, nor CAN find, the melted fuel and the places that are leaking?

How much is this 'clean, safe' energy going to have cost us by the end of that century?

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Sorry, didn't mean to cause of fence. I was just quoting from the article you often cry out for independent facts

Ocean radiation levels are about a thousandth of what they were soon after the accident, according to Ken Buesseler, a radiochemist with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) who has monitored the area. 

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

How about we keep all the reactors offline til AFTER you get your mess under control?

7 ( +8 / -2 )

It's more a typical pro-nuclear people type thinking, not related to nationality.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

It is a good guaranteed chunk of money for TEPCO for years to come, I mean that "pseudo" decontamination business. Far more lucrative than doing the right things in the first place.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Ocean radiation levels are about a thousandth of what they were soon after the accident -

So this justifies the actions? Typical Japanese type thinking, deflect and obfuscate the issue and make things seems less of a problem than the reality.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

“Nobody else in the world has treated so much highly radioactive water,” he said.

Because nobody in the world, but Japan, has a triple meltdown to hide behind the carpet.

5 ( +7 / -3 )

Ocean radiation levels are about a thousandth of what they were soon after the accident

-11 ( +6 / -16 )

they fixed their billing system rather quickly, my rates have been hiked twice since they lied to the public about the nuclear meltdown...

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant needs to be entombed. All of this so called radioactive waste management is just ludicrous. The corium retrieval scheme was ludicrous, removal of nuclear debris is the same as the corium retrieval scheme and is ludicrous... On the other hand Sodium bentonite clay may remove the tritium element from the water.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Is that in dog years?

9 ( +10 / -1 )

We will bring an end to the problem by 2020

We trust you.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

TEPCO: 4 more years needed to stop radioactive water leaks at Fukushima

Timing to match with 2020 Tokyo Olympics ?!

13 ( +13 / -0 )

Okamura, now a general manager in TEPCO’s on-site nuclear power division, pledged to keep the water securely stored until a decision is made. The volume, he said, is beyond imagination.

Seeing as how Friday is the anniversary of the tradgedy there have been a number of news programs on night-time TV this week talking about the problems with Fukushima itself, and while I sit here and read this article, and after I saw the massive work being done to try to get this under control, I find it hard for anyone to make any pledges or promises or anything with regards to issues like this one.

I realize there is little he can say, but I would rather hear him say they will keep doing their best to get the situation under control. Even last week there were pictures of torn bags of dirt near the ocean, full of contaminated soil, spilling out their contents on to the beach and being dragged into the ocean by the waves.

If they can't keep soil out of the ocean, I highly doubt they can keep water from seeping into the ground and finding its way there too.

The ice wall is a massive undertaking, and I hope for the world's sake it works.

Image of the proposed wall;

http://www.digitaljournal.com/img/8/4/3/0/8/3/i/1/8/7/o/ice_wall.JPG

10 ( +10 / -0 )

The most absurd thing is that the human beings are using a very dangerous technology that they are not able to fix when it's broken. We are really the most idiotic species on the Earth.

4 ( +9 / -6 )

But, the great leader Abe said, "It's all under control!" Was he lying just to secure the Olympics? (Sarcasm)

13 ( +15 / -2 )

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