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[FStop7]

Google translation of the article published in Le Monde.

In summary, the detected amount of cesium in test wells near Fukushima Daiichi has increased 90 times over the past 3 days.

Original article

According to samples taken on July 8, groundwater at a point about 25 meters from the sea contained 9,000 becquerels of cesium-134 per liter and 18,000 becquerels of cesium-137, against respectively 99 Bq / l and 210 Bq / the three days before. The multiplication factor in this short time is 91 times in the first case and 86 in the second.

UNCERTAINTY ON A POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION

"We are not yet able to say whether the contaminated water flows into the sea or not " , said Tepco to the press. However, the group promises to strengthen controls and take steps to prevent contamination of the Pacific Ocean more neighbor.

July 5, Tepco had already discovered in the same place a phenomenal level of other radioactive elements, namely the amount of strontium-90 and other elements producing beta rays, 900,000 becquerels / liter. On July 8, the level of these substances was almost identical, 890,000 becquerels / liter, several thousand times the permitted limit for seawater

 

[Hiruma]

Spoiler

In all seriousness I hope this isn't the engine compartment to the Bad News Express

 

[Deprive]

Damn fukushima has been in meltdown for 2 years now. Wonder how bad this is really going to become. Because the Japanese gov is probably hiding info from the public :|

Hardly hear about this or BP any more :/

 

[meltingparappa]

Science-gaf really has to interpret this data and explain it to the rest of us troglodytes before we can start jumping to conclusions.

 

[Crayons]

Science-gaf really has to interpret this data and explain it to the rest of us troglodytes before we can start jumping to conclusions.

Well, it's bad. Caesium spreads easily in nature because of it's high water solubility in it's chemical compounds. The half life is also 30.17 years so it'll be a while before it decays into more stable product.

The high water solubility is a problem because it can get into the soil, plants, animals very easily.

strontium-90 is bad because it follows the path of Calcium in the body. So it deposits in bones and bone marrow. Risk of bone cancer, leukemia etc.

 

[SenorArdilla]

Well, it's bad. Caesium spreads easily in nature because of it's high water solubility in it's chemical compounds. The half life is also 30.17 years so it'll be a while before it decays into more stable product.

The high water solubility is a problem because it can get into the soil, plants, animals very easily.

So how hard would it be to contain?

 

[KuroNeeko]

Damn fukushima has been in meltdown for 2 years now. Wonder how bad this is really going to become. Because the Japanese gov is probably hiding info from the public :|

Hardly hear about this or BP any more :/

The government is definitely holding back information. The push to go back into nuclear energy has never been stronger and the current administration is pursuing the agenda despite the vocal opposition.

What do they care, though? They wait long enough and people forget.

 

[Crayons]

So how hard would it be to contain?

Judging by the article, it's a bit too late for that. If it's already in the groundwater, you can bet it's everywhere by now. If it DID leak into the ocean (probably) then we're in trouble. As we go higher up the food chain, the concentration of pollutants is greater. Meaning, the big fish that humans eat will have high concentrations of Caesium-137, similarly to have they have high concentrations of mercury. It's called biomagnification.

Ex:

Spoiler

Radioactive sushi

 

[akira28]

Why don't we have a power suit that can be shielded and go in there and clean this stuff up and seal things off so they don't leach into the surrounding ecosystem?

 

[Log4Girlz]

[/SPOILER]

That fucker must squat continents.

 

[Lamel]

The government is definitely holding back information. The push to go back into nuclear energy has never been stronger and the current administration is pursuing the agenda despite the vocal opposition.

What do they care, though? They wait long enough and people forget.

I am not that opposed to this. Nuclear power is clean and safe. When the few accidents do happen though, they are baddd...but those are the consequences of harnessing nature in such a powerful way.

 

[Amagon]

Pacific Rim viral marketing

 

[Ken]

Meaning, the big fish that humans eat will have high concentrations of Caesium-137,

aw man my salmon

 

[KuroNeeko]

I am not that opposed to this. Nuclear power is clean and safe. When the few accidents do happen though, they are baddd...but those are the consequences of harnessing nature in such a powerful way.

Sure, if that's what people want. The problem is when the government pushes these things forward despite the will of the people. The government exists to serve the people - that's why they're called public servants.

The government in Japan exists to serve one thing - its politicians. Spreading misinformation, concealing accurate figures, and strong-arming the opposition just so they can line their own pockets is the biggest problem.

 

[Chiggs]

It's pretty amazing how anything related to Fukushima has been whitewashed.