Radioactive Litter Threatens Japan Marine Life

By ETHAN Markoff

JAPAN NEWS - Japan nuclear disaster not only affects on human lives but slowly permeating to its rich marine life. In a recent announcement by Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy that says high levels of radioactive cesium have been discovered in seawater. The report raises the possibility of radioactive infiltration into the food chain and could be fatal for living organisms.

The radioactive substance cesium was found near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and 20 times higher than the normal level. Although the in comparison to other radioactive isotopes spilled from the plant, cesium leaking is less, still scientists have warned cesium 137 poses the greater long-term danger to the marine food chain.

Other prevalent radioactive element like iodine 131 degrades relatively fast, becoming half as potent every eight days. So, the lethal effects can be countered by banning fishing and consumption of sea food for a specific span of time. Cesium 137, on the other hand, has a half-life of 30 years and the bad news is, marine plants readily absorb it, which then cycling in food chain.

“It’s worrisome in that CS 137 is leaking, although the levels are still low,” said Paul G. Falkowski, a professor at Rutgers University’s Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences.

Mr. Falkowski said that the deposited water finally reaches sea and if the water would be heavily contaminated with cesium 137 over an extended period then it surely would question of serious concern.

The source of cesium 137 is still not found, although it is believed that the seawater dumped on the overheating reactors to cool them carried radiation and then poured out to sea. The natural process of dilution of radioactive effluents by the ocean is extraordinary. Many radioactive effluents have been dumped into the marine environment, including nuclear weapons.

Only the good part is the remarkable capacity of ocean to dilute radioactive substance because of it volume and depth. Therefore, oceanographers have not put any panic button right now and said to take appropriation precaution to happen any serious consequences.

Japan Nuclear Disaster Raises Questions On Regulatory Agencies

From EDITOR’s desk

Japan Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant

April 26, 1986, a disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear plant that shook the world from the hinges. The radioactive fall out affected then and thereafter, spreading all across eastern and western Europe devastated almost half of Soviet population.

Probably the nuclear fall out still haunts the people of Russia and neighboring countries but nobody denies nuclear energy is arguable the most potent of all, but in the recent Japan’s earthquake caused a nuclear crisis, which once again point out a fundamental question – do nuclear rich countries take appropriate measures to full proof the safety of people? Japan catastrophe also raises the question of discussion about the safety of nuclear energy within the self-styled bylaws of regulatory agencies.

On March 11, 2011, Japan had witnessed the worst natural calamity in decades. The 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami not only wrecked normal life, but also damaged Tokyo Electrical Power Co. (TEPCO) Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant, resulting fatal nuclear leak.

TEPCO doesn’t have the best record for safety or disclosure of information. In 2002, the nuclear plant was alleged for forging safety records, and subsequently was forced to shut down all 17 of its reactors.

The nuclear power plant have had been always in a flimsy state. In 2007, TEPCO was once again shut down all seven reactors at the world’s largest nuclear power station on the west coast of the country, owing to a smaller 6.6 earthquake.

The question of nuclear safety is indisputably more significant in countries like Japan, which are prone to earthquake or other natural disaster. Japan is world’s third largest developer of nuclear reactors (55) behind France and United States with 59 and over 100 respectively. Japan obtains one third of its electricity from these reactors, and planning to build 15 more nuclear reactors.

Japan environmental activists have blamed the regulatory agencies for negligence and a typical culture of management of covering up mistakes.

The problem is that nuclear power companies like TEPCO and the government regulators are "essentially one and the same," says Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, a civil society organization.

The problem lies in the mentality of industries who are very specific about their business, and both the industry and regulators do not want to educate people or policy makers. They never explain the nuances of radioactivity. The truth is radioactive reactors need to take extreme precautionary measurements because even it is shut down, it still generates an enormous amount of heat that hast to be removed to prevent a meltdown.

A perfect example of this pandemonium has been seen in TEPCO's Fukushima I reactor number 4, which was closed since December, but the recent earthquake damaged the cooling system and threatened to go fatal.

China To Postpone Nuclear Building Plans

MALILA Harris

CHINA NEWS – China has got aback by the recent accident at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant and decided to suspend its new nuclear power stations for an indefinite period. In fact, the authorities have said that they would check the existing reactors as precautionary measures.

Presently China is fast building nuclear reactors and almost reached 40% of the totala number being built around the world. The accidents in Japan due to devastation at nuclear plant have pushed a panic button, and now Beijing is worried about its own nuclear reactors.

At a meeting of China’s State Council, or Cabinet, Chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao. The decision came after the meeting that stated to suspend all nuclear power projects, including those that have already begun preliminary work. The authorities have emphasized on nuclear safety regulations and waited for the approval.

The meeting also decided to improve and adjust the country medium and long-term nuclear plans. The country at present derives 2% of its electricity from nuclear power from 13 reactors and decided to accelerate the rate by launching a large scale nuclear project.

It is currently building more reactors than any other country in the world.

According to the World Nuclear Association, China is preparing to construct a total of 110 nuclear reactors in coming years.

The country is at present much dependent on coal, which is a non-renewable source of energy. Other energy sources such as wind and solar energy are part of the plan so as to reduce the pressure on coal, as it supplies about three-quarters of its energy needs.

The recent move by the government is appreciated by experts and showed it was responsible towards climate and citizens.