The Cleanup at Fukushima Daiichi

The Basics Lets briefly clarify a few things

Radiation v. Radiation Contamination Radiation – particles emitted by unstable (radioactive) atoms Radiation Contamination – When radioactive isotopes are released into the environment.

Radioactive Contamination & Cleanup Each atom which emits radiation is capable of damaging your somatic cells. 5 million hydrogen atoms fit on the head of a pin. So the issue is radioactive particles which are released into the environment. Dust Debris Gases Dissolved in water React with water Or getting those radioactive particles on or in you. Point is, it’s all about actual, physical, pieces of radioactive material.

“Japanese police, wearing suits to protect them from radiation…” Nobody Seems to Care

An Example I lose it, bring a kilo of Iodine-131 for show and tell, and place it in the center of the room. I do the same thing except this time, it’s Iodine-131 dust.

In the Simplest Sense… The problem is keeping what is inside the Fukushima Daiichi power plant where it is. But what’s in there?

Bromine-82 Calcium-45 Carbon-14 Cesium-137 Chromium-51 Cobalt-58 Cobalt-60 Copper-64 Copper-67 Dysprosium-165 Dysprosium-166 Gadolinium-153 Gold-198 Gold-199 Holmium-166 Iodine-125 Iodine-131 Iridium-192 Iron-59 Lutetium-177 Mercury-197 Mercury-203 Molybdenum-99 Nickel-63 Osmium-191 Osmium-194 Palladium-103 Palladium-109 Phosphorous-32 Phosphorus-33 Platinum-195m Rhenium-186 Rhenium-188 Samarium-153 Scandium-46 Scandium-47 Silver-111 Sodium-24 Strontium-89 Strontium-90 Sulphur-35 Tellurium-123m Thallium-204 Thulium-170 Tin-113 Tin-117m Tungsten-188 Uranium-235 Ytterbium-169 Yttrium-90 Xenon-133

Bromine-82 Calcium-45 Carbon-14 Cesium-137 Chromium-51 Cobalt-58 Cobalt-60 Copper-64 Copper-67 Dysprosium-165 Dysprosium-166 Gadolinium-153 Gold-198 Gold-199 Holmium-166 Iodine-125 Iodine-131 Iridium-192 Iron-59 Lutetium-177 Mercury-197 Mercury-203 Molybdenum-99 Nickel-63 Osmium-191 Osmium-194 Palladium-103 Palladium-109 Phosphorous-32 Phosphorus-33 Platinum-195m Rhenium-186 Rhenium-188 Samarium-153 Scandium-46 Scandium-47 Silver-111 Sodium-24 Strontium-89 Strontium-90 Sulphur-35 Tellurium-123m Thallium-204 Thulium-170 Tin-113 Tin-117m Tungsten-188 Uranium-235 Ytterbium-169 Yttrium-90 Xenon-133

The Scary Ones

Cesium-137

Cesium-137 Extremely reactive with water Absorbed and concentrated in musculature Reacts with water to form 2CsOH 2CsOH easily dissolves in water

Iodine-131 Readily absorbed by the human body Stored in the Thyroid Gamma Emitter Iodine Pills

Strontium-90

Strontium-90 Very similar to Calcium So it’s deposited in the bones during growth Nuclear testing increased environmental Sr90 many times over Bad news for our parents

Radioactive Material at Fukushima 1760 tons of fuel total Reactor 3 has 90 tons of fuel in it. Storage pool above Reactor 4 has 135 tons of spent fuel. Compared to 180 tons total at Chernobyl.

Back to the Problem How are they going to keep all of that stuff in there? And who’s “they?”

TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company) Owns the Fukushima Daiichi Plant. In charge of the cleanup Keep in mind, it’s a corporation. Cleaning up radiation is not exactly a profitable endeavor. TEPCO has already been bailed out by the Japanese government.

The Issue of Water 400 tons of groundwater are pumped into the plant every day This water must be stored and decontaminated Needless to say, stored water is piling up. Rain water can carry away radioactive materials to the Pacific Ocean. Recall that 2CsOH is easily dissolved in water. Dissolved materials are harder to filter out of water. Additionally, subterranean water flows from the nearby mountains pick up radioactive isotopes which have seeped into the soil and carry them to the ocean.

An Underground Ice Wall

Removing Nuclear Fuel Operation underway to remove fuel rods from the site As of yesterday, the first fuel rod was removed from the Reactor 4 cooling pool If the rods break or strike one another, it could trigger another meltdown Tons of material Probably won’t blow up unless there’s a steam explosion

The Mess 22 Rem (Assumed) – 22, Excess Cancers 1.5 Rem Average – 40, Excess Cancers Living in Denver -.32 Rem Living in America -.62 Rem Denver + America =.94 Rem Estimated deaths after 70 years = ~1,500 Tsunami = 19,000 deaths

Linear No-Threshold Radiation Model 25 Rem = 1% increased cancer risk 1 Rem =.1 Sievert 1 Sievert = Onset of Radiation Illness 3 Sievert = LD50 25 Sievert Across a population = 1 excess cancer Doesn’t consider inhalation or ingestion Model could also be wrong

International Obligations None! International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Nuclear Event Scale Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage

International Nuclear Event Scale

CSCND Liability Pact Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage In the event of a nuclear accident, places sole liability on plant operator Indemnifies everyone else Contracting states then pay out to affected state Not yet signed by Japan Not clear if it applies retroactively Would only distribute funds to the affected state

Domestic Hypothetical Price-Anderson Act – Indemnifies American nuclear industry while providing insurance for Nuclear accidents. $12.6 billion $151 million paid out thus far State law claims for punitive damages – Silkwood v. Kerr McGee, 464 US 238 (1984)