Microscopic Radioactivite Particles at Fukushima Daiichi

A long time ago in a thread far, far away...



There was a tremendous disturbance on the earth and in the resultant aftermath there were several explosions which lead to the release of nuclear materials. In the original mega-thread (long since gone, see "Where is the Part 1 thread," link below for details), I ran across a paper proposing that should a sufficiently large explosion take place at a nuclear power plant, there was the possibility that some of the materials could become aerosolized; thus making that material respirable.



From time to time, I will browse what the recent scientific papers have to say about the event that occurred in March of 2011 and today I came across one which corroborates that original study I posted about oh so many years back:

The nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) in March 2011 caused partial meltdowns of three reactors. During the meltdowns, a type of condensed particle, a caesium-rich micro-particle (CsMP), formed inside the reactors via unknown processes. Here we report the chemical and physical processes of CsMP formation inside the reactors during the meltdowns based on atomic-resolution electron microscopy of CsMPs discovered near the FDNPP. All of the CsMPs (with sizes of 2.0–3.4 μm) comprise SiO2 glass matrices and ~10-nm-sized Zn–Fe-oxide nanoparticles associated with a wide range of Cs concentrations (1.1–19 wt% Cs as Cs2O). Trace amounts of U are also associated with the Zn–Fe oxides.

I'd like you to make note of the size of the particles that were found in this study:

2.0–3.4 μm

From the paper:



Compare that to this chart below:



The above shows that this is within the same size range as combustion (smoke) particles.

It turns out that an explosion is not the only method by which particles of this size can be released:

The micro-texture of the CsMPs reveals that various airborne fission-product nanoparticles were first released from the fuels before and during meltdowns. Subsequently, RPV failure occurred and a large number of Zn–Fe-oxide nanoparticles were produced. Finally, the melted core interacted with concrete and the MCCI proceeded via SiO2 condensation encompassing the Zn–Fe-oxide nanoparticles, incorporating the fission-product nanoparticles.

It would seem that these particles were released as a natural (if one can use this word) eventuality of the meltdown according to the findisngs in this study.

The existence of these microparticles makes for significant added danger in the cleanup of the FNDPP as particles of this size could easily become re-suspended in the atmosphere thus extending the reach of this disaster.

In the original megathread it was also hypothesized that large portions of the fuel would have melted due to the lack of cooling available to the cores. This study verifies that as well:

In particular, most of the irradiated fuels melted in Units #1 and #3, while a lesser amount or none of the fuels underwent melting in Unit #23,13. Melted fuel accumulated at the bottom of the reactor pressure vessels (RPVs), which eventually caused the RPVs to rupture, leading to reactions with the concrete pedestals of the primary-containment vessels (PCVs)14, a process known as molten core concrete interaction (MCCI)15. There remains considerable uncertainty about the extent of the MCCI in the reactors and the state of the melted fuel.

Recall that reactor 3 was the unit which had MOX fuel rather than the mix which was normally in use at the plant.

All emphases in excerpted sections are the OPs unless otherwise noted

Caesium-rich micro-particles: A window into the meltdown events at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Related ATS links:

ATS Japan Forum

Where is the Part 1 thread, please?

Japan declares 'nuclear emergency' after quake - PART 2

I enjoy articles like this,

simple and to the point.

About the only thing I doubt is the eventual clean up when its apparent that eating fallout nuke sushi is in our near future... (or already is)

I just feel bad for the people of Japan and the future generation of children to come

a reply to: jadedANDcynical

Long story short, this was a oopsy on a grand scale.

It turns out that an explosion is not the only method by which particles of this size can be released:

Ongoing cooling at the plants has filled all the on site storage tanks with runoff, is now being leaked into the sea. All that rinse water has been in direct contact with highly radioactive material. Six years on and its still leaking...

pick your poison

a reply to: FoxStriker

The timeline for the cleanup keeps getting pushed back.

There have been many estimates for the beginning of the removal of the fuel from the containment vessels. A look at the study in the OP shows that we are still a long way from making that a reality.

Despite the setbacks, Tepco insists it will begin extracting the melted fuel in 2021 – a decade after the disaster – after consulting government officials this summer.

But Shaun Burnie, a senior nuclear specialist at Greenpeace Germany who is based in Japan, describes the challenge confronting the utility as “unprecedented and almost beyond comprehension”, adding that the decommissioning schedule was “never realistic or credible”.

The latest aborted exploration of reactor No 2 “only reinforces that reality”, Burnie says. “Without a technical solution for dealing with unit one or three, unit two was seen as less challenging. So much of what is communicated to the public and media is speculation and wishful thinking on the part of industry and government.

“The current schedule for the removal of hundreds of tons of molten nuclear fuel, the location and condition of which they still have no real understanding, was based on the timetable of prime minister [Shinzo] Abe in Tokyo and the nuclear industry – not the reality on the ground and based on sound engineering and science.”

Dying robots and failing hope: Fukushima clean-up falters six years after tsunami

We still can't get close enough to see what kind of condition in which the motlen reactors are.

Our grandchildren's grandchildren will be dealing with the mess.

Even the sarcophagus at Chernobyl has deteriorated much faster than originally though and an outer shell is being constructed to cover that. Eventually this building will probably face the same fate and need yet another larger building constructed around it...

a reply to: jadedANDcynical

Thanks for posting this J&C.

Fukushima is the gift that keeps on giving.
A disaster of epic proportions, and ongoing for generations.
What happens if 5, or 50 reactors meltdown?

59 new nuclear reactor power-plants under construction.

What have we learned?

originally posted by: FoxStriker
I enjoy articles like this,

simple and to the point.

About the only thing I doubt is the eventual clean up when its apparent that eating fallout nuke sushi is in our near future... (or already is)

I just feel bad for the people of Japan and the future generation of children to come

If there were radioactive "hot particles" in the food, you would expect to see black dots with starburst patterns in various types of meats, where the radiation burnt the protein. if they got into or onto the skin they would probably create sores, blisters and other problems.

I've only seen a couple of those black dots in various cans of fish that I buy.

it seems like their only plan to clean the mess up is to just keep dumping radioactive cooling water into the ocean until there is no radiation left at the site that needs cooling.
well, it`s a big ocean so after hundreds of years of dumping radioactive water into it the ocean and fish shouldn`t be too radioactive for human use,and if they are too radioactive the politicians,and the UN, can just raise the acceptable levels of radioactivity that humans can be exposed too.
all the birth defects and cancers can be blamed on something else besides the radioactive water and seafood. it`s all good.

a reply to: jadedANDcynical

Jim Stone did a lot of work on this and worked out reactor 3 was blown totally independant of the earth quake or the nuke in the trench way out to see.

He said 3 months before the event, Japan voted for a UN resolution that that favoured Palistine.

a reply to: jadedANDcynical

. . . airborne fission-product nanoparticles . . .

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...

“It was like a cloud I’ve never seen, a gray smoke that surrounded you and you didn’t even know what it was,” Torres said.

. . .

they’d directed the aircraft carrier straight through a radiation plume

. . .

they had to drive back through the plume a second time to render aid, and were issued gas masks to wear.

. . .

He said he wishes TepCo would have done “the right thing” and told U.S. officials about the nuclear meltdown before sailors were exposed to radiation.

www.courthousenews.com...


It's difficult not to be jaded and cynical about this. At least they made the ice wall.

34.5 billion yen ($309 million) in taxpayer money has funded an "ice wall" to keep out groundwater

. . .

the ice wall has so far proved incapable of stopping groundwater

www.asahi.com...


Surely even TepCo wouldn't be stupid enough to start up other reactors to generate funds for the Fukushima clean-up.

Now, the same utility, Tokyo Electric Power [Tepco], is attempting to banish its Fukushima demons with a push to restart two reactors at Kashiwazaki-kariwa, one of its three nuclear plants. Only then, it says, can it generate the profits it needs to fund the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi and win back the public trust it lost in the wake of the meltdown.

They have built a 15-metre-high seawall that, according to Tepco, can withstand the biggest tsunami waves. In the event of a meltdown, special vents would keep 99.9% of released radioactive particles out of the atmosphere, and corium shields would block molten fuel from breaching the reactors’ primary containment vessels. Autocatalytic recombiners have been installed to prevent a repeat of the hydrogen explosions that rocked four of Fukushima Daiichi’s reactors.

Other parts of the sprawling complex are home to fleets of emergency vehicles, water cannon, back-up power generators, and a hilltop reservoir whose 20,000 tonnes of water will be drawn to cool reactors in the event of a catastrophic meltdown.

“As the operator responsible for the Fukushima accident, we’re committed to learning lessons, revisiting what went wrong and implementing what we learned here at Kashiwazaki-kariwa, says the plant’s chief, Chikashi #ara. “We are always looking at ways to improve safety.

“Because of our experience at Fukushima, we’re committed to not making the same mistakes again – to make the safety regime even stronger. That’s what we have to explain to members of the public.”

www.theguardian.com...

They haven't realised yet, running a nuclear power plant is the mistake.

a reply to: Kester

He said he wishes TepCo would have done “the right thing” and told U.S. officials about the nuclear meltdown before sailors were exposed to radiation.

Well, Tepco didn't pass on the information, but at least one US official knew of the potential danger:

Another friend, Tokyo-based management consultant Mitch Murata, advised me to get my hands on K1 (potassium iodide pills) and to buy a related list of items in the event iodine-131 makes an appearance.

TSUNAMI JAPAN’S POST-FUKUSHIMA FUTURE ESSAYS ON THE MANY AFTERSHOCKS OF JAPAN’S NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE. EDITED BY JEFF KINGSTON (direct .pdf link)

Michael Kandarakis sent this to the aforementioned Edelman, who then sent it on to Cheryl Mills. Mills, sent it from her [email protected] address to "H" (Hillary), as to what makes me think that this is more than just 'private information' being shared?

Let's take a look at a little more of what Murata (who was in Japan at the time) had to say about the situation:

Leak has been doing since last night. It is still not under control. A US team was flown in to help get this thing under control, but that is not public record yet. It will come out later, I think.

Anway, leak from last night means it is hitting us about now. I am not going outdoors for a while.
Normally one might also take K-I (Potassium Iodine) tablets as a precautionary measure. Substitutes include alternative
sources of iodine including isojin or consuming seaweed (nori).

Wear a mask, and a hat if possible. Take a shower immediately after you return home and wash your clothes. Radioactive
steam was released yesterday and continues today. It will likely be in the area now. What I suggest above is not costly, and
not too onerous. Do it and play it safe.

Don't go outdoors unless it is necessary.

all emphases mine

Hillary email @ Cryptome (direct .pdf link)

From Hillary Clinton's Unclassified Emails About Fukushima...(Why does anyone trust the US government?)

Did Hillary, or anyone on her staff inform the public of this at the time?

a reply to: Kester

Can't imagine there's too many folks that have any trust for Tepco.

For-profit corporations in charge of nuclear power, and safety. What could possibly go wrong?

The Fukushima accident was orchestrated under the request of the Emperor of Japan and the govt. of Japan, in an attempt to dissuade China and Russia from developing Nuclear NPP technologies and to scare off the main potential user of NPP technology (India)

The Emperor requested also the Tsunami and earthquake which was orchestrated by the EU using either British or French underwater nuclear charges to create the wave via underwater detonation.

Meanwhile EU royals and Scandinavian neo-liberal fascists have supported massive demonstration and unrest against the Kudankulam NPP construction in India until a few years ago.