[公告] 老秋， 看到 plutonium 了

海阔天空

http://www.cnbc.com/id/42164655

Encouragingly for Japanese transfixed on the work at Fukushima, the situation at the most critical reactor — No. 3 which contains highly toxic plutonium — appeared to come back from the brink after fire trucks doused it for hours.

Work also advanced on bringing power back to water pumps used to cool overheating nuclear fuel. "We are making progress ... (but) we shouldn't be too optimistic," said Hidehiko Nishiyama, deputy-general at Japan's Nuclear Safety Agency.

Engineers attached a power cable to the No.1 and No. 2 reactors, hoping to restore electricity later in the day. They also hope to reach No. 3 and 4 soon to test turning the pumps on. If successful, that could be a turning point in a crisis already rated as bad as America's Three Mile Island accident in 1979.

If not, drastic measures may be required such as burying the plant in sand and concrete as happened at Chernobyl after the world's worst nuclear reactor disaster in 1986. Cooling systems have been restored at the least critical of the six reactors, No. 5 and 6, using diesel generators.



"It appears that the situation has somewhat stabilized but it is still very severe," said Bo Stromberg, an analyst at the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority.

On the negative side, evidence has begun emerging of radiation leaks from the plant, including into food and water.

Though public fear of radiation runs deep, and anxiety has spread as far as the Pacific-facing side of the United States, health officials say levels so far are not alarming.

Traces exceeding national safety standards were, though, found in milk from a farm about 30 km (18 miles) from the plant and spinach grown in neighboring Ibaraki prefecture.

Tap Water Affected

Tiny levels of radioactive iodine have also been found in tap water in Tokyo, one of the world's largest cities about 240 km (150 miles) to south. Many tourists and expatriates have already left and residents are generally staying indoors.

The sample contained 1.5 becquerals per kg of iodine 131, well below the tolerable limit for food and drink of 300 becquerals per kg, the government said. Japan said the traces so far found posed no risks.