Nuclear Disaster in Japan

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image provided by ZAMG
Simulation of iodine-131 spreading over the world, March 19-27

Nuclear Disaster in Japan

As a result of a tsunami and several earthquakes the Fukushima I Daiichi[1] atomic power plant in Japan experienced a nuclear catastrophe of level higher than the 1979 Harrisburg accident, maybe reaching the level of the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe including several explosions, failing cooling systems, meltdown of fuel elements and releases of high amounts of radioactivity since March 11, 2011. Unit 1 exploded on March 12, 2011 at 7.30 AM GMT[2], unit 3 exploded two days later on March 14 at 2.01 AM GMT[3][4][5] and eventually also unit 2 blasted in the following night (14/3/11 9.10 PM GMT) damaging the reactor core and as officially confirmed releasing serious amounts of radiation[6][7]. There is a risk of a nuclear meltdown in unit 2 as the fuel rods have been damaged, the operator says[7], while other sources talked about several partial meltdowns in the affected reactors. Also a fire occured on March 15 at 0.40 AM GMT at unit 4[7] - a reactor unit that had not even been in operation when the Tsunami hit the Japanese coast on March 11.

CONTAINMENT | MOX | STATUS | ADDITIONAL ACCIDENTS | HEALTH | RESCUE ACTIVITIES | CAUSES | REACTIONS | LINKS

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) classified the catastrophe to INES level 5, weil several other nations' radiation protection authorities classified it to level 6[8]. March 25 Greenpeace demanded the IAEA to classify Fukushima as a INES level 7 accident like Chernobyl 1986 based on a study[9] they published this day[10].

An atomic power emergency has been declared by the Japanese government on Saturday March 12 while up to 300,000 residents (other sources talk about "over 200,000"[11]) had been evacuated in a zone of 20 kilometers around Fukushima I Daiichi and Fukushima II Daini[1][6]. Several emergency power generators failed supplying the emergency cooling systems with electricity[8]. The authorities confirmed the release of radioactive elements such as cesium and iodine[12]. Independent experts say that a nuclear meltdown must have happened. According to the German news "Tagesschau" Japanese officials also confirmed a nuclear meltdown in Fukushima[13]. This had been confirmed by a statement of Chief Secretary Yukio Edano on Sunday saying that at least one nuclear meltdown occured [8]. Later he stated also a nuclear meltdown in reactor 3 of Fukushima 1 to be "possible"[8].

First, an area of 3 kilometers had been evacuated on Friday, March 11. Later it was enlarged to a 10 km evacuation zone and then to a 20 km evacuation zone while residents of the 20-30 km zone were advized not to leave their houses. On the very first day a BBC reporter spoke about a prohibition zone of 60 kilometers.[14] On March 24, 23 members of Japan’s Parliament have signed a statement urging a larger evacuation zone [15]. March 25, Japan's government urged the residents of the 20-30 km zone to leave the area, too[16]. More than 10,000 people are still in the area, NHK reported[17]

"The cores of the three reactors are believed to have partially melted", the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Tuesday Morning[7][18].

Damages of the containment

On Saturday March 12 the Japanese authorities claimed the reactor pressure vessel of unit 1 of Fukushima 1 wouldn't have been damaged. But this is in conflict with the officially confirmed releases of cesium. Friday evening the authorities already had claimed there wouldn't have been any danger of radioactivity releases. First independent meassurements of radiation showed a serious of radioactivity even in a certain distance to the crashed reactor units[19].

Japan's defense ministry said that US-American officials had expressed grave concern that the saltwater could cause equipment to seize up and corrode, making resolution of the situation even more difficult[16].

A suspected breach in the core at one reactor at a stricken Fukushima nuclear plant could mean more serious radioactive contamination, Japanese officials revealed Friday - a situation the prime minister called "very grave and serious", Assiocated Press reported on March 25[20].

Collapsed MOX reactor increasening threats at Fukushima I

Around 9 PM GMT Saturday March 12 evening Reuters informed about Fukushima 1 unit 3 that "the emergency cooling system is no longer functioning (...) as an official of the Japan Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency told a news conference"[21]. "This is of particular concern since, unlike all of the other reactors in trouble, Unit 3 has been using plutonium-based MOX (mixed oxide) fuel since September 10, 2010. Consequences of an accident at a MOX-powered reactor would be even more severe than at a more typical uranium-powered reactor", says the Nuclear Information and Resource Service[15] On March 13 the chief Cabinet secretary of Japan's government informed that an explosion at unit 3 of Fukushima 1 is possible to occur, but that they wouldn't expect a meltdown to happen[22][23] (however they want to be sure about that after the last days' experiences...). Several attempts to cool the reactor core failed until the late evening of Sunday[8], it eventually exploded Monday morning at 2.01 AM GMT[24][25]. NIRS believes there are now multiple meltdowns in progress along with significant releases from irradiated fuel pools[15].

As the officially admitted radiation rate of 20 rems/hour (10,000 times above normal) affecting three workers at unit 3 on March 23 would not be high enough to cause the burns that were reported on them, there is suspicion that the rates were even higher. Radioactive elements were found in the water that are not normally found in reactor cooling water. This has led to new open speculation among government and utility officials that the core of unit 3 has been breached and primary containment has failed (most observers have suggested this for several days, NIRS said)[15]. The possibility of an even more severe environmental contamination was announced by Japanese officials on March 25 due to a suspected fracture of the unit 3 reactor core, a NISA spokesman was quoted by AP[26]. Since March 11 the operator is struggling to cool the unit containing 170 tons of MOX fuel[26]. The damage could have been caused by the hydrogen explosion of March 14 blowing up the outer containment[26]. High-level radiation is suspected to be leaking from the number three reactor core[27].


Status of the affected facilities

  • Fukushima 1 unit 1: leaks of the vessel's shielding reactor cores suspected by IAEA officials (26/3/11)[28]
    • high radiation releases have been reported; highly radioactive water has been detected at the turbine buildings; a "cold shutdown" of the plant is expected to take at least one more month (25/3/11)[10][27]
    • Steam was seen coming from Units 1 through 4 today, in some cases large amounts - the steam is carrying radiation into the air (24/3/11)[15]
    • high temperatures reported, dashing hopes that reestablishing power to the entire plant on Tuesday would quickly help stabilize it (23/3/11)[29]
    • irregular but extremely high heat levels appear according to CNN infrared pictures - this could be of major concern (21/3/11)[15]
    • The water level is such low that measurement instruments couldn't be recorded clearly anymore as the Japanese nuclear authority NISA found out (18/3/11)[30]
    • The outer building is damaged and it is presumed that there was a partial meltdown. At least small amounts of radioactivity have been vented (16/3/11)[31]
  • Fukushima 1 unit 2: leaks of the vessel's shielding reactor cores suspected by IAEA officials (26/3/11)[28]
    • highly radioactive water has been detected at the turbine buildings; a "cold shutdown" of the plant is expected to take at least one more month (25/3/11)[27]
    • high radiation reported, dashing hopes that reestablishing power to the entire plant on Tuesday would quickly help stabilize it (23/3/11)[29]
    • analysis of infrared pictures published by CNN indicates there may be no water at all (21/3/11)[15]
    • rescue teams are pumping sea water into the fuel ponds; the reactor is connected to the emergency electricity grid again; the containment is damaged; radiation has leaked (20/3/11)[32]
    • 1.4 m of the fuel rods are exposed (17/3/11 11 PM GMT)[30]
    • primary containment is believed to be significantly breached (16/3/11 2 PM GMT)[15]
    • there has been an explosion; there is speculation that this explosion has damaged the primary containment(14/3/11)[15]
    • fears of a partial meltdown as the fuel elements were several times totally exposed and thus cooling failed (14/3/11)[6]
    • no cooling capability anymore (12/3/11)[15]
  • Fukushima 1 unit 3: data indicated a leak at the reactor, IAEA officials said (26/3/11)[28]
    • Japanese officials have expressed alarm over a possible fracture of the reactor core; high-level radiation is suspected to be leaking (25/3/11)[26][27]
    • NISA suspects the core to be damaged and radioactive water to leak through the containment vessel as water in the turbine room was "about 10,000 times the level of radiation found in the coolant inside a reactor"[16]; a nuclear meltdown is said to be likely[10] (25/3/11)
    • dark smoke forced officials to evacuate the facility (23/3/11)[29][33]
    • substantial amounts of smoke, workers were temporarily evacuated (21/3/11)[15]
    • irregular but extremely high heat levels appear according to CNN infrared pictures - this could be of major concern (21/3/11)[15]
    • rescue teams spraying water onto unit 3 again, after 13 hours of water cannon action could not prevent the increase of pressure by Sunday (20/3/11)[32]
    • the condition of the fuel pools appears to remain more serious (19/3/11 2.30 PM GMT)[15]
    • 2.3 m of the fuel rods are exposed (17/3/11 11 PM GMT)[30]
    • the fuel pool might also be losing water and could soon be in the same condition as at unit 4 (16/3/2011)[34]
  • Fukushima 1 unit 4: smoke or steam visible (21/3/11)[15]
    • after unsuccessful attempts to cool the reactor with ten water cannons of the Japanese military and a vehicle of the US military, rescue teams started again spraying water onto the damaged reactor (20/3/11)[32]
    • the condition of the fuel pools appears to remain more serious (19/3/11 2.30 PM GMT)[15]
    • US NRC Chairman Greg Jazcko told a Congressional committee this afternoon that the Unit 4 fuel pool has no water and is releasing massive amounts of radiation (16/3/11 8.30 PM GMT)[15]; commission representatives in Tokyo and TEPCO confirmed that the pool at No. 4 was empty (18/3/11)[34][30]; NRC people were on the site saying that the fuel pool is without water and that the released radiation is lethal in a short period of time (17/3/11 9 PM GMT)[15]
    • flames appeared; it is impossible to go near the fire since the radiation is so high (15/3/11 8.45 PM GMT)[15]
    • There was briefly a fire in the irradiated fuel pool - it is said to be extinguished for now (15/3/11 12.15 PM GMT)[15]
  • Fukushima 1 unit 5: Japanese authorities announced to have stabilized the reactor, after the cooling systems were brought into operation again (20/3/11)[32]
    • TEPCO has cut holes in the roofs of the containment building in an effort to remove building pressure and prevent explosions such as those that severely damaged Units 1, 3 and 4. This means some radiation is certainly being released through these holes (19/3/11 2.30 PM GMT)[15]
    • offcials said they had experienced a slight rise in temperature, while the operator says the emergency power supplies have been restored (18/3/11)[34][30]
  • Fukushima 1 unit 6: Japanese authorities announced to have stabilized the reactor, after the cooling systems were brought into operation again (20/3/11)[32]
    • TEPCO has cut holes in the roofs of the containment building in an effort to remove building pressure and prevent explosions such as those that severely damaged Units 1, 3 and 4. This means some radiation is certainly being released through these holes (19/3/11 2.30 PM GMT)[15]
    • offcials said they had experienced a slight rise in temperature, while the operator says the emergency power supplies have been restored (18/3/11)[34][30]


http://www.bfs.de/de/ion/aktivitaetskonzentrationen_jod.jpg
image provided by BfS
Measured concentrations of iodine-131 up to March 23





































Connected additional accidents in other atomic facilities

Several other nuclear Japanese facilities are faced to serious safety issues as a result of the tsunami and earthquakes: the reprocessing unit Rokkasho (difficulties with cooling systems), the NPP Fukushima 2 Daini (fire, failing cooling systems - atomic power emergency declared), the NPP Tokai (two of three emergency power generators failed) and the NPP Onagawa (fire, leakage - atomic power emergency declared)[12][8].

Health impacts of the catastrophe

One worker died as a direct result of the explosion of Fukushima 1 unit 1, three others were injured and sent to hospital. A contractor had been found unconscious and two workers of a "cooperative firm" had been injured. At unit 3 one worker received a high radiation dose, and the whereabout of two workers remained unknown.[35] "Fukushima Prefecture revealed that there are an additional 19 individuals who have received radiation doses. This brings the total to 22 people. According the METI’s NISA, there is a possibility that 160 individuals living in the vicinity of the nuclear power plants have received radiation doses", Mainichi reported on Sunday March 13[36]. While Japanese authorities as well as an IAEA spokesman and recently also some BBC correspondents were downplaying the risks of the radiation released, the legal exposure limit for the workers was raised on Wednesday from 100 to 250 millisieverts in Japan[6]. Meanwhile the operator of the crashed NPPs TEPCO and the Japanese authorities are considering a Chernobyl-like sarcophagus solution as a last means for the damaged reactors[30].

Two workers had to be sent to hospital on March 24 after receiving a dose of 170 to 180 millisieverts of radiation after stepping into contaminated water at unit 3; another one was affected, but not sent to hospital[16][37]. Reports indicate that a number of Japanese people who lived between 200 and 350 kilometers away from the plant have been hospitalized for exposure to radioactive materials, PressTV´ wrote March 25[26].

By Thursday March 17, the available data about radiation from Fukushima I show releases of already "about a tenth of what was released from the Chernobyl-4 reactor in Ukraine in 1986", experts of the French IRSN (Institute of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety) informed.[38] The Austrian Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG), which is advising the International Atomic Energy Agency, reported on March 23 that releases of radioactive Cesium (hazardous life: 300-600 years) from Fukushima now are 20-60% those of Chernobyl; releases of iodine-131 are at 20% Chernobyl releases[15][39]. According to Agence France-Presse France’s Nuclear Safety Authority says that local contamination in the area is a problem that will remain for "decades and decades"[15]. The radiation measuring station in Takasaki/Japan shows figures of radioactive substances from Fukushima to continue going up and down, a senior of the CBTBTO said on March 25. It could not be said that the radiation would be on the decrease, they continued[40]. The released radioactivity comes out of the reactors rather than from spent fuel ponds, IAEA officials said, noting the composition of the radioactive isotopes[28].

Particles of fallout from the Fukushima accidents were detected in western California on March 18 and in Iceland on March 20 and are expected in France and elsewhere in Europe, experts said on March 23[29][40]. The readings of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) show iodine-131 and xenon-133 proved also in Russia, Canada, USA and probably also in Sweden[41][42]. Another simulation shows that radioactive iodine-131 from Fukushima already (25/3/11) reached wide areas of Europe in very diluted amounts and will increase during the next couple of days[43]. Since March 24 radioactive iodine-131 has been detected in Germany, too, but on small levels, the German Ministry of Ecology informed[44][45]. Deutscher Wetterdienst stations in Potsdam, Offenbach and Braunschweig found the fallout particles on a level of a millionth part of the normal background radiation[45]. The radioactive plume had been transported by winds via North America to Europe[45].

Dr. Chris Busby at the European Committee on Radiation Risk (ECRR) told the public that the ECRR radiation risk model predicts 120,000 cancers worldwide based on the current known releases from Fukushima[15]. Ground radiation levels at the Fukushima site are currently over 2,000 Microsievert per hour, and there are likely hot spots of far higher levels, NIRS assumes[15].

On Saturday March 19 the Japanese government confirmed high radiation in spinach and milk near the nuclear power plant[46]. The spinach was growing some 60 kilometers from the site[15]. Vegetables from the Fukushima region and the also radioactively affected Ibaraki area south of Fukushima had nevertheless been sold in Tokyo, the New York Times reported[46]. A couple of days later, on March 23, Japan's Prime Minister urged consumers not to eat certain types of food from the region surrounding the nuclear facilities and also expanded a shipment ban[29]. Also significantly contaminated rape had been detected on March 20 from regions not affected by increased radiation yet[32]. Radioactively polluted beans from Japan have been found in Taiwan, too[32].

Contaminated tap water was detected in the Fukushima prefecture on March 20 causing to warn the population not to drink it as the radiation levels could be too high[32]. Increased radiation values had been found already beforehand in Tokyo and other regions[32]. Radioactive iodine-131 was found in Tokyo’s[29] and in five surrounding cities' water supply at twice the allowable level for infants[47], the government told on March 22 advising not to let infants drink tap water or use it in formula[15][48]. Tap water levels exceeding 300 becquerels were found in the Fukushima prefecture[29]. The government was distributing bottled water to 80,000 households with infants younger than 12 months[48]. Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned import of milk and vegetables from four Japanese prefectures to the United States[15][49]. Australia[33], Canada, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore[33] and Russia have also banned from entering some Japanese food products, while Korea is considering doing the same[47].

High radiation levels have been detected in the Pacific Ocean waters near to Fukushima. Iodine-131 at 1,250.8 times the legal limit several hundred meters offshore near unit 1 were announced by NISA on March 26[50]. "This is a relatively high level", a NISA spokesman said in a press conference[50]. TEPCO had announced March 22 that the seawater reading was 126 times above the legal level, while on Thursday it was 145 times the legal level[50]. In China, an airplane coming from Japan had been found with increased radiation levels 22 times to normal a couple of days after the beginning of the disaster[51].

On March 24 Japanese officials said that infants - even outside the evacuation zone - could have received a dose of 10 rems to their thyroids from iodine-131 over the past two weeks. This would apply to infants who had stayed outdoors every day. The radiation levels remained far above normal. The Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) pointed out that all of the levels of the surrounding communities are far above background and above levels allowable for long-term human habitation. NIRS stressed the fact that all of the monitoring locations are outside the current evacuation zone, in most cases many miles outside.[15] One of the radiation monitoring websites from Japan is commenting the status "under suryey" of the collapsed reactors to be a synonym for being "under censorship". Readings of March 21 published by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) showed up to 111 Mikrosieverts per hour30 kilometers from the site - thus, the maximum allowable dose to public would be reached in about 9 hours[15].

Meanwhile in connection to the Fukushima disaster, since March 16, the German authorities stopped the publishment of German data about wind and radioactivity by the regular measurement stations. This stated Prof. Sebastian Pflugbeil, independent expert to the Gesellschaft für Strahlenschutz, to the news broadcasting N24[52]. The Gesellschaft für Strahlenschutz warned on March 23 about under-estimating the impacts and health risks of the radiation measured and published in Japan and spoke about levels comparable with the levels of radiation after the Chernobyl disaster 1986[53]. This assessment is shared by the Austrian meteorological institute studying the data coming in from the monitoring stations of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)[54].

Sailors have been supplied with iodine tablets by the city of Hamburg (D), the authorities announced on March 20[32].

Despite to former publications of the German Ministry of Environment the so-called "iodine blocker" Kalium-Iodine tablets are not available for customers in Germany right now[55]. An inquiry to a public pharmacy resulted in the information that this product meant to be used in an emergency situation hasn't been available in Germany since a long time[56]. An internet search confirmed the impossibility of getting the iodine blocker in Germany as all search results say that the product "is not available at the moment". It seems to be difficult to order it at online pharmacies internationally, too[57]. An exception seems to be Goldpharma who is still offering the product. This means that independent precaution against radioactive iodine incorporation is impossible in Germany, and people would be totally depending on the authorities' decisions if and when they would assess an accident to be serious and to start to distribute the supplied iodine tablets. The only possibility for people to get the iodine blocker right now is to let a local pharmacy order it from the Austrian producer directly[58].

Rescue activities

As of March 21 military tanks are supposed to support the rescue activities at Fukushima, the Ministry of Defense told to Japanese media. The thick metal armor is thought to protect the soldiers against the dangerous radiation, NHK reported on March 20. They are supposed to clear up the site to create space for the emergency work.</ref name="spiegel_water" />

Emergency devices were announced to be sent to Japan on March 21 by German atomic facilities including special filters, masks and measuring instruments. TEPCO had asked for this support; more special equipment has been promised to be sent. The city of Hamburg also announced to provide water containers, cans, blankets and mobile toilets to Japan[32].

Causes of the disaster

What happened in detail in Fukushima is yet unclear as the authorities and the operator publish hardly any concrete information, and probably by now no one knows exactly how the reactors look inside to examine the happenings before the explosions occured. However, there are hypotheses about the causes of the accident. The major interpretation reads as following: When the 9.0-magnitudes earthquake occured on March 11 5.46 AM GMT[11], the units 1-3 of Fukushima I Daiichi were shut-down automatically[11] while the reactors 4-6 were already offline due to regular maintenance. This earthquake was the most powerful known one ever to have hit Japan, and one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world overall since modern record-keeping began in 1900[11]. More than 600 aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater occurred since the initial quake[11]. The earthquakes also disconnected the NPPs from the grid making emergency generating necessary to supply the colling systems[59]. The earthquakes also caused the huge tsunami reaching up to 10 meters[11]. The tsunami surmounted the protection seawalls that were thought to stop normal tsunamis and hit the emergency power generators of the units[11]. Although the Tsunami is regarded to have been high, it has not been the highest Tsunami hitting Japan in history - 22 Tsunamis have been recorded since 684 AD, including 11 events with waves heights in the range of 13-55 m[11]. The emergency power generators still worked for a certain time before they failed. When the cooling systems stopped working hydrogen was generated under the conditions of hot steam and high pressure. Due to the nitrogen concentration in the reactor core it could not ignite inside the containment. To reduce the pressure and to prevent an explosion the operator opened the containment to release some steam (and simultaneous to release radiation to the environment). Shortly afterwards unit 1 exploded due to the hydrogen catching fire in the nitrogen poor reactor building. This happened in other units later, too.

Even after shutting down a reactor a high amount of so-called decay-heat is produced by the radioactive inventory[60]. The decay products of the nuclear fission keep on decaying producing heat: Immediately after the shut down depending on the time of usage of the fuel in the reactor the decay heat is 5-10 % of the original thermal output of the reactor. For instance, a current reactor has an electric output of 1,300 MW and some 4,000 MW thermal output - thus, the decay heat at the moment after the shut down is still 200-400 MW. This amount first decreases fast and later slower - after 10 seconds it is 149 MW, after 1 minute it is 102 MW, after 1 hour it is 40 MW, after 1 day it is 18 MW. After 3 months it is still 3 MW. This heat needs to be lead away to prevent a meltdown of the fuel. As the heat and pressure would not be high enough for the operation of the steam turbine, the fuel needs to artificially be cooled. Because of the small volume in the reactor core and the produced heat a meltdown would cover the entire fuel inventory. Locally reduced meltdowns only appear in connection to material defects, but not as a result of a loss of coolant. Even months after shutting down the reactor the produced decay heat is high enough to cause a meltdown if the cooling systems don't work.[61]

On March 20, Nuclear Power Daily uncovered TEPCO to have lied about their safety procedures: "We can't say that the lapses listed in the (February 28) report did not have an influence on the chain of events leading to this crisis", a nuclear safety agency official said. TEPCO had admitted a couple of days before the catastrophe that they had faked reparing records. For several years wrong statements about inspections and results had been made by TEPCO including parts of cooling systems like water pump motors and diesel generators.[62]

Another message about the design based failure of the emergency cooling systems in Fukushima arose by film maker Adam Curtis producing the documentary "A Is For Atom". He pointed out that his interviews from the 1960's already showed a design failure of the cooling systems of General Electrics Boiling Water Reactors of the Fukushima type. A couple of years later in 1971 the Atomic Energy Commision tested them in reality and realized that while the systems basically worked properly the level of water in the core did not rise. "We discovered that our theoretical calculations didn't have a strong correlation with reality. But we just couldn't admit to the public that all these safety systems we told you about might not do any good", one of the AEC scientists says in the film. In the same year the first of the Fukushima reactors came online.[63] Units 1, 2 and 6 of Fukushima I Daiichi had been supplied by General Electrics[64].

Reactions in other countries

IPPNW, the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, on March 22 demanded the World Health Organization (WHO) to inform the Japanese public about the true impacts of the Fukushima disaster. A treaty between WHO and IAEA from 1959 forces the World Health Organization to assign their competences on health impacts of radiation to them. But the objective of the IAEA actually is the promotion of nuclear power. There is a conflict of interests between the protection of people against nuclear power and fostering this technology. "The WHO should declare themselves in favor of the evacuation of the women, infants and pregnant women of the affected regions as they are particularly radiation sensitive", IPPNW physician Dr. Angelika Claußen explained.[65]

In the USA the sites of supposed new NPPs will be examined, Minister of Energy Steven Chu told Fox News on March 20[32]. Additionally also some running reactors should be reviewed regarding the continuation of operation[32]. US president Obama had ordered the examination of the US-American NPPs on March 17, while he refused to question the technology in general[32]. Also the United Arab Emirates announced to review their plans for the construction of a first nuclear power plant in their country[32].

While experts yet discuss the impacts of the nuclear catastrophe, the German atomic lobbying organization "Deutsches Atomforum" insisted a similar accident could not happen at German nuclear power plants as their safety systems would be prepared to deal with those situations (the same the Japanese nuclear industry said about their reactors by now)[66]. Nuclear companies keep on preaching their atomic plants would be "absolutely safe", for instance RWE boss Großmann insisted on March 25 a necessity of nuclear power for our electricity supply[67]. They get support by pro-nuclear politicians like German ex-Chancellor Kohl who stated to the yellow press paper Bild there wouldn't be any reason for shutting down NPPs in Germany as they wouldn't be more dangerous now after Fukushima than they were before[44]. CEO Schnappauf at the German industry lobby organization BDI had to be sacrified on March 25 resigning his position when the minutes of a talk of the BDI with Minister of Economy Brüderle reached public[44][68]. The paper proofed Brüderle stating the temporary shut-down of NPPs would have been just tactics to not to lose the next weeks elections[44].

Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) said on March 12 that the explosion at the Fukushima Daiichi No. 1 nuclear plant could only have been caused by a meltdown of the reactor core[69]. Under public pressure and on view of several elections during the next weeks the German government decided the temporary shut-down of seven German NPPs for some 3 months[70].

Criticism arose about German companies having been involved to the financing of the blasted reastors: up to 60 Million Euros had been invested by German banks to Fukushima[71]

As a result of the massive protests in Germany the German government had to announce a moratorium of three months of interruption[72] of operation for the seven oldest and most dangerous nuclear reactors: Neckarwestheim-1, Philippsburg-1, Isar-1, Biblis-A, Unterweser, Biblis-B, Krümmel and Brunsbüttel have been shut-down now[73]. Also some federal states[74] are considering to force the atomic industry to shut down some of their reactors - for instance the Neckarwestheim-1 NPP will be closed permantly[72]. Basically all German NPP will be subject of safety checks during the next months, the government decided[75]. In contrast to this decision Chancellor had stated in direct reaction to the catastrophe in Japan that the German reactors would be safe and that there wouldn't be any reason for concerns. Also the European Union in a meeting of the leaders of its countries in Brussels has passed a decision to require "stress tests" for all European reactors; the results would be the basis for decommissioning or upgrading of the concerned plants[44].

Meanwhile the German Minister of Ecology, who is also in charge of nuclear safety in Germany, announced to develop new regulations for a fast extension of renewable energy supplies in Germany[76].

Since March 12, 2011 vigiles[77], rallies, blockades[78] of nuclear facilities and other actions[79][80][81] are happening around the world to demand an immediate global shut-down of all atomic facilities. In Germany two days after the first explosions about 110,000 people protested on March 14 in more than 450 vigiles[82][83], on March 21 about 140,000 demonstrated in some 750 vigiles[84][85]. On Saturday March 19 some 10,000 protested in Hannover against atomic power[86] and 2,000 people demonstrated their opposition to nuclear power in Hamburg. Sunday March 20 at the Biblis NPP 2,000 people demanded the nuclear phase-out[32]. Mass demonstrations have been called out for March 26 in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich. A blockade of nuclear power plants was announced by X-tausend mal quer for June - when the moratorium of the seven oldest reactors in Germany (they have been tuned off for three months after Fukushima) will end. People are already publicly announcing their participation in theses sit-in blockades or their solidarity with the action.


http://www.bfs.de/de/ion/animation.gif
image provided by BfS
Detection of iodine-131 and xenon-133 from Fukushima up to March 22





































Links for more information

The Nuclear information and resource service provides an updated factsheet about the catastrophe of Fukushima I Daiichi.





Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fukushima_I_Nuclear_Power_Plant&oldid=418460202 as at March 12, 2011
  2. ↑ http://www.greenaction-japan.org/modules/wordpress1/index.php?p=2 as at March 12, 2011
  3. ↑ http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/77606.html as at March 14, 2011
  4. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMCa-Zo_ZEU&sns=fb as at March 14, 2011
  5. ↑ http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsunamiupdate01.html as at March 14, 2011
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698 as at March 12, 2011
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/78063.html as at March 15, 2011
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 http://www.contratom.de/2.0/index.php?mod=blog&artikel=1808 as at March 12, 2011
  9. ↑ http://www.greenpeace.de/fileadmin/gpd/user_upload/themen/atomkraft/HH_INES_Rating_Fukushima_23_03_2011.pdf as at March 25, 2011
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 http://www.contratom.de/2011/03/25/atomunfall-in-japan-hat-hochste-ines-stufe-7-erreicht/ as at March 25, 2011
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami&oldid=420466410 as at March 24, 2011
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 http://www.greenpeace.de/themen/atomkraft/nachrichten/artikel/erdbeben_in_japan_regierung_ruft_atomaren_notstand_aus/ as at March 12, 2011
  13. ↑ http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/fukushima126.html as at March 12, 2011
  14. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12720219 as at March 12, 2011
  15. ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 15.17 15.18 15.19 15.20 15.21 15.22 15.23 15.24 15.25 15.26 15.27 15.28 15.29 http://www.nirs.org/reactorwatch/accidents/Fukushimafactsheet.pdf as at March 13, 2011
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 http://www.latimes.com/news/la-fgw-japan-nuclear-plant-20110326,0,7076764.story as at March 25, 2011
  17. ↑ http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-world-tv as at March 25, 2011
  18. ↑ http://www.dw-world.de/dw/function/0,,83389_cid_14917321,00.html?maca=de-aa-news-855-rdf as at March 16, 2011
  19. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/notes/anti-nuclear/disaster-fukushima-the-first-independent-measurements-of-radioactivity-are-alarm/10150122538293442 as at March 14, 2011
  20. ↑ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/daywatch/sns-ap-as-japan-earthquake,0,6520725.story as at March 25, 2011
  21. ↑ http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/12/us-japan-quake-nuclear-cooling-idUSTRE72B3GI20110312 as at March 12, 2011
  22. ↑ http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/77319.html as at March 13, 2011
  23. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12724953 as at Sunday March 13, 2011
  24. ↑ http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/77606.html as at March 14, 2011
  25. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMCa-Zo_ZEU&sns=fb as at March 14, 2011
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171556.html as at March 26, 2011
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171599.html as at March 26, 2011
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171683.html as at March 26, 2011
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fg-japan-tokyo-water-20110324,0,7046959.story as at March 25, 2011
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,751682,00.html as at March 18, 2011
  31. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/16/world/asia/reactors-status.html?ref=asia as at March 17, 2011
  32. ↑ 32.00 32.01 32.02 32.03 32.04 32.05 32.06 32.07 32.08 32.09 32.10 32.11 32.12 32.13 32.14 32.15 http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,752037,00.html as at March 25, 2011
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 http://www.ftd.de/politik/international/:chronik-zur-katastrophe-in-japan-japanisches-flugzeug-strahlenverseucht/60029599.html as at March 26, 2011
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/world/asia/17nuclear.html?_r=1 as at March 17, 2011
  35. ↑ http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Battle_to_stabilise_earthquake_reactors_1203111.html as at March 12, 2011
  36. ↑ http://mainichi.jp/select/weathernews/20110311/news/20110313k0000e040033000c.html as at March 13, 2011 via http://www.greenaction-japan.org/modules/wordpress1/index.php?p=2 as at March 13, 2011
  37. ↑ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fgw-japan-quake-radiation-20110325,0,7432140.story as at March 25, 2011
  38. ↑ http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6916290 as at March 19, 2011
  39. ↑ http://www.zamg.ac.at/aktuell/index.php?seite=1&artikel=ZAMG_2011-03-23GMT10:57 as at March 25, 2011
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/80907.html as at March 25, 2011
  41. ↑ http://www.bfs.de/de/ion/animation.gif as at March 25, 2011
  42. ↑ http://www.zamg.ac.at/docs/aktuell/Japan2011-03-25_1600_E_2.pdf as at March 25, 2011
  43. ↑ http://www.zamg.ac.at/aktuell/index.php?seite=1&artikel=ZAMG_2011-03-25GMT15:41 as at March 25, 2011
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 http://de.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idDEBEE72O0D720110325 as at March 26, 2011
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 http://de.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idDEBEE72O0AR20110325 as at March 26, 2011
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/world/asia/20japan.html?_r=1 as at March 19, 2011
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171531.html as at March 26, 2011
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fgw-japan-quake-radiation-20110325,0,7432140.story as at March 25, 2011
  49. ↑ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sc-dc-japan-food-imports-20110322,0,4153032.story as at March 25, 2011
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171675.html as at March 26, 2011
  51. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ftd
  52. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=144759748925071&comments as at March 23, 2011
  53. ↑ http://www.gfstrahlenschutz.de/pm110323.htm as at March 23, 2011
  54. ↑ http://www.npr.org/2011/03/25/134833909/built-for-bombs-sensors-now-track-japan-radiation as at March 25, 2011
  55. ↑ http://jodblockade.de/ as at March 24, 2011
  56. ↑ Call to the "Brückenapotheke Roßwein" on March 24, 2011
  57. ↑ Search request e.g. http://www.google.de/search?q=Kaliumjodid+Lannacher+kaufen&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:de:official&client=firefox-a#q=Kaliumiodid+Lannacher+kaufen&hl=de&client=firefox-a&hs=C98&rls=org.mozilla:de:official&prmd=ivns&ei=lXSLTae3AoTssgbgguicCg&start=10&sa=N&fp=2233dc865a328f9f as at March 24, 2011
  58. ↑ http://www.lannacher.at/zusatzinfo/1300353565.pdf as at March 24, 2011
  59. ↑ http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-world-tv as at March 24, 2011
  60. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Decay_heat&printable=yes as at March 24, 2011
  61. ↑ http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nachzerfallsw%C3%A4rme&oldid=86711038 as at March 24, 2011
  62. ↑ http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Days_before_quake_plant_operator_admitted_oversight_999.html as at March 21, 2011
  63. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/2011/03/a_is_for_atom.html as at March 23, 2011
  64. ↑ http://www.anti-atom-piraten.de/2011/03/seit-1971-versagen-des-notkuhlsystems-beim-reaktortyp-fukushima-als-designfehler-bekannt/ as at March 23, 2011
  65. ↑ http://www.ippnw.de/startseite/artikel/0f63d4ab40/who-soll-objektiv-ueber-gesundheitli.html as at March 24, 2011
  66. ↑ http://www.kernenergie.de/kernenergie/documentpool/Presse/PM-2011-04_Ereignisse_Japan.pdf as at March 12, 2011
  67. ↑ http://www.contratom.de/2011/03/25/rwe-chef-grosmann-lugt/ as at March 26, 2011
  68. ↑ http://de.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idDEBEE72O0BB20110325 as at March 26, 2011
  69. ↑ http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20110312-japanese-government-confirms-meltdown as at March 13, 2011
  70. ↑ http://www.contratom.de/2.0/index.php?mod=blog&artikel=1820 as at March 17, 2011
  71. ↑ http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/0,1518,751490,00.html as at March 21, 2011
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,751078,00.html as at March 21, 2011
  73. ↑ http://www.contratom.de/2011/03/17/sofort-abschalten/ as at March 21, 2011
  74. ↑ http://www.presseportal.de/pm/6329/2012846/gruner_jahr_stern as at March 24, 2011
  75. ↑ http://www.spiegel.de/video/video-1115491.html as at March 21
  76. ↑ http://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/energiewende-plaene-der-regierung-neue-netze-mehr-windkraft-und-alles-ganz-schnell-1.1074809 as at March 21, 2011
  77. ↑ http://www.ausgestrahlt.de/mitmachen/fukushima/mahnwache.html as at March 26, 2011
  78. ↑ http://www.contratom.de/2.0/index.php?mod=blog&baum2=1&baum3=1&artikel=1827 as at March 21, 2011
  79. ↑ http://www.ausgestrahlt.de/mitmachen/fukushima/andere-aktionen.html as at March 26, 2011
  80. ↑ http://www.contratom.de/2011/03/18/abschalten-abseilaktion-in-magdeburg/#more-242 as at March 21, 2011
  81. ↑ http://www.greenpeace.de/themen/atomkraft/nachrichten/artikel/projektionen_an_acht_akws_qdas_luegen_geht_weiterq/ as at March 21, 2011
  82. ↑ http://www.ausgestrahlt.de/mitmachen/fukushima as at March 21, 2011
  83. ↑ http://www.contratom.de/2.0/index.php?mod=blog&baum2=1&baum3=1&artikel=1825 as at March 17, 2011
  84. ↑ http://www.ausgestrahlt.de/mitmachen/fukushima as at March 21, 2011
  85. ↑ http://www.contratom.de/2011/03/21/141-612-menschen-demonstrieren-in-726-orten-fur-die-stilllegung-der-akw/ as at March 22, 2011
  86. ↑ http://www.contratom.de/2011/03/19/10-000-demonstrieren-in-hannover-gegen-atomkraft/#more-336 as at March 21, 2011

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