Not Me <[email protected]> wrote: This is BS. >
I believe you are right. > If the #4 fuel pond caught fire, and all the radioactive material > dispersed into the atmosphere, it could amount to about 10 times the amount > of radioactive material dispersed from Chernobyl. > > Most of that would fall to the ground within a short distance of the plant. > > However, it is inconceivable that any accident could occur that would > result in the stored nuclear fuel completely burning. . . . That is what the experts on NHK and the other mainstream Japanese press say. However, if anything does go wrong with pools, it will be a *very*serious, dangerous and expensive accident. Some of the Zr rod cladding may burn. It might release very large amounts of radioactive solids (dust) and gas. To avoid this, they are making haste to transfer the rods to dry storage. What has happened, and what actually may happen if worst comes to worst is bad enough. There is no need to exaggerate it and make it out to be a calamity. The accident brought about the abrupt demise of nuclear power in Japan and perhaps the whole world in a few years. In the last week or so the government and the industry have been hinting they will restart some of the reactors in the Osaka area, to avoid 20% power shortages. I think they should. It is a delicate issue. They do not want be seen as running roughshod over public opinion. - Jed
