Plutonium « ENENews.com

Nature Study: Long-term plutonium dose assessment needed after Fukushima — Concerns about Americium-241 also — Deposition south of plant, not only northwest

By ENENews, on March 8th, 2012

Title: Isotopic evidence of plutonium release into the environment from the Fukushima DNPP accident Source: Nature Publishing GroupAuthor: Jian Zheng, Keiko Tagami, Yoshito Watanabe, Shigeo Uchida, Tatsuo Aono, Nobuyoshi Ishii, Satoshi Yoshida, Yoshihisa Kubota, Shoichi Fuma & Sadao Ihara Date: 08 March 2012 Isotopic evidence of plutonium release into the environment from the Fukushima . . . → Read More: Nature Study: Long-term plutonium dose assessment needed after Fukushima — Concerns about Americium-241 also — Deposition south of plant, not only northwest

Kyodo: Plutonium detected at multiple locations outside 20km zone — Up to 35 Bq/kg of Pu-241

By ENENews, on March 8th, 2012

March 8 Kyodo report in Japanese-only summarized by Fukushima Diary:

Mr. Zun from National Institute of Radiological Sciences measured Plutonium 241 [...]

It was in the dead leaves of Namiemachi [26km] and Iidatemura [32km] taken in April and May, and the soil from J-village.

Plutonium 239 (half life time 24,000 years) and plutonium 240 . . . → Read More: Kyodo: Plutonium detected at multiple locations outside 20km zone — Up to 35 Bq/kg of Pu-241

NRC’s possible worst case scenario: Examined MOX at No. 3 — Also speculated steam explosion would “reject an entire core” from reactor

By ENENews, on March 6th, 2012

Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi ET Audio File Nuclear Regulatory Commission Friday, March 18, 2011

CHAIRMAN JACZKO: So I think we really should produce a source term that is truly what I would call a worst-case but a possible scenario.

TRISH HOLAHAN: Okay.

CHAIRMAN JACZKO: I don’t know if that’s feasible. If folks can think of . . . → Read More: NRC’s possible worst case scenario: Examined MOX at No. 3 — Also speculated steam explosion would “reject an entire core” from reactor

One Year Later: Neptunium-239 findings 35km from Fukushima meltdowns published in journal — Decays into Plutonium-239

By ENENews, on March 5th, 2012

Title: Deposition of fission and activation products after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident Source: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.01.001 : Environmental PollutionAuthors: Katsumi Shozugawaa, a Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, JapanNorio Nogawab, Radioisotope Center, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, JapansMotoyuki Matsuoa, a . . . → Read More: One Year Later: Neptunium-239 findings 35km from Fukushima meltdowns published in journal — Decays into Plutonium-239

Strange: 8 months later, plutonium test results still “pending” — Researcher compares Fukushima radiation to potassium — From nuclear-connected university

By ENENews, on February 22nd, 2012

Title: Radiation levels higher but safe off Fukushima Daiichi, scientists saySource: CNNAuthor: Matt SmithDate: Feb 22, 2012

[...] But the readings amounted to a fraction of the amount of radioactivity sea life is exposed to from naturally occurring potassium in seawater, [Nicholas Fisher, a marine science professor at New York's Stony Brook University] said.

Mainichi on the Plutonium Paradox in Japan — What do you do with spent MOX fuel?

By ENENews, on January 28th, 2012

Title: Japan’s plutonium stockpile builds as nuke fuel cycle policy hits dead end Source: Mainichi Daily News Date: Jan 28, 2012 Emphasis Added

Japan’s stockpile of plutonium had reached 45 metric tons by the end of 2010, inviting suspicion from the international community about what Japan intended to do with the fissile material. [...]

NHK: Internal radiation exposure damages DNA — Plutonium hot particle seen in cell — Avoid touching the “death ash” (VIDEO)

By ENENews, on January 22nd, 2012

Title: NHK reported the risk of internal exposure in June 2009 Source: Fukushima Diary Date: January 21st, 2012

NHK broadcast a TV program about internal exposure risk of the victims by Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs though they keep reporting it’s not risky since 311.

In 2009, NHK broadcast a TV program to all . . . → Read More: NHK: Internal radiation exposure damages DNA — Plutonium hot particle seen in cell — Avoid touching the “death ash” (VIDEO)

Plutonium detected under 70 miles from Tokyo -Gov’t

By ENENews, on January 20th, 2012

Title: Readings of Sea Area Monitoring at offshore of Ibaraki Prefecture Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Release Date: Jan 20, 2012

Sample taken: 2011/9/8; Location: 36º 25.0′ N 140º 43.0′ E; Depth: 49 meters

Pu-238: 0.015 Bq/kg Pu-239 + 240: 0.97 Bq/kg Am-241: 0.50 Bq/kg

h/t Fukushima . . . → Read More: Plutonium detected under 70 miles from Tokyo -Gov’t

New Study: Aerosolized plutonium from Fukushima detected in Europe — Spent fuel indicated

By ENENews, on January 2nd, 2012

Radionuclides from the Fukushima accident in the air over Lithuania: measurement and modelling approaches – Abstract, Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Dec. 27, 2011:

Lujanienė G, Byčenkienė S, Povinec PP, Gera M.; Environmental Research Department, SRI Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Lithuania

Radionuclides from the Fukushima accident in the air over Lithuania Activity . . . → Read More: New Study: Aerosolized plutonium from Fukushima detected in Europe — Spent fuel indicated

Asahi reports on recent plutonium detections — Better translation needed

By ENENews, on November 29th, 2011

Babelfish Translation

With Okuma 8 time detection before the plutonium/the accident

2011 November 30th

As for the prefecture it announced that the plutonium which is seen that on the 29th, it scattered in the accident of the Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima first nuclear power plant, was detected from the soil of the Okuma Cho . . . → Read More: Asahi reports on recent plutonium detections — Better translation needed

Nuclear Engineer: All 3 Fukushima reactors had enormous amounts of plutonium inside before melting down (VIDEO)

By ENENews, on November 14th, 2011

Title: Arnold Gundersen with another Fukushima report as radiation levels rise in Japan

Program: If You Love This Planet

Date Aired: Nov. 11, 2011

Description: This week, Dr. Caldicott once again chats with Arnold Gundersen, a nuclear energy consultant with Fairewinds Associates, about the ongoing situation at the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant in . . . → Read More: Nuclear Engineer: All 3 Fukushima reactors had enormous amounts of plutonium inside before melting down (VIDEO)

NPR program practically begging for US to make more plutonium-238 — “Supplies running low”

By ENENews, on November 9th, 2011

The Plutonium Problem: Who Pays For Space Fuel? : NPR

NASA has relied on that fuel, called plutonium-238, to power robotic missions for five decades.

But with supplies running low, scientists who want the government to make more are finding that it sometimes seems easier to chart a course across the solar system than . . . → Read More: NPR program practically begging for US to make more plutonium-238 — “Supplies running low”

Krypton-85 up over 14,000% in one day at Reactor No. 2 — Kr-85 used to detect “plutonium separations”

By ENENews, on November 2nd, 2011

Nov. 2 — “There was a “100-Fold Increase in Krypton-85 from November 1,” reports EX-SKF.

From TEPCO’s Nov. 2 press materials:

Comparison of testing done on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 in Reactor No. 2′s primary containment vessel

Krypton-85 went from .0036 Bq/cm³ (3.6 x 10-³) to 0.53 Bq/cm³ (5.3 x 10-¹).

That is . . . → Read More: Krypton-85 up over 14,000% in one day at Reactor No. 2 — Kr-85 used to detect “plutonium separations”

Japan radiation expert: Plutonium-238 from inside reactors went far from Fukushima after explosions — ‘Misleading’ media said it would stay close by

By ENENews, on October 31st, 2011

Mainichi has a report featuring radiochemical expert Michiaki Furukawa, professor emeritus at Nagoya University:

He says that some reports about plutonium have been misleading. “When the disaster first happened, there were media reports saying ‘plutonium won’t make it far because it’s a large and heavy element,’ but no one who’s done serious research in . . . → Read More: Japan radiation expert: Plutonium-238 from inside reactors went far from Fukushima after explosions — ‘Misleading’ media said it would stay close by

Neutron ray measured in Tokyo — Uranium-235 found in Chiba — Can’t be detected by most geiger counters (PHOTO & VIDEO)

By ENENews, on October 19th, 2011

TOKYO, Oct. 19 — A Neutron ray was measured in Toranomon, Tokyo on October 18, reports Mochizuki of Fukushima Diary.

Neutron rays are emitted by uranium-235.

Also, in Kashiwa, Chiba citizens detected uranium-235 beside a bench at Matsuba Daiichi Park on October 11.

The Uranium-235 measurement at 1.2 meters increased in comparison to the . . . → Read More: Neutron ray measured in Tokyo — Uranium-235 found in Chiba — Can’t be detected by most geiger counters (PHOTO & VIDEO)

Leaked TEPCO report: 120 billion Becquerels of plutonium, 7.6 trillion Becquerels of neptunium released in first 100 hours — Media concealed risk to public

By ENENews, on October 15th, 2011

Yokohama, Oct. 15 — Mochizuki of the Fukushima Diary website is reporting on a June 2011 document that has been “leaked on the internet” which reveals that Plutonium-238, -239, -240, and -241 were released “to the air” from Fukushima Daiichi during the first 100 hours after the earthquake.

The amount of plutonium released is . . . → Read More: Leaked TEPCO report: 120 billion Becquerels of plutonium, 7.6 trillion Becquerels of neptunium released in first 100 hours — Media concealed risk to public

Japan Gov’t: Plutonium will no longer be measured — Almost impossible for normal person to detect, geiger counters ineffective

By ENENews, on October 4th, 2011

SOURCE: Breaking News: The measurement of plutonium was abandoned in Japan, Fukushima Diary by Mochizuki, October 3, 2011:

At the press conference of TEPCO and related ministries of Japanese government, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology stated they will not measure plutonium anymore.

The measurement of plutonium was abandoned in Japan. [...]

Gov’t: Plutonium dose at 27 microsieverts in Namiemachi — Will remain “for about 50 years” (MAP)

By ENENews, on October 2nd, 2011

Plutonium detected outside N-plant site, Yomiuri Shimbun, October 2, 2011:

[...] A map released by the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry on Friday shows plutonium was found in soil samples taken from a total of six locations in Futabamachi, Namiemachi and Iitatemura, Fukushima Prefecture. [...]

A preliminary ministry calculation shows that the . . . → Read More: Gov’t: Plutonium dose at 27 microsieverts in Namiemachi — Will remain “for about 50 years” (MAP)

New Scientist: “Plutonium from Fukushima was expected to rapidly disperse in the Pacific Ocean — Instead, it seems that the levels remain high”

By ENENews, on October 2nd, 2011

Fukushima’s radioactive sea contamination lingers – environment, New Scientist, September 30, 2011:

Levels of radiation in the sea off the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant remain stubbornly high [...]

[M]uch of the radioactive iodine, caesium and plutonium from Fukushima was expected to rapidly disperse in the Pacific Ocean.

Instead, it seems that the levels remain high. . . . → Read More: New Scientist: “Plutonium from Fukushima was expected to rapidly disperse in the Pacific Ocean — Instead, it seems that the levels remain high”

Strontium found 80 km from Fukushima plant — 15 Bq/m² of plutonium-239 and -240 in Minamisoma (MAP)

By ENENews, on October 1st, 2011

Highly toxic plutonium detected in soil 45 km away from Fukushima nuclear complex, Mainichi, October 1, 2011:

Namie registered the highest density of plutonium-238 with 4 becquerels per one square meter of soil. The combined density of 15 becquerels of plutonium-239 and -240 was detected in one square meter of soil in Minamisoma, while . . . → Read More: Strontium found 80 km from Fukushima plant — 15 Bq/m² of plutonium-239 and -240 in Minamisoma (MAP)

WSJ: “A potentially disturbing turn” — Plutonium discovered far from Fukushima reactors

By ENENews, on October 1st, 2011

Japan Discovers Plutonium Far From Crippled Nuclear Reactor, Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2011:

Trace amounts of plutonium were found as far as 28 miles from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear-power plant, the first time that the dangerous element released from the accident was found outside of the immediate area of the plant.

The . . . → Read More: WSJ: “A potentially disturbing turn” — Plutonium discovered far from Fukushima reactors

Kyodo: Gov’t says plutonium appears to be from meltdowns — Found at 6 locations — 45 km from plant in Iitate

By ENENews, on September 30th, 2011

Plutonium detected in Iitate village in Fukushima, Kyodo News, September 30, 2011:

Plutonium has been detected at six locations in Fukushima Prefecture, including Iitate village around 45 kilometers northwest of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, apparently as a result of the crisis at the plant triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, . . . → Read More: Kyodo: Gov’t says plutonium appears to be from meltdowns — Found at 6 locations — 45 km from plant in Iitate