Pessimism over Fukishima-1 crisis
Japanese authorities admit they are coping with an unprecedented crisis at Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant and insist there is still a chance to avert a nuclear disaster. But many in the nuclear field do not share their hope.
Uzi Even, a chemistry professor from Tel Aviv University, claims that the reports provided by the Japanese government are misleading. He believes the worst scenario has happened.
"All reactors were damaged in the earthquake. The containment vessels are breaking down and they will continue breaking down", says Even. "The question now is: what will happen to the content of these reactors, these highly radioactive isotopes? Especially worrying is the presence of plutonium in these reactors. It is something which has not happened in Chernobyl - it did not contain plutonium, which is very, very poisonous. Contamination by plutonium is very difficult to handle. On the other hand, unlike what happened in Chernobyl, there is no graphite in the reactors that can burn and send the contamination into the air and hence disperse to a wide area. So, contamination is there. It is spreading slowly. Hopefully, it will be carried to the sea, but no one can guarantee that."
"All the reactors are dead; all the rescue efforts are in vain," continues Even.
To minimize the damage brought by the nuclear crisis at Fukushima-1 power plant, the reactors could be stored deep in the concrete, the pollution should be monitored, the areas that are polluted are to undergo decontamination, and the people need removing from dangerous zones, Even concludes.
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