Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: BREAKING: Fukushima Daiichi plant has lost power [View all]AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)15. Yeah, it's definitely not good.
The spent fuel is probably the larger of the remaining threats from that site. That stuff has to be kept cool and submerged. If for no other reason than to lower the overall radiation dose of being in the area, due to 'skyshine' (all the bad particles scatter in the atmosphere, so the stuff wouldn't just radiate straight up, away from the site, it would raise the dose of the entire site). The workers HAVE to get in there and continue the cleanup. Can't do that if the pools are bare, even if they DON'T catch fire (which they necessarily must if cooling is totally lost for long enough and no other cooling can be brought to bear)
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
54 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Tepco is reporting that the current water can contain the fuel for at least 4 days.
StrayKat
Mar 2013
#18
It's just a matter of time. The Saltwater used to cool the plant right after the accident is
Katashi_itto
Mar 2013
#25
This is why nuke power is not viable for any country be it the US, Iran, Japan, China....et cetera
cstanleytech
Mar 2013
#43
I am always looking for news on Japan as my young brother lives there with wife.
Miami4Obama
Mar 2013
#54