Greenpeace campaigner on ground in Japan puts high Fukushima radiation readings in perspective
February 9, 2017 This is a recent note by Kendra Ulrich, Senior Global Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace Japan, and Beyond Nuclear board member, on the high radiation levels found recently in the ruined Fukushima reactors.
"Just a quick update on the Fukushima Unit 2 situation... Some english language stories have implied that the incredibly high levels of radiation recently recorded by a robot (530 sieverts!!) are a "spike" in radiation levels. We here in Japan have been cross-checking the Japanese press and it would appear that this is a confusion of the Japanese reporting - lost in translation, if you will. While this IS the highest ever recording, it is likely not a new situation. This is the closest TEPCO has been to the pedestal and, likely, molten core. As such, radiation levels would be extremely high - though some experts are speculating the nearly unfathomable levels in Unit 2 are an indication not only of molten fuel nearby, but that it is not covered by water (despite the 316 tonnes of water pumped into Units 1-3 daily). Though this does not appear to be a new emergency situation, it clearly shows both how little TEPCO and the Abe government know about the actual situation inside the reactors and how very far they are from "decommissioning." As we have been saying, this is an ongoing radiological crisis and one that will continue -- onsite and offsite -- for the foreseeable future."