If they don't get that thing cooled off, it's not going to matter where the run off is going. It's the lesser of two evils. I'm sure they are doing all they can to mitigate the impact of and contain their response, but given the choice of a radioactive release or a full blown meltdown.......What's the best choice? A release is insignificant compared to a meltdown. I think it's a given it's going to get worse, it's basically uncontained and out of control at this point.
I suspect they may NOT be mitigating the impact, for multiple reasons.
Look at some of the posts here already. Deal with the consequences now, don't worry about later. That can be a recipe for disaster when you are talking about radiation exposure. Poison the land or the water, that stuff is poisoned for decades.
I'm not trying to armchair quarterback. Just asking if anyone knows if that's what is going on or not ? The reactor here in SoFla is Turkey Point and there are always manatees swimming in large groups in the cooling lakes as well. They go there because the water is warmer than anywhere else. So using seawater to cool a contained unit is common. I'm wondering if the seawater they are using is actually coming in contact with the fuel rods and then going back out to sea? Agreed they need to do whatever they can to fix things.
In the end it's gonna come down to dropping some big bombs on those things to put out the fires and bury the radioactive material under tons of concrete and rubble.
These plants have closed loop systems, which means animals are not exposed to radiation - supposed to be safe. That is the question here, if they are putting sea water on an open system and contaminating well, I don't know, everything? Simply put, a great question, for the experts, is if they are applying the wrong solution to their problem.
I can barely watch any news coverage of this event anymore, because it seems like all the news shows are hoping for the worst news possible, a meltdown. I still don't think its quite as bad as it sounds yet, just because of the sensationalism. They new that they were building these plants on a seismic faultline, so they were built very very well. And I know that these Japanese engineers are some of the smartest in the world. I wish that we got only the facts, and not a bunch of speculation and hyperbole.
I agree with you here, partially the reason I am avoiding reading about this situation.
React now and think later.......although, polluted water over a nuclear disaster is reasonable.
React now and think later is a horrible idea. What does it matter if you die a quick and painful death now or a slow and painful death later? That is what will happen if you poision your food supply with radiation. Hell, most of the world's fish is already so contaminated with toxins that it is not recommended to eat more than one serving of fish a month.
Under normal operations the primary cooling system is not vented to the atmosphere.
Correct
I'm not trying to armchair quarterback this thing. I simply worry that the Japanese might be screwing themselves and possible worse - affecting the whole region, with panic decisions now. If they poision or even kill fish populations in the ocean - that will have a global impact. There are THOUSANDS of islands in the south pacific that live off of fish, these island populations will starve to death if they lose that source of food.
I have no idea how much contamination would be necessary for this to happen though
Hell, it may happen regardless.
As a poster has already suggested, we are getting media sensationalism sprinkled with half-assed or even wrong facts/evidence. I am simply worried about the situation and share the initial posters concerns of actions taken thus far... As reported by the media.
Anyone know what the effects would be if there ARE meltdowns, probably will contaminate the water anyway.
