Radioactive Beaches Reopen In Japan
Channel: OTWTE
Date: 25/07/2013

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/

FUKUSHIMA STEPS UP CHILDREN'S THYROID RECHECK

Fukushima Prefecture has taken steps to facilitate the re-examination of children found with lumps in their thyroid glands following the 2011 nuclear crisis.

 Only one hospital had been conducting the re-examination in the prefecture in northeastern Japan.

 The prefectural government has added 2 more hospitals to carry out the examinations. One started work on Wednesday and examined 5 children. The other is to follow on Friday.

 Prefectural officials took the step because only one-third of the children requiring re-examination have been able to undergo the procedure.

 Fukushima is conducting regular checks of the thyroid glands of 360,000 people who were 18 or younger when the nuclear crisis began.

 That's out of concern that radioactive materials emitted by the damaged reactors could accumulate in children's thyroids, possibly causing cancer.

 Children found with a lump 5.1 millimeters or larger are supposed to undergo a thorough recheck. That includes an ultrasound examination and blood and urine tests.

 The re-examination is taking time. As of the end of March, only one-third of about 1,100 children had been re-examined.

 A doctor involved in the examinations expressed hope that the expanded program will help residents feel more at ease over their health.

Jul. 24, 2013 - Updated 10:23 UTC

RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL MAY HAVE LEAKED FROM TUNNEL

Japan's nuclear regulators suspect that contaminated wastewater may be seeping into the sea from an underground utility tunnel at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

 Highly radioactive substances have been detected in coastal observation wells on the plant's premises, and in nearby seawater, since May this year.

 The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, admitted for the first time on Monday that wastewater is leaking into the sea.

 Members of the Nuclear Regulation Authority discussed the issue on Wednesday. They pointed out that highly contaminated wastewater that has filled an underground utility tunnel between the turbine building and the sea may have seeped through layers of gravel that cover the floor of the tunnel.

 This is the same route through which contaminated wastewater is believed to have leaked out to sea in April 2011.

 The authority's chairman Shunichi Tanaka said the contamination must be prevented from spreading outside the harbor.

 The authority plans to launch an expert panel to discuss measures to this end.

Jul. 24, 2013 - Updated 09:41 UTC

NUCLEAR REGULATOR REBUKES TEPCO

A senior official of Japan's nuclear regulator has rebuked the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant for being too slow to find ways to stop contaminated groundwater from seeping into the ocean.

 Highly radioactive water has been detected in the plant's monitoring wells near the Pacific Ocean since May.

 On Monday, Tokyo Electric Power Company admitted for the first time that tainted water is leaking into the ocean. TEPCO reached the conclusion after analyzing data on water levels in the wells in relation to tide levels.

 The Nuclear Regulation Authority plans to study ways to determine the origin of the contamination, as well as measures to stop the leak at its meeting on Monday next week.

Jul. 23, 2013 - Updated 10:36 UTC

INDUSTRY MINISTRY OFFICILA SLAMS TEPCO

A senior Japanese government official has criticized the operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant for failing to stop radioactive water leaking into the ocean.

 Tokyo Electric Power Company officials announced on Monday that new findings suggest tainted water has been leaking into the ocean since April.

 Officials from the Industry Ministry inspected the plant later on Monday. Senior vice minister Kazuyoshi Akaba says the situation is deplorable.

 He says TEPCO always seems to be one step behind the problems.

 TEPCO says the contamination has not spread beyond an area near the plant.
 Workers are using chemicals to solidify the ground around the wells and the coastal area to stop further leakage.

Jul. 22, 2013 - Updated 19:57 UTC

FAIR USE NOTICE: Any copyrighted (©) material is made available to advance understanding of ECOLOGICAL, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, ECONOMIC, DEMOCRACY, SCIENTIFIC, MORAL, ETHICAL, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE issues, which constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.