Fukushima - how bad is it/it is

[tubeswell]

http://www.whydontyoutrythis.com/2013/12/the-urgent-fukushima-video-everyone-needs-to-see.html

Couldn't decide whether to post this in Science and Tech or Infuriati!

[tubeswell]

The deniers viewpoint:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/technology/fukushima.asp

(Just so we have a 'balanced' debate)

[MM_Dandy]

Quick question: what is radioactive water (the claim from the Snopes article)? I assume that "water contaminated with radioactive material" is what is really meant, but since I am by no means an expert, I thought I'd ask.

[Lianachan]

Water can be radioactive, as some of the hydrogen it contains could be the tritium isotope. Tritium is rare though, and has a short half life (a little over 12 years). I suspect they mean contaminated water, as you suggest.

[Arneb]

Quick question: what is radioactive water (the claim from the Snopes article)? I assume that "water contaminated with radioactive material" is what is really meant, but since I am by no means an expert, I thought I'd ask.

That is the correct interpretation. Tepco flooded the melted reactors with water in order to cool them. That water (IIRC, mostly sea water) contained ridiculous amounts of radioactive salts and was stored on-site after being used as coolants. It is leaks in this waste water which, among other things, are causing loads of problems.

[tubeswell]

Screwed news item from two weeks ago

[tubeswell]

After looking at the graphs on this page, I'm not sure whether to feel reassured. The pre-Fukushima radioactivity seems quite small by comparison to what they say is acceptable.

And does the graph comparing measured radioactivity in Japanese versus US coastal waters, imply that the radioactivity has been on the increase lately?