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Corresponding Member of RAS Alexey Yablokov. Photo from bcm.ru

RAS corresponding member Alexey Yablokov: "Situation at Fukushima-1 develops along Chernobyl scenario"

Councilor, corresponding member of RAS Alexei Yablokov believes that the preventive measures taken in the Far East should be more ambitious because the situation at the NPP Fukushima-1 has got out of complete control and it is likely that the wind from Japan will bring radioactive clouds to the mainland.
  
- Can we expect a repetition of the Chernobyl disaster, which became practically global?
  
The events at the Japanese nuclear power plant have been developing along the Chernobyl scenario. Although there are many differences, the probability of an explosion of any of the reactors can not be excluded, and then the catastrophe will become global.
  
- Why do you think so?
  
During the explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, only 1.5 percent of the available fuel there got into the atmosphere. Only 1.5% – and the whole northern hemisphere suffered. About 500 million people received an increased and in some places lethal dose of radiation. Even now, each year thousands of deaths occur because of the radiation sickness caused by the ingress of radiation. A person falls ill even from the very small doses just above background radiation...
  
A nuclear complex in Japan was better protected from accidents, but it turned out to be insufficient. No one expected to have a 9-point earthquake there, so the structures did not stand the first shock and subsequent aftershocks.
  
Inside the Japanese reactors, there is much more fuel in total than at Chernobyl, and if it breaks out ... It is dreadful to imagine what could be then.
  
- In addition to the reactors, the liquid radioactive waste pools could be affected, perhaps, too? No one remembers about them for some reason now ...
  
Yes, this is understandable because all the attention is paid to the reactors and explosions in the power units. The plant staff was evacuated, because it is extremely dangerous to stay there. Elevated radiation levels have been detected within a radius of more than 200 km from the plant. This suggests that the situation is getting worse by the hour.
  
- The wind is still blowing either east or south of Japan. In the capital, there is already no one in the streets, because they do not want to be exposed to radiation. An American ship, which approached the plant, received a higher dose of radiation and immediately retreated out of harm’s way.
  
Basically, we receive reports of the winds that are blowing in the lower atmosphere, but except the surface wind, there are those that blow above and in the opposite direction, and there may be clouds of hot ash and water vapor with radionuclides, which were thrown 700 m up and higher as a result of the explosions and fires at the plant.
  
- This means that the measures taken on the entire Pacific coast are justifiable, and permanent radiation monitoring carried out by experts is urgently needed in our Far East.
  
Very true, but prevention measures must be reinforced. It is necessary to scramble the specially equipped planes and helicopters, which are able to precipitate the snow clouds on the approaches to our territory. This would require extra money, but they should not feel sorry about that when every hour is precious. We must immediately replenish the stock of iodine pills and distribute it among people without waiting for the radiation to penetrate into our homes ...
  
Already today, we need to restrict the traffic on the mainland in coastal areas, stop drinking water from open sources and water supply, if it is coming from an open intake. We should use the water from underground sources. All the Far East will have to create a stock of bottled water.
  
- It is reported that foreign companies have started mass evacuation of its personnel from Japan because of the growing threat of radiation after the incidents at the Japanese nuclear power plants, caused by the catastrophic earthquake.
  
Hopefully, the situation at the NPP Fukushima-1 will get stabilized, but it is very difficult to predict the future because of the lack of complete or at least somewhat complete picture of what has happened and is happening there now.

By Gennady A. Mingazov, BCM.ru staff writer
All publications by this author (3)

See also

15.06.2011 11:25 Police find over $12 million while clearing debris in Japan

30.05.2011 10:52 Powerful typhoon heading for damaged NPP Fukushima-1

12.05.2011 13:23 TEPCO: Fukushima block fuel rods most likely melted

18.03.2011 12:03 Chernobyl veterans advise Japan to cool reactors with tin

18.03.2011 10:16 Head of Russia’s Human Welfare: Aircraft from Japan to be checked for radioactivity