Radiation from X-rays and CT scans are typically too low to cause ARS. In order to develop ARS the radiation must penetrate the body and reach the internal organs. Swelling, itching, hair loss, and a burn similar to severe sunburn can appear within a few hours after exposure and last a few weeks to a few years, depending on the level of exposure. Symptoms to the digestive system can begin within minutes and up to days after exposure and include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The severity of symptoms directly correlates to the amount of radiation absorbed by the body. Also known as radiation poisoning or radiation sickness, ARS is a serious, but treatable disease that affects the digestive system, the skin, and hair. What Is Acute Radiation Syndrome?Īcute radiation syndrome (ARS) occurs when the body is exposed to very high doses of ionizing radiation. After the meltdown, the reactor remains unstable until it is repaired. Meltdowns are serious because radioactive materials could be released into the environment. Meltdowns occur when a nuclear power plant system fails to properly cool the reactor's core, causing fuel rods within the reactor to overheat and melt. It is an informal term, not officially defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) along with countries who use nuclear energy, the scale defines level 7 as a nuclear accident that involves "widespread health and environmental effects" and the "external release of a significant fraction of the reactor core inventory." Almost two months later, the IAEA called the status of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant "very serious." What Is a Nuclear Meltdown?Ī nuclear meltdown happens when the core of a nuclear reactor is damaged from overheating. On April 12, Japan raised its assessment of the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to Level 7, the worst rating on the international scale, putting the disaster on par with the 1986 Chernobyl explosion.
According to Tokyo Electric Power, the plant's operator, five workers died and 22 more have suffered various injuries since the earthquake. Rising radiation levels forced safety workers to temporarily withdraw from the plant for 45 minutes, but water pumps were left running at reactors 1, 2, and 3 to keep them cool. 3 may have ruptured and appeared to be releasing radioactive steam. Officials also announced that reactor No. Radiation Levels Rise Forcing Workers to Retreat
JAPAN NUCLEAR REACTOR MELTDOWN 2012 WINDOWS
The Japanese government told people living within 20 miles of the Daiichi plant to stay indoors, stop using air conditioning, and to keep their windows closed. The incident released radioactivity directly into the atmosphere. The fire was caused by rising temperatures at the reactor's fuel pool, which is not covered. Radioactivity Released Into AtmosphereĬrews put out the fire at the No. Most of the 800 workers at the plant had been removed, leaving around 50 to use firefighting equipment in the continuing effort to keep the cores of three reactors cooled by pumping in seawater. Engineers at the plant, working at enormous personal risk, continued efforts to cool down No. 4, which was not operational at the time of the earthquake, caught fire. The third blast in four days at the plant happened inside reactor No. On March 15, the nuclear crisis escalated as officials and workers struggled to regain control over the damaged nuclear reactors after a new explosion and fire. Workers Risk Their Lives to Regain Control After Monday's explosion, hundreds of people were ordered to stay indoors. Officials continued to pour sea water into the three reactors at the plant. 2, exposing the fuel rods, causing it to overheat and raising the threat of a meltdown. 3 of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, damaging the structure housing the reactor. Trouble continued on Monday, March 14, as a second explosion occurred, this time in reactor No.
More than 200,000 residents were evacuated from areas surrounding both facilities. The cooling systems at Fukushima Daini, another plant, had also failed. By Sunday, officials believed that partial meltdowns had occurred in reactors No. Officials feared that a meltdown may occur. Radioactive material was detected outside the plant. On Saturday, March 12, there was an explosion at reactor No. Cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station failed shortly after the earthquake. Geological Survey revised to a magnitude of 9.0, from 8.9, and the 23-foot tsunami that devastated Japan on Friday, March 11, 2011, has also caused a nuclear crisis. International Atomic Energy Agency Website.Photo credit: Saneef Ansari, National Institute of Design Bangalore Related Links Location of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant
Learn about what the terms mean in relation to Japan's 2011 crisis. Acute radiation syndrome, reactor meltdown, and nuclear disaster are all scary terms.
0 kommentar(er)
