Fukushima plume headed to West

Three years ago, I wrote a commentary opposing nuclear power due to concerns about nuclear plant safety and waste disposal.

Three months later, Fukushima experienced a major earthquake and tsunami that caused three of the six Fukushima Daiichi reactors to lose power and melt down, including Reactor 3 that utilizes MOX fuel containing highly-toxic plutonium. A fourth reactor’s fuel pool is in danger of collapse if hit by another major earthquake. Although Fukushima, like Chernobyl, is classified as a Category 7 nuclear disaster (on the International Nuclear Event Scale), Fukushima remains a far greater threat than Chernobyl. Chernobyl was largely contained six months after the disaster. Fukushima may never be largely contained.

Fukushima’s initial release of radiation was not as acute as Chernobyl’s. Unfortunately, the Fukushima complex was constructed on an ancient riverbed on the coast. Since TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company) is continuously cooling the reactors by injecting seawater into the three reactors in meltdown, Fukushima continues to release hundreds of tons of highly radioactive fluids (millions of times higher than the safe limit for ingestion) into groundwater and into the ocean every day. A resulting plume of seawater and debris is devastating sea life in the Pacific Ocean as it moves east. Because this plume contains Strontium 90, whole fish populations in the Pacific could become unfit for human consumption. Strontium 90 bio-accumulates and behaves like calcium, building up in bone tissue causing leukemia. Note that this plume is due to hit the West Coast in late 2014.

Eric Teegarden

Brier

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

Initiative promoter Tim Eyman takes a selfie photo before the start of a session of Thurston County Superior Court, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Olympia, Wash. Eyman, who ran initiative campaigns across Washington for decades, will no longer be allowed to have any financial control over political committees, under a ruling from Superior Court Judge James Dixon Wednesday that blasted Eyman for using donor's contributions to line his own pocket. Eyman was also told to pay more than $2.5 million in penalties. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Editorial: Initiative fee increase protects process, taxpayers

Bumped up to $156 from $5, the increase may discourage attempts to game the initiative process.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, March 28

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Washington state senators and representatives along with Governor Inslee and FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez break ground at the Swift Orange Line on Tuesday, April 19, 2022 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Community Transit making most of Link’s arrival

The Lynnwood light rail station will allow the transit agency to improve routes and frequency of buses.

Protecting forests and prevent another landslide like Oso

Thank you for the powerful and heartbreaking article about the Oso landslide… Continue reading

Boeing’s downfall started when engineers demoted

Boeing used to be run by engineers who made money to build… Continue reading

Learn swimming safety to protect kids at beach, pool

Don’t forget to dive into water safety before hitting the pool or… Continue reading

An image of Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin is reflected in a storefront window during the State of the City Address on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at thee Everett Mall in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: State of city address makes case for Everett’s future

Mayor Franklin outlines challenges and responses as the city approaches significant decisions.

FILE - The massive mudslide that killed 43 people in the community of Oso, Wash., is viewed from the air on March 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Editorial: Mapping landslide risks honors those lost in Oso

Efforts continue in the state to map areas prone to landslides and prevent losses of life and property.

Comment: Why shootings have decreased but gun deaths haven’t

High-capacity magazines and ‘Glock switches’ that allow automatic fire have increased lethality.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, March 27

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Burke: ‘Why not write about Biden, for once?’ Don’t mind if I do.

They asked; I’ll oblige. Let’s consider what the president has accomplished since the 2020 election.

Comment: Catherine missed chance to dispel shame of cancer

She wasn’t obligated to do so, but she might have used her diagnosis to educate a sympathetic public.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.