What You Need to Know about the Japan Nuclear Crisis
Amplify’d from www.scientificamerican.com
What You Need to Know about the Japan Nuclear Crisis
Confused by the fast-changing pace of events? Here are the key points to know
By The Editors
• The Fukushima Daiichi power plant has six nuclear reactors. Their status ranges from being stable to having varying degrees of core meltdown.
• Of greatest concern are the spent fuel rods stored at reactor Nos. 3 and 4. They are not contained in the same kind of vessel as active fuel rods. If left exposed to air, they may catch fire or explode, spreading radioactive particles into the air.
• Workers at the plant are trying to keep all fuel rods under water, which cools the rods (thereby preventing fires and explosions) and blocks radiation.
• The most damaging radiation are gamma rays and x-rays; energetic alpha rays (streams of helium nuclei) and beta rays (electrons) can also damage cells. These rays are emitted during the decay of certain versions of uranium, iodine, cesium and other elements.
• Wearing masks and respirators prevent the ingestion of radioactive particles.
• Currently, there is no radiation danger to residents of the U.S. Although higher-than-normal radiation may well be detectable in the U.S., the amount poses no health risk. Unless a large explosion sends radioactive material high into the atmosphere, most of the fallout from Japan will not make it across the Pacific Ocean.
• Residents of the U.S. do not need to take iodine pills to prevent radiation-induced thyroid cancer. In fact, overuse of potassium iodide can lead to thyroid problems, especially among children.
• Most of the radioactive particles are expected to fall out over the western Pacific Ocean. Quantities will be so diffuse at that point that they're not likely to make fish there unsafe to eat.
For complete coverage, see our in-depth report "The Japan Earthquake and Tsunami."
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