Reporting from Tokyo— The operator
of
Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant said Tuesday that it had found
radioactive iodine at 7.5 million times the legal limit in a seawater
sample
taken near the facility, and government officials imposed a new health
limit
for radioactivity in fish.
The reading of iodine-131 was recorded Saturday, Tokyo Electric Power
Co. said. Another sample taken Monday found the level to be 5 million
times the legal limit. The Monday samples also were found to contain
radioactive
cesium at 1.1 million times the legal limit. -- Japan's ocean radiation hits 7.5 million times legal
limit:
LA Times: 5 April 2011.
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4 April 2011
From: Stephen M. Apatow
Founder, Director of Research & Development
Humanitarian Resource Institute
Humanitarian University Consortium Graduate Studies
Center for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine & Law
Phone: 203-668-0282
Email: s.m.apatow@humanitarian.net
Internet: www.humanitarian.net
Subject: OIE/FAO/WHO: Japan Release Into Seawater - Hazardous Materials
- International Law
Today, the Wall Street Journal reported: [1]
Tokyo Electric Power Co. began dumping three million
gallons of low-level radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean on Monday
in an effort to ward off the release of even-more-dangerous material
from its damaged nuclear-power plant.
The water the utility began releasing Monday has radioactive iodine-131
contamination around 100 times and as much as 500 times what is
considered safe in normal times and cesium-134 and cesium-137 of some
50-70 times. While
iodine dissipates relatively quickly, cesium remains in the environment
for
many years.
Radioisotope Brief: Iodine-131 (I-131): CDC: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/isotopes/iodine.asp
Radioisotope Brief: Cesium-137 (Cs-137): CDC: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/isotopes/cesium.asp
Radioisotope Brief: Plutonium-239 (Pu-239): CDC: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/isotopes/plutonium.asp
In the context of legal responsibility for dispersal of hazardous waste
and materials, I would like to refer you to the American University:
College of Law: Program on International & Comparative
Environmental law: Hazardous Wastes and Materials:
Url: http://www.wcl.american.edu/environment/iel/twelve.cfm
Note: A testing team dispatched by the United Nations' International
Atomic Energy Association Monday reported radiation levels 1,600 times
above normal 12 miles from the Fukushima plant. -- Japan says high
seawater radiation levels are no cause for alarm, CSM, 22 March 2011.
[2]
Our appeal continues for the international community to unite in
efforts to help Japan with the immediate containment of this
radiological emergency. 30 years
References:
- Tepco
Releases Radioactive Water: Wall Street Journal. Url: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703712504576242153687115180.html
- Japan
says high seawater radiation levels are no cause for alarm, CSM, 22
March 2011. Url: http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20110322/wl_csm/371407
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