Fukushima released 13,000,000,000 times more neutrons than initially estimated — “Obvious implication for human health”
Published: January 13th, 2015 at 6:23 pm ET
By ENENews
http://enenews.com/fukushima-released-13000000000-times-neutrons-initially-estimated
Scientists from Tokyo Institute of Technology, U. of California San Diego & Kyushu U., made available Oct 16, 2014 (emphasis added):
We estimated a lower limit of 5.2 × 1021 slow neutrons m–2 sec–1 [m–2 sec–1 = per sq. meter per second] were emitted from the nuclear fuel rods to the sea water injected in the reactors
Priyadarshi et al. (2011) have estimated a release amount of 4 × 1011 slow neutrons m–2. The large difference with our estimation [13,000,000,000 times higher] comes from the intrinsic limit of the box model study by Priyadarshi et al.
Our model directly estimates the amount of material released from the reactor core
The estimated… number of neutron represent a lower limit of the amount of radiation emitted from the nuclear reactors
These values can be used as a proxy to the total amount of radiation emitted since the melt down
[The authors] express their gratitude to… the Japanese Ministry of Environment…Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Technology (MEXT)… [and] the Cabinet Office
Priyadarshi et al. (2011): Evidence of neutron leakage at the Fukushima nuclear plant… Despite the obvious implication for human health and the surrounding ecology, there are no quantitative estimates of the neutron flux leakage… Heat must be removed by cooling the system to prevent… a core meltdown, which results in injection of neutrons and other fission products into the atmosphere… [T]ons of seawater were used as a coolant… A consequence is that salts and minerals present in seawater become radioactive by reaction with thermal neutrons… We calculated the total number of neutrons that leaked from the reactor core [and] estimate that a total of 4 × 1011 neutrons per m2 were released before March 20.
Slow Neutrons: “In water-cooled reactors like the ones at Fukushima, the right combination of slow neutrons and enriched fuel leads to a self-sustaining process… [Water] acts as a so-called moderator, slowing down the neutrons and keeping the reaction going.” -The Economist
Health effects of neutron radiation:
Wikipedia: [Neutron] radiation is considered to be the most severe and dangerous radiation to the whole body when it is exposed to external radiation sources [and] roughly ten times more effective at causing biological damage compared to gamma or beta
Robert Gale: All three types of particles… can harm humans. Neutrons are the most dangerous because they are very energetic, can penetrate deeply, and deposit large amounts of energy into tissues.
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Neutrons… have an exceptional ability to penetrate other material… neutrons are the only [type of ionizing radiation] that can make objects radioactive… neutrons can travel great distances in air.
National Institutes of Health: Neutrons… are significantly more potent carcinogens than… X or gamma rays… [It] induces… chromosomal aberrations, mutations, and DNA damage… more efficiently.
Previous reports on Fukushima neutrons:
Neutron beam seen 13 times at Fukushima
UN Radiation Expert: Neutron exposure from Fukushima criticalities not measured
Experts: Nuclear chain reactions may have lasted over 7 months at Fukushima — Neutron leakage from ‘active’ molten fuel — Top Gov’t Official: MOX fuel could be neutron source
Gundersen: Discovery of neutron sources off site means Unit 3 fuel broken by detonation — I said that 18 months ago, looks like NRC agrees
Journal: Unprecedented phenomenon from using saltwater in Fukushima reactors — Forming new uranium compounds able to travel long distances… “like carbon buckyballs”
Published: January 13th, 2015 at 6:23 pm ET
By ENENews
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