Nuclear Reactor Meltdown has Occured

[MorelCabin]

Okay, lets not panic here. The media LOVES to do this to us with every disaster that ever happens. Remember New Orleans...and how we were all going to die of disease because of it> The oil spill in the gulf...wow, now that was going to just devastate EVERYTHING!

Keep in mind THIS TOO SHALL PASS! It will!

 

[k0xxx]

Radiation exposure should be avoided to the extent possible. That being said, I do not believe that the risks posed to the US by the accidents in Japan are that great.

A nuclear detonation will cause a plume of radioactive dust and debris to rise tens of thousands of feet in the air and a large amount of fallout would be be carried great distances. The cloud from even a Chernobyl type disaster (where the core was exposed and burned for days) resulted in the bulk of fallout to rise only a few thousand feet. Most of it settled naturally before traveling very far. However, a minute amount did indeed end up carried great distances.

The chances that enough radioactive particles would arrive in the US to require sheltering is extremely remote. It is more likely the worst case scenario would require not drinking fresh milk for a period of time.

Don't let the nuclear doomsayers on YouTube get you too worried about this. It is cause for some concern and caution, and could even result in an increase in the number of thyroid cancers over the next thirty years, but the immediate threat is minimal. At least IMHO.

Edited to correct FFS (Fat Finger Syndrome)

 

[AL]

Okay, lets not panic here. The media LOVES to do this to us with every disaster that ever happens. Remember New Orleans...and how we were all going to die of disease because of it> The oil spill in the gulf...wow, now that was going to just devastate EVERYTHING!

Keep in mind THIS TOO SHALL PASS! It will!

Umm... speaking as a Floridian effected by the spill, it has devastated an awful lot.

 

[MorelCabin]

No no I didn't mean it that way...I know and am very sorry that it devastated Florida, and the other devastated New Orleans...what I am trying to say is that the media makes everything seem like it will devastate the WORLD. Like the Japan nuclear plant. The media is carrying it way further than it is. Panicing everyone. Yes, there is a great problem in Japan, and great risk, but we don't have to panic here.

 

[okiegirl1]

this was on msnbc

"The Japanese authorities have classified the event at Daiichi's No. 1 as a level 4 "accident with local consequences" on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES).

The scale is used to consistently communicate the safety significance of events associated with sources of radiation. The scale runs from 0 (deviation no safety significance) to 7 (major accident).

The 1979 Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania was a level 5 ("accident with wider consequences"). The 1986 Chernobyl disaster was a level 7 ("major accident"). "

 

[Dunkopf]

Hopefully this occurrence will stir things up a little in the good ole USA. As someone else said, we are ripe for a big increase in nuclear plants.

The death toll of people killed at Chernobyl directly and those in Easter Europe exposed to fallout is between 4000 and 500,000. There was a very significant rise in infant deformities and deaths in the years following the accident.

It sounds like they should probably stick to nukes in submarines and aircraft carriers.

The Japanese have always been very secretive about their affairs.

 

[k0xxx]

More bad news for Japan. They have just issued a new warning for a 10ft Tsunami to hit already decimated areas of the island. And at the same time, another explosion was reported at the Fukushima nuclear plant, this time in reactor number 3. God be with the people of Japan.

Edited to add that the tsunami warning was canceled. It was triggered when seismographs recorded the explosion at the number 3 reactor, and it was mistaken for another earthquake.

 

[Neko-chan]

...

 

[k0xxx]

There will be plenty of time for debating the wisdom of their nuclear plants in the weeks, months and years to come. Right now what is important, is to focus on the people of Japan and what can be done to help. My heart goes out to them.

 

[okiegirl1]

You know you're on Facebook too much when you see a post on here and look for the "like" button!