Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Japan: Stricken Nuclear Plant To Be Closed

_Fukushima_1_Nuclear_Plant_Is_To_Be_Closed__Fukushima_1_Nuclear_Plant_Is_To_Be_Closed_

Foreign governments frustrated with Japan

In crisis, Japan's government struggles to deliver

Japan Warns Fukushima Crisis Unlikely to Be Resolved Quickly

Press Release (Mar 20,2011) Plant Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Press Release (Mar 20,2011)
Plant Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (as of 2:00 PM Mar 20th)

*new items are underlined

All 6 units of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station have been shut down.

Unit 1(Shut down)
- Reactor has been shut down. However, the explosive sound and white
  smoke were confirmed after the big quake occurred at 3:36PM Mar 12th.
  It was assumed to be hydrogen explosion.
- We have been injecting sea water into the reactor pressure vessel.

Unit 2(Shut down)
- Reactor has been shut down and the level of reactor coolant had
  dropped and the reactor pressure had increased because the Reactor
  Core Isolation Cooling System stopped. Measures were taken to lower
  the pressure within the Reactor Containment Vessel and to inject sea
  water into the Reactor while carefully confirming safety. The level of
  reactor coolant and the pressure of the Reactor resumed.
- At approximately 6:00AM on March 15, 2011, an abnormal noise began
  emanating from nearby Pressure Suppression Chamber and the pressure
  within this chamber decreased.
- We completed receiving electricity from the external transmission line
  up to the auxiliary transformer. We are installing the power cable
  from that transformer to the temporary power panel.
- We have been injecting sea water into the reactor pressure vessel.

Unit 3(Shut down)
- Reactor has been shut down. However, the explosive sound and white
  smoke were confirmed at 11:01AM Mar 14th. It was assumed to be
  hydrogen explosion.
- At 8:30AM on March 16th, fog like steam was confirmed arising from the
  reactor building.
- At approximately 6:15AM on March 17th the pressure of the Suppression
  Chamber has temporarily increased. We were preparing to implement a
  measurement to reduce the pressure of the reactor containment vessel
  (partial discharge of air containing radioactive material to outside)
  in order to fully secure safety. However, at present, it is not a
  situation to take a measure immediately to discharge air containing
  radioactive material to outside now. We will continue to monitor the
  status of the pressure of the reactor containment vessel.
- We are working on receiving external power supply to Units 3 and 4.
- We have been injecting sea water into the reactor pressure vessel.

Unit 4(outage due to regular inspection)
- Reactor has been shut down. However, at approximately 6AM on March
  15th. We have confirmed the explosive sound and the sustained damage
  around the 5th floor rooftop area of the Nuclear Reactor Building.
- On March 15th and 16th, we respectively confirmed the outbreak of fire
  at the 4th floor of the northwestern part of the Nuclear Reactor
  Building. We immediately reported this matter to the fire department
  and the related authorities. TEPCO employees confirmed that each fire
  had already died down by itself.
- At this moment, we do not consider any reactor coolant leakage inside
  the reactor containment vessel happened.

Unit 5(outage due to regular inspection)
- Reactor has been shut down and the sufficient level of reactor coolant
  to ensure safety is maintained.
- At 5 AM, Mar 19th, we started the Residual Heat Removal System Pump
  (C) in order to cool the spent fuel pool.
- At this moment, we do not consider any reactor coolant leakage inside
  the reactor containment vessel happened.

Unit 6(outage due to regular inspection)
- Reactor has been shut down and the sufficient level of reactor coolant
  to ensure safety is maintained.
- We are working on receiving external power supply to Units 5 and 6. We
  completed the repair work on the emergency diesel generator (A).
- At 10:14 pm, March 19, we started the Residual Heat Removal System
  Pump (B) of Unit 6 in order to cool the spent fuel pool.
- At this moment, we do not consider any reactor coolant leakage inside
  the reactor containment vessel happened.

Cooling of spent fuel pools
- In Unit 3, water discharge by Self-Defense Force's helicopters was
  conducted from 9:48 AM in the morning on March 17th. Also water
  discharge by the riot police's high-pressure water cannon trucks and
  Self-Defense Force's fire engines was conducted from 7PM on March
  17th and finished at 8:09PM.
- In Unit 3, water discharge by Self-Defense Force's fire engines and
  US army's fire engines was conducted from 2 PM and completed a quarter
  to 3 PM.
- After that, from 0:30 AM, Mar 19th, water discharge by Tokyo Fire
  Department's Hyper Rescue was conducted to Unit 3 and completed at
  1:10 AM. At around 2:10PM, water discharge by Tokyo Fire Department's
  Hyper Rescue to Unit 3 was conducted once again. At approximately 3:40
  am, they had finished water discharge.
- At approximately 8:21 am, March 20th, water discharge to Unit 4 by
  fire engine has started with the cooperation of Self-Defense Forces.
- We are considering further water discharge at Unit 3 and others
  subject to the conditions of spent fuel pools.

Casualty
- 2 workers of cooperative firm were injured at the occurrence of the
  earthquake, and were transported to the hospital.
- 1 TEPCO employee who was not able to stand by his own holding left
  chest with his hand, was transported to the hospital by an ambulance.
- 1 subcontract worker at the key earthquake-proof building was
  unconscious and transported to the hospital by an ambulance.
- The radiation exposure of 1 TEPCO employee, who was working inside
  the reactor building, exceeded 100mSv and he was transported to the
  hospital.
- 2 TEPCO employees felt bad during their operation in the central
  control rooms of Unit 1 and 2 while wearing full masks, and were
  transferred to Fukushima Daini Power Station for consultation with a 
  medical advisor.
- 4 workers were injured and transported to the hospital after explosive
  sound and white smoke were confirmed around the Unit 1.
- 11 workers were injured and transported to Fukushima Daini Nuclear 
  Power Station etc. after explosive sound and white smoke were 
  confirmed around the Unit 3.One of the workers was transported to the
  FUKUSHIMA Medical University Hospital at 10:56AM 
- Presence of 2 TEPCO employees at the site is not confirmed.

Others
- We measured radioactive materials (iodine etc.) inside of the nuclear
  power station area (outdoor) by monitoring car and confirmed that
  radioactive materials level is getting higher than ordinary level.
  As listed below, we have determined that specific incidents stipulated
  in article 15, clause 1 of Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear
  Emergency Preparedness (Abnormal increase in radiation dose measured
  at site boundary) have occurred.
  · Determined at 4:17 PM Mar 12th (Around Monitoring Post 4 )
  · Determined at 8:56 AM Mar 13th (Around Monitoring Post 4 )
  · Determined at 2:15 PM Mar 13th (Around Monitoring Post 4 )
  · Determined at 3:50 AM Mar 14th (Around Monitoring Post 6 )
  · Determined at 4:15 AM Mar 14th (Around Monitoring Post 2 )
  · Determined at 9:27 AM Mar 14th (Around Monitoring Post 3 )
  · Determined at 9:37 PM Mar 14th (Around main entrance )
  · Determined at 6:51 AM Mar 15th (Around main entrance )
  · Determined at 8:11 AM Mar 15th (Around main entrance )
  · Determined at 4:17 PM Mar 15th (Around main entrance )
  · Determined at 11:05 PM Mar 15th (Around main entrance )
  · Determined at 8:58 AM Mar 19th (Around MP5)
  From now on, if the measured figure fluctuates and goes above and 
  below 500 micro Sv/h, we deem that as the continuous same event and 
  will not regard that as a new specific incidents stipulated in article 
  15, clause 1 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear 
  Emergency Preparedness (Abnormal increase in radiation dose measured 
  at site boundary) has occurred. In the interim, if we measure a 
  manifestly abnormal figure and it is evident that the event is not 
  the continuous same event, we will determine and notify.

- The national government has instructed evacuation for those local 
  residents within 20km radius of the periphery and evacuation to inside 
  for those residents from 20km to 30km radius of the periphery, because 
  it's possible that radioactive materials are discharged.
- At approximately 10AM on March 15th, we observed 400mSv/h at the 
  inland side of the Unit 3 reactor building and 100mSv/h at the inland 
  side of the Unit 4 reactor building.
- We checked the status of spent fuel in the common pool, and confirmed 
  that the water level secured. We are planning to conduct a detailed 
  inspection. 
- We found no signs of abnormal situation for the casks by visual 
  observation during the patrol activity. A detailed inspection is under
  preparation.
- At Units 5 and 6, in order to prevent hydrogen gas from accumulating 
  within the buildings, we have made three holes on the roof of the 
  reactor building for each unit
- We will continue to take all measures to ensure the safety and to 
  continue monitoring the surrounding environment around the Power

Bid to 'Protect Assets' Slowed Reactor Fight

Asia Makes Life Tough for IAEA - Richard Weitz, The Diplomat

Most eyes may now be on the nuclear crisis in Japan. But North Korean defiance and Iran’s stalling remain the IAEA’s big headaches.

JOINT EPA/DOE STATEMENT: Radiation Monitors Confirm That No Radiation Levels of Concern Have Reached the United States

JOINT EPA/DOE STATEMENT: Radiation Monitors Confirm That No Radiation Levels of Concern Have Reached the United States
WASHINGTON – The United States Government has an extensive network of radiation monitors around the country and no radiation levels of concern have been detected. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency RadNet system is designed to protect the public by notifying scientists, in near real time, of elevated levels of radiation so they can determine whether protective action is required. The EPA’s system has not detected any radiation levels of concern.

In addition to EPA’s RadNet system, the U.S. Department of Energy has radiation monitoring equipment at research facilities around the country, which have also not detected any radiation levels of concern.

As part of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization’s International Monitoring System (IMS), the Department of Energy also maintains the capability to detect tiny quantities of radioisotopes that might indicate an underground nuclear test on the other side of the world. These detectors are extremely sensitive and can detect minute amounts of radioactive materials.

Today, one of these monitoring stations in Sacramento, California that feeds into the IMS detected miniscule quantities of the radioactive isotope xenon-133. The origin was determined to be consistent with a release from the Fukushima reactors in Northern Japan. The levels detected were approximately 0.1 disintegrations per second per cubic meter of air (0.1 Bq/m3), which results in a dose rate approximately one-millionth of the dose rate that a person normally receives from rocks, bricks, the sun and other natural background sources. This validates a similar reading of 0.1 Bq/m3, taken from March 16 through 17 in Washington State.

Xenon-133 is a radioactive noble gas produced during nuclear fission that poses no concern at the detected level.

These types of readings remain consistent with our expectations since the onset of this tragedy, and are to be expected in the coming days.

Following the explosion of the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine in 1986 – the worst nuclear accident in world history – air monitoring in the United States also picked up trace amounts of radioactive particles, less than one thousandth of the estimated annual dose from natural sources for a typical person.

As part of the federal government’s continuing effort to make our activities and science transparent and available to the public, the Environmental Protection Agency will continue to keep all RadNet data available in the current online database.

Please see www.epa.gov/radiation for more information.

Japan reluctant to disclose footage of power plant taken by U.S. drone

Lessons From Chernobyl for Japan

A Crisis That Markets Can’t Grasp

Washington vs. the Merciless By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Two reactors likely to get external power

UCSB Professor Benjamin Monreal on Understanding the Radioactivity at Fukushima

Assistant Professor Benjamin Monreal, UCSB Department of Physics, will give an overview of radioactivity and reactors, radiation health and safety, and the ultimate fate of the materials coming out of the stricken reactors in Fukushima. There are 32 slides online and in a pdf.

Why is it worse than Three Mile Island? Why is it (probably) not as bad as Chernobyl? How worried are scientists? How worried should you be?

The spent fuel rods have less than 100X the radioactivity of the Chernobyl fuel (which was in an operating reactor at the time of the Chernobyl accident).

Comparing estimated causes of death from the Japan earthquake and tsunami

Over one ton of coal is burned for every person every year and several ounces of particulates pass through your lungs each year because of it

The US census has projected that the world population will be 7 billion later in 2011

Hard coal production in 2009 was 5990 million tons and brown coal was 913 million tons. Total coal usage was 6.9 billion tons in 2009. China coal usage in 2010 increased by about 8% and they are trying to limit the growth of coal usage to about 3.5% per year from 2011 to 2015. China used 3.2 billion tons of coal in 2009. China probably pushed coal used in 2010 over 7.1 billion tons.

Uranium usage is below 70,000 tons per year. This is 100,000 times less.

So for every person on earth over 1 ton of coal is burned each year and less than 10 grams of uranium is used. 28.3 grams in an ounce. So 0.35 ounces of uranium per person.

In major cities there is between 20-150 micrograms of particulates (PM10 10 micron) per cubic meter of air.

Each day you take over 20,000 breaths and breathe about 35 pounds of air. At sea level and at 20 °C, dry air has a density of approximately 1.2 kg per cubic meter. So every day you are breathing 13.2 cubic meters of air. So 0.2-1.5 grams of particulates each day pass through your lungs every day unless you live some of the particularly clean air areas.

In one year 73-547 grams of particulates pass through your lungs. So in Beijing over 1 pound of particulates through someones lungs each year. 2.6-5 ounces of particulates every year for people living in many major US cities. So every 4-6 years, one pound of particulates through the lungs even for cities in the USA.

Did they take the Uranium from the nuclear plants and pass it through your lungs or your body ? No the fuel is sitting in cooling pools or dry casks. Is a category 9 earthquake and 10 meter tsunami going to cause issues at those places on a frequent basis ? Many places holding the fuel are already tsunami proof by being at elevation above tsunami risk. There will be upgrades to the holding facilities.

This is why air pollution causes more deaths per terawatt hour, you are in contact with a lot of it.

The technology (electrostatic precipitators and filters) exist to trap over 99% of the particulates at an affordable cost of $20-50 million per gigawatt of coal or other polluting plant. In 2005, there were 1,522 coal-fired generating units in the U.S., with 336 gigawatts of capacity.

China's expected coal usage from now to 2015

Sourcewatch talks about particulates and coal. Particulates from diesel fuel and cars and trucks are another major source.

Particulate matter from coal-fired plants can be harmful and have negative health impacts. Studies have shown that exposure to particulate matter is related to an increase of respiratory and cardiac mortality. Particulate matter can irritate small airways in the lungs, which can lead to increased problems with asthma, chronic bronchitis, airway obstruction, and gas exchange. Several studies have also shown a correlation between coal-related air pollutants and stroke. In Medicare patients, ambient levels of PM2.5 have been correlated with cerebrovascular disease, and PM10 with hospital admission for ischemic stroke, which accounts for eighty-seven percent of all strokes. The size and chemical composition of these particles affects the impacts on human health.

According to a report by the Clean Air Task Force, the health effects from fine particle air pollution include death, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, asthma attacks, and a variety of lesser respiratory symptoms. Key findings include:

* Fine particle pollution from U.S. power plants cuts short the lives of over 30,000 people each year.
* In more polluted areas, fine particle pollution can shave several years off its victims' lives.
* Hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer from asthma attacks, cardiac problems and upper and lower respiratory problems associated with fine particles from power plants.
* The elderly, children, and those with respiratory disease are most severely impacted by fine particle pollution from power plants.

According to the American Lung Association, particle pollution can damage the body in ways similar to cigarette smoking, helping explain why particle pollution can cause heart attacks and strokes. However, even short-term exposure to particle pollution can kill: peaks or spikes in particle pollution can last for hours to days. Deaths can occur on the very day that particle levels are high, or within one to two months afterward

The EPA has concluded that fine particle pollution poses serious health threats:

* Causes early death (both short-term and long-term exposure)
* Causes cardiovascular harm (e.g. heart attacks, strokes, heart disease, congestive heart failure)
* Likely to cause respiratory harm (e.g. worsened asthma, worsened COPD, inflammation)
* May cause cancer
* May cause reproductive and developmental harm

A 2010 yearlong Pittsburgh Post-Gazette investigation found that Allegheny and Westmoreland counties and the rest of southwestern Pennsylvania - which are near multiple coal plants - show higher mortality rates for multiple sclerosis. The newspaper notes that studies suggest particulate matter pollution can trigger, aggravate or cause relapses of the autoimmune disease

According to a 2004 study released by the Clean Air Task Force, fine particulates from power plants result in nearly 24,000 annual deaths, with 14 years lost on average for each death. Based on social decisions in other contexts such as transportation and medicine, researchers report that American society is willing to spend $129,090 to avoid the loss of a year of life. This suggests that society would be willing to spend at an additional $40 billion (i.e., 24,000 annual deaths x 14 years lost x $129,000 per year lost) for alternative ways of generating electricity that did not produce deadly pollution. With US coal plants generating about 2 billion Gigawatt hours annually, the expenditure of an additional $40 billion would raise the cost of electricity by about two cents per kilowatt hour.

There is also problems with Sulfur dioxide. 628 of the US plants that generate 220 Gigawatts have no sulfur dioxide scrubbers. In 2005, there were 1,522 coal-fired generating units in the U.S., with 336 gigawatts of capacity. So 65% of the plants in the US have no sulfur dioxide scrubbers.

Fukushima-Daiichi Status of spent fuel pools and reactors

Status report from Nucnet, which summarizes Japan Atomic Industrial forum and other sources

The immediate threat at Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant remains the possibility of damage to spent fuel in the spent fuel pools at all six reactor units, the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF) said.

(06:00 central European time) on 19 March using police high-pressure water cannon and Japanese Self-Defence Force fire engines. US Army fire engines were also used, according to JAIF.

These efforts had been continuing for seven hours at the time of the last update issued by JAIF. Workers were preparing to fill the spent fuel pool at unit 4, JAIF said.

Efforts are under way to restore an external power supply to the plant. JAIF said the supply was scheduled be connected to units 1 and 2 today (19 March Japan time). Units 3 to 6 are scheduled to be connected on 20 March.

The IAEA said it was not known if the water pumps have been damaged and if they will work when power is restored.

Fuel Integrity in Spent Fuel Pools

Unit 1: Water injection is being considered.

Unit 2: No information.

Unit 3: Water level low, water injection continues.

Unit 4: Water level low, preparing water injection.

Unit 5: Pool temperature high, but decreasing.

Unit 6: Pool temperature increasing.

At unit 3, efforts to fill the spent fuel pool with water began at 14:00 Japan time

Common spent fuel pool: secure water level and a slow rise in temperature, according to Tepco.

The IAEA said it lacked reliable, validated data on water levels and temperatures at the spent fuel pools at units 3 and 4. The agency said temperatures at the spent fuel pools in units 5 and 6 had risen in the past few days, but this does not give rise to immediate concern. Water continues to be circulated within the reactor pressure vessels and the spent fuel ponds at both units.

Reactor Status

Units 1, 2 and 3: Injecting seawater continues. Core and fuel integrity damaged, reactor pressure vessel integrity “unknown”

Unit 4: Already shut down when the quake struck. Building integrity severely damaged.

Unit 5: Already shut down when the quake struck. Sufficient level of reactor coolant to ensure safety is maintained and operation of one of the diesel generators has been re-established. Venting not necessary.

Unit 6: Already shut down when the quake struck. Sufficient level of reactor coolant to ensure safety is maintained and operation of a second diesel generator has been re-established. Venting not necessary.

Three senators offer bill to build small reactors

From Idaho Samizdat - Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Mark Udall (D-CO) introduced legislation to direct the Department of Energy to develop innovative, low-cost nuclear reactors. The new bill is also co-sponsored by Sen. Mike Crapo, (R-Idaho) and Sen. Mary Landrieu, (D-Louisiana).

The Nuclear Power 2021 Act (S. 512) proposes a program to design and certify small modular reactors (< 300 megawatts) which can be built and operated in combination with similar reactors at a single site. This is the so-called "six pack" option.

Under the Bingaman-Murkowski-Udall bill, the Federal effort would be cost-shared with the private sector and selected under a competitive merit review process that emphasizes efficiency, cost, safety and proliferation resistance.

The Nuclear Power 2021 Act authorizes the Secretary of Energy to work in a public-private partnership to:

* Develop a standard design for two modular reactors, one of which will not be more than 50 MW;
* Obtain a design certification from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for each design by 2018; and
* Obtain a combined operating license from the Commission by 2021.

Only two of the pending designs are that small. There are substantial design differences between them.

One is NuScale Power's LWR design at 45 MW. The conventional LWR design uses uranium fuel enriched to about 5% U235.

The other is Hyperion Power’s 25 MW fast reactor is being developed in New Mexico. The Hyperion reactor is reported to be specifying a uranium oxide fuel enriched to up to 19% U235. It is reported to be considering using a lead-bismuth metal-cooled system.

Fukushima Nuclear Accident - Why I stay in Tokyo

Fukushima Nuclear Accident – Why I stay in Tokyo

Posted on 20 March 2011 by Barry Brook

Guest Post by Axel Lieber. Axel is a German national and has been a resident of Tokyo since 1998. He runs a small executive search firm and is married to a Japanese.
[BNC editor's note: This is a personal perspective, not a professional scientific one, but I can verify Axel's facts]

Why I stay in Tokyo

僕が東京にとどまる理由

[This commentary contains footnotes and links that allow you to verify what I am saying.]
Thousands have left Tokyo recently in a panic about the perceived radiation threat. If you ask any one of them to precisely articulate what the threat consists of, they will be unable to do so. This is because they actually don’t know, and because in fact there is no threat justifying departure, at least not from radioactivity (*).They flee because they have somehow heard that there is a threat – from the media, their embassies, their relatives overseas, friends, etc. These sources of information, too, have never supplied a credible explanation for their advisories.
But they have managed to create a mass panic, leading to thousands of people wasting their money on expensive air fares, disrupting their professional lives, their children’s education, and the many other productive activities they were going about. In some cases, foreign executives have abandoned their post in Tokyo, guaranteeing a total loss of respect among those who have stayed behind. Some service providers catering to the foreign community have lost almost their entire income over night. Other providers reversely will lose long-term clientele because they have fled, leaving their remaining customers and clients forced to find new providers. Domestic helpers (especially from the Philippines) have suddenly lost their livelihoods because their “employers” think it’s alright to run away without paying their helpers another penny. Another result of all the hysteria is that attention has been diverted away from the real disaster: the damage done in north-eastern Japan where thousands have died, and many tens of thousands live in dreadful conditions right now, waiting for help.

Contrast this with the fact that radioactivity levels in Tokyo are entirely safe and have been since the beginning of the Fukushima incident (*1a, and *1b for continuous updates). Modern instruments to measure radioactivity are extremely sensitive and precise, and report even the smallest deviations with impressive reliability. Nowhere in the Tokyo area have there been any measurements that would imply any sort ofhealth risk. There certainly have been increases in radioactivity but they are tiny and simply irrelevant to anyone’s health. There is also no fear that there could be some kind of cover-up.

Instruments to measure radioactivity are available at many different research institutions that are not controlled by the Japanese government. The J-gov does also not control the media. They simply have no laws and no means to do so.

[Editor's Note: For a contrast, the background level in London is 0.35 to 0.5 µSv per hour, see the pie chart for an average breakdown by source]

But what about a worst-case scenario, one that is yet to come? For four days now, I have tried to find a serious source of information – a nuclear safety engineer or a public health expert – who would be able to articulate just what exactly the threat to residents of Tokyo is. It has been difficult because there aren’t many who bother to. I could quote several Japanese experts here but won’t do so to avoid a debate over their credibility (which I personally do not have any particular reason to doubt). The most to-the-point assessment I have found from outside of Japan comes from the UK government’s Chief Science Advisor, Sir John Beddington. In a phone call to the British embassy in Tokyo, he says about the worst-case scenario:

In this reasonable worst case you get an explosion. You get some radioactive material going up to about 500m up into the air. Now, that’s really serious, but it’s serious again for the local area….The problems are within 30 km of the reactor. And to give you a flavour for that, when Chernobyl had a massive fire at the graphite core, material was going up not just 500m but to 30,000 feet (9,144m) . It was lasting not for the odd hour or so but lasted months, and that was putting nuclear radioactive material up into the upper atmosphere for a very long period of time. But even in the case of Chernobyl, the exclusion zone that they had was about 30km. And in that exclusion zone, outside that, there is no evidence whatsoever to indicate people had problems from the radiation. The problems with Chernobyl were people were continuing to drink the water, continuing to eat vegetables and so on and that was where the problems came from. That’s not going to be the case here. So what I would really re-emphasise is that this is very problematic for the area and the immediate vicinity and one has to have concerns for the people working there. Beyond that 20-30km, it’s really not an issue for health.(*2)

It is important to note that Beddington, too, uses language such as “really serious”. Most nuclear safety engineers at this moment would describe the Fukushima incident as “very serious” and as having potentially “catastrophic consequences”. But the important point to note here is that these descriptions of the situation do not translate into public health concerns for Tokyo residents! They apply to the local situation at and around the Fukushima plant alone.
As of the time of writing this note (March 19, 2011, 13:00 JST), the status at Fukushima is still precarious but there are now signs that the situation is stabilizing and may be brought under control in the next few days. (*3)
Tokyo, even at this time of crisis, remains one of the best, safest and coolest large cities in the world to live in. All public services operate normally or almost normally. Many areas of central Tokyo have not had any power outages, and when such occur they are limited to a few hours and certain areas, and are announced well in advance. I have personally not experienced any power outages. Food is available in almost normal quantity and quality. The only food type I have personally seen to be lacking is milk and dairy products, and rice because of panic purchases. Gas (petrol) supply is indeed limited but just yesterday I was able to get a full tank of gas after “only” a fifteen minute wait. Public order and safety in Tokyo remains higher than in any other large city in the world, as it has always been over the past few decades.
To really rub this in: if you live in New York, Shanghai, Berlin, London or Sydney or any other metropolis, you are more exposed to public safety threats such as crime or road accidents than I am at this moment, and in most cases considerably so.
Active and passive smoking, driving a car or motorcycle, getting a chest x-ray, jay-walking, or snowboarding down a snowy mountain are all much more risky activities than simply sitting on a sunny roof terrace in Tokyo.

And sunny it is today, in the capital of the country whose name is literally “Origin of the Sun”.
To obtain level-headed information about the status at Fukushima, avoid CNN and read www.mitnse.com or www.bravenewclimate.com
Footnotes
(*) There is, however, a possibility that there will be further strong earthquakes in the next few weeks, especially in the north-east of Japan, but also in other areas, including Tokyo. This was demonstrated in the recent earthquakes in New Zealand and Chile, where powerful quakes followed the original ones, not necessarily in the same spot either. It would be more rational to stay away from Japan for a few weeks because of this. But again, the risk of being harmed by another earthquake, especially in Tokyo with its superb infrastructure, is not very high. And if you consider this reason enough to stay away, then indeed, you should never live in Japan because we will always face this risk here.
(1a) http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110316D15JFA16.htm
(1b) http://metropolis.co.jp/quake/quake-2011-03/tokyo-atmospheric-radiation-levels/
(2) http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/ferguswalsh/2011/03/japan_nuclear_leak_-_health_risks_2.html
(3) http://mitnse.com/2011/03/18/news-update-318/
The original post can be read here (or here for 日本).