Page 49 - Plant Operator News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Breaking news out of japan. just moments ago, the operator of japan's fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant revealed tests have revealed radioactive iodine 1,250 times above the legal limit off the coast. a separate potentially catastrophic development, authorities fear a core breach in a containment vessel. that water was later found to have 10,000 times the amount of radiation typical for the plant. worst case, a core breach could lead to a large scale release of radiation into the atmosphere, something we've been talking about for some time. to help us, let's bring in jim walsh from m.i.t. ...

Worst case, a core breach could lead to a large scale release of radiation into the atmosphere, something we've been talking about for some time. to help us sort through these developments, let's bring in jim walsh from m.i.t. and michael freelander, a former nuclear plant operator. thanks for joining us. jim, let me start with you. you just heard those numbers, 1250 times the level there off the coast in the pacific ocean. it's been high in the past, up but 1200 times higher. what do you make of that? >> it's not good. we have had reports in the last 24 hours, even prior to this one, that lev...

Just moments ago, the operator of japan's fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant revealed tests have revealed radioactive iodine 1,250 times above the legal limit off the coast. a separate potentially catastrophic development, authorities fear a core breach in a containment vessel. a possible leak was discovered after three workers at the number three reactor stepped into a puddle of radioactive water and was subsequently hospitalized. that water was later found to have 10,000 times the amount of radiation typical for the plant. worst case, a core breach could lead to a large scale release of r...

Something we've been talking about for some time. to help us, let's bring in jim walsh from m.i.t. and michael freelander, a former nuclear plant operator. thanks for joining us. jim, let me start with you. you just heard those numbers, 1,250 times off the coast there in the pacific ocean. it's been high in the past, up to 250 times higher. what do you make of that? >> it's not good. we have had reports in the last 24 hours that the levels were high in the ocean right around the plant. but, you know, in relative terms, it's better that that radiation be in the ocean than be on land or blowing ...

>> sure. what would you do if you were the plant operator, you were in charge there? in this next week, what needs to happen to shut these reactors down to make sure this radioactivity doesn't continue to spread? >> well, again, you know, like i said on this and other programs, until we get power restored to the power plant, continuing doing what they have been doing for the last 12 days is, quite honestly, the only game in town. it's absolutely essential that they keep the reactor covered with water as well as continuing to refill it the but getting the power restored and getting the equipmen...