Radioactive substance detected in incinerator ashes in Tokyo

TOKYO —

A highly radioactive substance was detected in incinerator ashes at a sewage plant in eastern Tokyo in late March, shortly after the start of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, metropolitan government sources said Friday.

The radioactive density of the substance reached 170,000 becquerels per kilogram, the sources said.

The ashes, which have already been recycled as construction materials, including cement, were collected from a sludge plant in Koto Ward.

Almost at the same time in late March, a radioactive substance of 100,000-140,000 becquerels per kg was also detected in ashes at two other sewage plants in Ota and Itabashi wards, the sources said.

more..
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/radioactive-substance-detected-in-incinerator-ashes-in-tokyo

If there was that much radioactivity left in the ashes, how much went up into the atmosphere when it was burned?

Maybe you missed this, as I tried to ask you in the face mask post you made. I found this and was wondering if you could verify or not the accuracy of this translation?



Plutonium detected in rice paddy by a food manufacturer more than 50 kms away from Fukushima power plant:

http://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/7890?page=2

また、ある食品メーカーが独自に調査した結果では、福島第一原発から50キロ以上離れた水田の土から、政府 が発表している数値よりケタ違いに高い放射線が検出されたという。

Additionally, a certain food manufacturing company conducted a survey by themselves. In a rice field is more than 50kms away from the Fukushima power plant, it was found that there was very high radiation that is very different to what the government released.

(heading)
原発から50キロ以上離れた田んぼの土から高濃度のプルトニウム

High density plutonium is in the rice field that was mentioned previously.

この食品メーカーによると、現時点でその結果を公表するのは影響が大きすぎるため発表は控えているとのこと だが、その田んぼの土からは高い濃度のプルトニウムも検出されたそうだ。

According to this food manufacturing company, they currently don't announce these results due to the large influence* that this rice field has high concentration of plutonium.

* Note: It is not mentioned what the influence is but it implies they do not currently release the information as it may have an impact on the media/public.



I also was wondering what if anything, you might know about the anticipated Tokai earthquake and its relation to the shutdown of th Hamaoka nuke plant. I have read it referenced in articles from the Japanese press on Fukushima and most recently here:

Hamaoka plant sits in Tokai quake focal zone +Related News

"The Hamaoka nuclear power plant is located above the projected focus of a magnitude-8-class earthquake that could strike Shizuoka Prefecture.

Seismologists have long been warning that the likely Tokai earthquake could occur any time.

They say massive earthquakes have hit the region every 100 to 150 years, but no major quake has occurred there since the one that struck in the 19th century...

...Kan also said that until such plans are implemented, all the reactors should remain out of operation.

Chubu Electric has declined to respond immediately to the prime minister’s request. But Kan said he will try hard to win the company’s understanding.

http://laaska.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/hamaoka-plant-sits-in-tokai-quake-focal-zone-related-news/



Thanks for any info and thanks for your ongoing efforts to keep all DUers informed of the aftermath of the triple disasters in Japan.



Just my dos centavos from an Extreme Enviroweenie with his Biased Claptrap

rdb

I would suggest asking Art_from_Ark or Bonobo as they live in Japan. I can read some Hiragana, but my Katakana and Kanji is not up to snuff. I do better with typing Romaji (English style lettering)and use a converter to make sure its correct.

as for the Hamaoka nuke plant check this link:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/tohoku-kanto-earthquake-news.html
scroll down to: Nuclear power plant/radiation news

I check Japan Times and NHK English every day and I had read about the Tokai quake fears here in one of the linked articles on that page:

"What makes Hamaoka "the most dangerous nuclear power plant in Japan" is its location. There is a whopping 87 percent chance the area will be struck by a major earthquake within 30 years, according to the government. Hamaoka sits in the projected epicenter of what is already referred to as the Tokai earth- quake.

Government simulations based on a magnitude 8 temblor in the region project a death toll of about 10,000.

"The impact of an earthquake in the Tokai region, which could cripple the reactors in Hamaoka, is extremely severe," Katsuhiko Ishibashi, a professor emeritus at Kobe University, told The Japan Times last month...

"...It is clear to anyone's eyes that Hamaoka is the most dangerous (nuclear power plant)," Ishibashi stressed.


I like that government death toll due to another Tokai quake listed there. Think they want to revise that now? Similarly situated like Fukushima next to the sea and on fault lines. I would recommend that they up the prediction if that Hamaoka plant goes on line again. Hope it doesn't, and when there is another Tokai quake, I hope it is small.



"May the lights in the land of plenty, shine on the truth one day..."

Leonard Cohen

rdb

dou itashimashite

How much of that is going into the atmosphere? Does it stay there?

The incineration process drives lighter elements up the stack, leaving the heavier metals behind. The same thing is seen in http://www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/tenorm/coalandcoalash.html">coal power plants, but a sewage plant would collect from a reasonably wide area (often including storm-drain runoff). A relative idea of radioactivity compared to coal ash would be nice.