Three workers trying to cool one of the most critical reactors at the plant were exposed to radiation levels 10,000 times higher than normal, but officials were unable to say if the leak came from the radioactive core due to a crack in the container.
A rupture in the reactor would mean a serious reversal following the slow progress in containing radiation leaks.
The reactor, No. 3 of six, is the only one to use plutonium in its fuel mix which is more toxic than the uranium used in the other reactors.
The government called for a thorough investigation into why such elevated levels of radiation had suddenly come to light.
More than 700 engineers have been working in shifts around the clock to stabilize the plant but they pulled back from some parts when the workers were hurt. Two of the men suffered radiation burns after radioactive water seeped over their boots.
“The contaminated water had 10,000 times the amount of radiation as would be found in water circulating from a normally operating reactor,” said Japanese nuclear agency official Hidehiko Nishiyama.
“It is possible that there is damage to the reactor.” But Nishiyama later told reporters: “It could be from venting operations and there could be some water leakage from pipes or from valves, but there is no data suggesting a crack.
http://arabnews.com/world/article329262.ece
Yeah, except for all that radioactive water, there's no sign of a crack....
Remember the video from the woman that worked on cleanup in Chernobyl and Pripyat, and recalled some of the people she worked with stepping in the puddles and the soles of their boots burning off?
This just seems like it will never end for Japan. Lord knows it still isn't over in the areas that were affected by Chernobyl.
