"Understanding the radioactivity at Fukushima"

With the great fear and confusion that is griping the population at the north of japan. there is a need to address this in this issue. 


A friend had shared with me this public lecture that was taught by Ben Monreal, a physicist, entitle "Understanding the radioactivity at Fukushima" at the University of California, Santa Barbara immediately after the earthquake. It contains accurate info on health effects of radiation and on consequences of reactor accidents under various scenarios. The video of his lecture is available at http://online.itp.ucsb.edu/online/plecture/bmonreal11/.  The slides of the lecture are available also in Japanese, translated by six volunteers in Japan, at http://ribf.riken.jp/~koji/jishin/zhen_zai.html.

Synopsis of the lecture

• 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. 
• 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 lecture will be followed by a Q&A session with a panel including Theo Theofanous, Professor of Chemical and of Mechanical Engineering, and Patrick McCray, Professor of History, both of UCSB. 

My friend suggest that if you are only interested in health effects of radiation and consequences of reactor accidents, you may skip the video and just view slides 12 through 17 and 21 through 31 (slides 13 through 18, and 22 through 32 in the Japanese version).


I am not an expert on this, but I am glad that I could learn together with you!




Meanwhile, In a graphic form, radiation counts in Tsukuba, about 50 km north of Tokyo and closer to the reactors, are available at http://rcwww.kek.jp/norm/index-e.html. The graph suggested that those are not at a level to be worried about. PLUS, there has been more progress at Fukushima than a few days ago--high-tech fire engines spraying water and power has been brought to the disabled power station. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to be careful. i.e. not to getting wet from rain is a good precaution.