#Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Mist Was Not Radioactive, But TEPCO Doesn't Know What Was
This is a follow-up on the last post about workers who were waiting for the bus to take them from the Anti-Seismic Building to the checkpoint near the main gate at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant and somehow got their heads and faces contaminated with radioactive materials.
TEPCO at first suspected the water used in the mist generator, but it says the test confirmed the levels of radionuclides were below detection levels.
So what caused the sudden rise in radioactivity in that particular location? TEPCO says it doesn't know, but is certain that it was a one-off, localized event.
The workers had maximum 19 Bq/cm2 (square centimeter) of contamination, not 10 Bq/cm2. Test by WBC showed no internal radiation exposure.
TEPCO did disclose some information about the water source, in the handout for the press on August 12, 2013 (English labels added by me). As I added to my previous post, TEPCO has its own dedicated water source for the plant, which is a river water. As NHK reported, the water is dammed, and then transported, I assume via the duct or pipe, to the plant, just outside the plant perimeter. There is a water purification facility there. The purified water is then fed to the plant for daily use. How it is fed to the plant buildings is not explained:
[Severe exposure of workers] Tepco revised the contamination reading “10 Bq/cm2 → 19 Bq/cm2 on face and head”
Posted by Mochizuki on August 12th, 2013 · No Comments
Following up this article..[Contaminated groundwater penetration ?] 10Bq/cm2 on face of workers / A part of the plant tap water turned off [URL]
Tepco revised their previous report and raised the maximum contamination reading from 10 Bq/cm2 to 19 Bq/cm3 on face and head.
![[Severe exposure of workers] Tepco revised the contamination reading "10 Bq/cm2 → 19 Bq/cm2 on face and head"](http://fukushima-diary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A7%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%EF%BC%882013-08-12-16.53.17%EF%BC%89-450x228.png "[Severe exposure of workers] Tepco revised the contamination reading \"10 Bq/cm2 → 19 Bq/cm2 on face and head\"")
[Column] The only thing we could do is to pray not to have a severe rain fall hit Fukushima
Posted by Mochizuki on August 12th, 2013 · No Comments
Tepco’s spokesman stated “In case of a severe rain fall, if the groundwater increases more than the capacity of pump, we cannot do anything.” in the press conference of 8/12/2013.
Due to the underground wall, groundwater level is rising on the seaside of reactor2.
In order to stop it overflowing to up-ground, they installed a pump last week.
However, groundwater level is observed to be rising in the surrounding area. It’s spreading over in the plant area.
Now groundwater, which is 1,000 tones per day, is literally out of Tepco’s control.
In this summer, unusually heavy local downpour is hitting all around Japan.
Several areas in Fukushima had landslides only 1 week ago.
It is likely that one or more will hit Fukushima nuclear plant.
It’s also a typhoon season.
The plant and the entire world are completely defenseless.
Tepco’s spokesman also commented they will build more underground wall in the mountain side and pave the seaside as prevention, but they cannot do anything more.
This is the reality that no one reports.
[Contaminated groundwater penetration ?] 10Bq/cm2 on face of workers / A part of the plant tap water turned off
Posted by Mochizuki on August 12th, 2013 · 1 Comment
Following up this article..Dust monitoring alarm went off / Body cooling mist possibly contaminated Fukushima workers [URL]
Tepco measured 10Bq/cm2 of contamination on the face and head of the 10 workers at maximum.
At 13:40 of 8/12/2013, they turned off all the water (toilet etc..) in the seismic isolation building and reactor5 and 6 because they share the same water source as the contaminated mist. It’s not clear if it’s also used for the drinking water.
They are conducting the nuclide analysis of the issued water according to Tepco.
The contamination source is not verified yet.
![[Contaminated water penetration ?] 10Bq/cm2 on face of workers / A part of the plant tap water turned off](http://fukushima-diary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A7%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%EF%BC%882013-08-12-10.22.53%EF%BC%89-450x245.png "[Contaminated water penetration ?] 10Bq/cm2 on face of workers / A part of the plant tap water turned off")
Dust monitoring alarm went off / Body cooling mist possibly contaminated Fukushima workers
Posted by Mochizuki on August 12th, 2013 · No Comments
According to Tepco, The alarm went off at the dust monitoring post in front of seismic isolation building at 0:33 of 8/12/2013 (JST).
15 minutes later, Tepco ordered to wear the protective masks at all the places in Fukushima nuclear plant.
Later on, they found contamination on the bodies of 10 workers, who were waiting for the bus in front of the seismic isolation building.
They sprinkle the mist to the workers to prevent heat stroke. Tepco assumed the mist was contaminated and is conducting the further investigation.
The mist generating facility is suspended now.
NBC Nightly News: Urgent situation after frightening discovery at Fukushima — Planned ice wall shows Tepco is grasping at straws and can’t stop plant leaking like a sieve — Now almost 900 straight days of contamination flowing in Pacific (VIDEO)
MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013
Latest from #Fukushima I Nuke Plant: Workers Being Sprayed with Radioactive Mist
(UPDATE 2) Before the accident, TEPCO had its own water source to supply to the plant. If TEPCO is still using the same water, it is a river water. (Information from Fukushima Prefecture, H/T Dr. Moriguchi)
(UPDATE) According to NHK, the water comes from a dam about 10 kilometers west of the plant. No details as to how the water gets to the plant.
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TEPCO's email alerts to the press today (August 12, 2013) are about a mysterious rise in radioactive levels in front of the Anti-Seismic Building and how it may have happened.
10 workers ended up with max 10 Bq/cm2 (square centimeter) of radioactive materials on their heads and faces, and will be checked by WBC.
How? They were doused with mist from water contaminated with radioactive materials. Why were they being doused with mist? To prevent heatstroke. How did the water get contaminated? That's what TEPCO is investigating right now.
The water used for the mist generator is also used in toilets in the Anti-Seismic Building, the headquarters for all the work being done at the plant.
First alert:
本日（８月12日）午後０時33分頃、福島第一原子力発電所免震重要棟前に設置してある連続ダストモニタで、放射能濃度が高いことを示す警報が発生しました。
At 12:33PM today (August 12), an alarm went off from the continuous dust monitoring system installed in front of the Anti-Seismic Building, indicating radioactive density was high.
そのため、同日午後０時48分に発電所内の全面（半面）マスク着用省略可能エリアでのマスク着用を指示しました。現在、現場において当該連続ダストモニタの状況確認、可搬型ダストサンプラによる測定等を行っており、状況等については、確認出来次第お知らせいたします。
At 12:48PM, we instructed workers to put in masks in the areas where workers are no longer required to put on full-face (and half-face) masks. We are currently observing the continuous dust monitoring system and carrying out measurement using portable dust sampler. We will let you know as soon as we know more.
Second alert:
免震重要棟前では熱中症対策のためのミストを噴霧しておりますが、免震重要棟前でバス乗車のため待機していた人（10人）について、入退域管理棟の退出モニタによる汚染測定で身体汚染が確認されました。
In order to prevent heatstroke, we've been spraying workers with water mist in front of the Anti-Seismic Building. Bodily contamination was found on 10 people who were waiting for the bus in front of the Anti-Seismic Building.
身体汚染の原因については、ミスト発生装置から出ているミストが汚染している可能性が考えられ、現在、詳細調査を行っており、分かり次第お知らせします。
The cause of contamination may be the mist from the mist generator. We are conducting detailed investigation.
同日午後１時25分、ミスト発生装置を停止しています。
As of 1:25pm, the mist generator is stopped.
Third (latest) alert:
免震重要棟内および５，６号機で使用している水（トイレ等）については、身体汚染原因と考えられる当該ミスト発生装置供給水と同じ水源であることから、同日午後１時16分に手洗い水等の使用を禁止し、一斉放送により周知しました。
The water used in the Anti-Seismic Building and Reactors 5 and 6 (in toilets, etc.) comes from the same source as the water used in the mist generator which is likely to be the cause of contamination on the body. So we stopped the use of water in the toilets at 1:16PM, and notified the workers by the simultaneous broadcasting system.
また、当該ミスト発生装置供給水、免震重要棟内および５，６号機で使用している水の元弁を同日午後１時40分に閉止しました。
At 1:40PM we closed off the master valve of the pipe that feeds water to the mist generator and to the Anti-Seismic Building and Reactors 5 and 6.
身体汚染が確認された10名は、頭部・顔面が最大10Bq/cm2で汚染していることから、ホールボディカウンターの受検を指示しました。
10 workers with bodily contamination have maximum 10 Bq/cm2 of contamination on their heads/faces. We have instructed them to undergo WBC.
現在、当該ミスト発生装置供給水の放射能分析を行っており、結果については分かり次第お知らせします。
We are conducting the nuclide analysis of the water in the mist generator, and will let you know the result as soon as possible.
No information as to WHERE the water source is located.
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