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Another concern affects some Japanese reactors plus others in France and Germany. They use mox (mixed oxide) fuel, containing reclaimed plutonium - the most hazardous known substance. When ingested, a tiny spec can kill. Larger inhaled atmospheric amounts could devastate whole cities. Two damaged Fukushima units use it, Nos. 2 and 3.
Sanger and Wald added:
"Inside the plant....there was deep concern that spent nuclear fuel that was kept in a 'cooling pond' (began) letting off potentially deadly gamma radiation. Then water levels inside the reactor cores began to fall. (An estimated) top four to nine feet of nuclear fuel in the core and control rods appear to have been exposed to the air - a condition that" caused melting, potentially a "full meltdown" that may, in fact, be happening.
Using corrosive seawater may, in fact, not work. Because of high containment vessel pressure, forcing it inside is like "trying to pour water into an inflated balloon," according to one unnamed source. It's not clear how much water is getting in and whether cores are covered. Damaged gauges make knowing it impossible, so doing it is seat-of-the-pants, a "Hail Mary" attempt at best.
Operating 55 nuclear facilities, Japan relies heavily on them for electricity, at present 30%, a figure expected to reach 50% by 2030 if planned additions are completed.
Tokyo Electric Power's (TEPCO) Shoddy Maintenance and Safety Record
On March 12, Los Angeles Times writers Mark Magnier and Barbara Demick headlined, "Japanese fearful as nuclear crisis builds," saying:
"(M)any Japanese don't trust (what) authorities (tell) them" anymore. Moreover, they "have an uncomfortable relationship with nuclear power" and TEPCO, Fukushima's operator.
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