Paper
James M. Acton, Ankit Panda
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Source: Getty
In The Media
Nuclear Situation in Japan Getting Worse?
As Japanese plant operators attempt to cool the remaining reactor cores at the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, they must work with limited information, since the reactor buildings are highly radioactive, making it too dangerous to send workers in to get more accurate readings.
Published on Mar 16, 2011
Source: Fox News
The lack of reliable information is making it difficult for analysts examining the crisis at Fukushima’s Daiichi nuclear reactors. Carnegie’s James Acton spoke on Fox News’ Happening Now about why so little is known about the status of the three reactor cores and six spent fuel pools in Fukushima. He explained that the reactor buildings are highly radioactive and filled with steam; making it too dangerous to send workers into the buildings. Measurement gauges in the buildings have been badly damaged. Accordingly, Acton said, plant operators are working to mitigate a crisis they did not anticipate and without detailed and accurate knowledge about the progression of the crisis.
Asked about the possibility of the reactor core exploding at one of the three remaining reactors where the core has yet to cool, Acton emphasized that such a scenario is extremely unlikely. However, he said that smaller explosions in the reactor building – but not in the core – are possible.
About the Author
James M. Acton
Jessica T. Mathews Chair, Co-director, Nuclear Policy Program
Acton holds the Jessica T. Mathews Chair and is co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
- Nuclear Weapons and the Future of American Power
- The Latest Iran Deal Ignores the Lessons of the PastCommentary
James M. Acton
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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