FEPC has released another update.  Not great news.  The cores are all at least partially exposed. The water temperature in the spent fuel pond is 183 degrees Fahrenheit — close to boiling.

The fact sheet contains a small amount of editorializing, comparing the one hour dose at the main gate to a chest CT scan.  Keep in mind that a chest CT scan results in a much higher dose than a traditional X-Ray and there is some controversy about the societal risk from unnecessary CT scans.  And no one thinks it would be a good idea to get a CAT Scan every hour.

Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake

The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington D.C. Office

As of 10:15AM (EST), March 16, 2011

  • Radiation Levels
    • At 6:40AM (JST) on March 16, a radiation level of 400 milli sievert per hour was recorded outside the west side of the secondary containment building of the Unit 3 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
      • At 6:40AM on March 16, a radiation level of 100 milli sievert per hour was recorded outside the west side of the secondary containment building of the Unit 4 reactor at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
    • At 8:47AM on March 16, a radiation level of 150 milli sievert per hour was recorded outside the secondary containment building of Unit 2 reactor of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
      • At 8:47AM on March 16, a radiation level of 300 milli sievert per hour was recorded between the exteriors of the secondary containment buildings of Unit 2 reactor and Unit 3 reactor of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
      • At 8:47AM on March 16, a radiation level of 400 milli sievert per hour was recorded outside the secondary containment building of Unit 3 reactor of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
      • At 8:47AM on March 16, radiation level of 100 milli sievert per hour was recorded outside the secondary containment building of Unit 4 reactor of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
    • At 10:40AM on March 16, a radiation level of 10 milli sievert per hour was recorded at the main gate of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
    • At 4:10PM on March 16, a radiation level of 1530 micro sievert per hour was recorded at the main gate of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
    • For comparison, a human receives 2400 micro sievert per year from natural radiation in the form of sunlight, radon, and other sources. One chest CT scan generates 6900 micro sievert per scan.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 reactor
    • At 6:55AM on March 16, the pressure inside the reactor core was measured at 0.17 MPa. The water level inside the reactor core was measured at 1.8 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 reactor
    • At 6:55 AM on March 16, the pressure inside the reactor core was measured at 0.043 MPa. The water level inside the reactor core was measured at 1.4 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3 reactor
    • At 8:37AM on March 16, white smoke was observed emanating from the vicinity of the secondary containment building.
    • At 9:55AM on March 16, the pressure inside the reactor core was measured at 0.088 MPa. The water level inside the reactor core was measured at 1.9 meters below the top of the fuel rods.
    • At 11:32AM on March 16, it was determined that the possibility of significant damage to the primary containment vessel was low.
  • Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 reactor
    • At 4:08 on March 15, the temperature of the spent fuel pool was measured at 183 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • At 5:45AM on March 16, a fire occurred in the vicinity of the third floor of the secondary containment building.
    • At 7:26AM on March 16, no flames or smoke was observed and thus it was concluded that the fire extinguished on its own accord.
  • Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant and Accompanying Facilities
    • From 12:00PM on March 15, power generation from the commercial electricity grid was restored for all facilities. It was confirmed that no fire, damage to equipment, injuries to personnel occurred. Radiation levels were measured at a normal level of safety.