Sludge from contaminated water would be packed with radioactive substances: TEPCO

[kristopher]

Sludge from contaminated water would be packed with radioactive substances: TEPCO

Sludge that will be generated in the process of treating radioactive water at the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant is estimated to contain 100 million becquerels of radioactive substances per cubic centimeter, the plant operator said.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) made the estimation in a report on the water treatment system submitted to the government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA).

While trying to begin treating the increasing volumes of radioactive water at an early date, TEPCO has failed to indicate how it will store the toxic sludge or a final disposal site in its road map to bring the crippled plant under control.

TEPCO will launch treatment of the radioactive water on June 15 at the earliest. Specifically, it will use special equipment produced by Kurion Inc. of the United States and France-based Areva -- which have broad experience removing radioactive substances -- to separate sludge contaminated with radioactive substances from the water. The sludge is expected to contain such high levels of radiation because radioactive substances in it will be condensed...

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110610p2a00m0na010000c.html

[midnight]

1. Oops... I hope some scientist can step in and help...

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Is there no learning curve with these guys??

The keep doing one thing after another with no plans on how to handle the results of what they do!

[SpoonFed]

3. The situation is unprecedented...

and so there are some hard engineering challenges (for a long road ahead). This is what makes the lies, coverup and secrecy such a problem; all of humankind's knowledge and resources are hindered at mitigating the massive environmental damage this thing is doing right now and for future generations.

But you're right, it sure looks like a crap power company trying to duct tape it's way out of this situation it's put itself in.