Scientist Back From Japan: Highest Radioactivity Levels In Ocean Observed Recently – NHK: Nuclear Waste May Be Leaking ‘Directly From Buildings’ Not Only Going Into Groundwater

– Scientist back from Japan: I’ve seen data showing highest radioactivity levels in ocean that have been observed recently — NHK: Nuclear waste may be leaking “directly from buildings” not only going into groundwater via tunnels (VIDEOS) (ENENews, Jan 29, 2014):

MIT presentation — Ken Buesseler, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Oct 24, 2013 (at 38:15 in): I was quoted as saying it’s silly to think it’s not getting out of the harbor. It’s getting out of the harbor, it’s measurable […] Last month we were there, our highest number is 150 Bq/m³ […] I have seen some of the highest numbers in the Tepco data in the last month at the coast recently of about 1,000 or 2,000 Bq/m³ for cesium.

Slide from Buesseler’s presentation: Highest Cs closest to shore, associated with locations of higher groundwater input — Even higher in September 2013

Buesseler’s full presentation available here

NHK, Jan. 28, 2014: [Tepco] is to begin work at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to stop radioactive wastewater from flowing into the sea. The task of creating underground frozen walls is due to start at the Number 2 and Number 3 reactors on Wednesday. Massive amounts of water are being poured into the reactors […] and is leaking from the damaged reactor containment vessels. The water has accumulated in the reactor buildings, adjacent turbine buildings and underground tunnels. TEPCO believes the water is leaking from the tunnels, seeping into the ground and reaching the sea. […] Engineers cannot go there because of the radioactive water […] TEPCO is also digging wells in the compound to see whether water is leaking directly from the buildings.

Watch NHK’s broadcast here