Е. В. Дмитриева
TMI, Chernobyl, Now Tokaimura
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| TMI, Chernobyl, Now Tokaimura
Japan, which ranks second only to France in the size of its nuclear power plant fleet, has suffered an accident that could become Asia's version of the US's Three Mile Island and Europe's Chernobyl. In terms of severity, however, the accident is nothing like Chernobyl but more serious than TMI, according to observers. At the fuel reprocessing plant in Tokaimura, about one hour from Tokyo, workers apparently mixed nuclear fuel with nitric acid in violation of government and company procedures. The fuel was for Japan's experimental breeder reactor. As crucial to the scenario as the mishap were the lack of proper safety and emergency expertise and equipment at the site and little familiarity with such situations in the community. At least three workers were seriously injured, and firefighters were contaminated with radiation because they weren't told that a nuclear accident had taken place, notes an account in Newsweek. According to a detailed report in the Wall Street Journal , cost-cutting pressures were at least partially responsible for the lapse in judgement. Procedures, which were considered secret, were tampered with in essence simplified so that the plant could compete more effectively with overseas reprocessors. A far less serious mishap also occurred in the Republic of South Korea a few days later. Twelve gallons of irradiated water were spilled. One account notes that more than 20 workers were contaminated. |