Crisis in Japan Seen from Korea - Part 5

Usually, in a nuclear accident, radioactive materials are first emitted into the air, and later fall out of the air onto the ground.  Radioactive fallout is now occurring in Japan, and its consequences are troubling.

A few days ago, it was reported that high concentrations of radioactive materials were found in Tokyo's tap water.  As a result, the radioactivity of the water was raised to levels that are considered unsafe for consumption by young children, and the city government issued an official water consumption restriction for infants.  Thankfully, concentrations of radioactive materials in Tokyo's water fell quickly over the course of a few days, and the water consumption restriction could be lifted.  But radioactive pollution was found in the drinking water supply of more cities during the last few days.  It is believed that radioactive materials were washed into the drinking water systems of these cities by falling rain.  It is also expected that the quantity of these materials in the drinking water will diminish over the next few weeks, as long as there are no more major air-emissions of radioactive materials from the Fukushima power plant.  Korea had already sent bottled water to Japan in an effort to help meet the emergency needs of some of the victims of the earthquake and tsunami.  In light of the discovery of radioactive pollution in drinking water, demand for bottled water produced in Korea has soared in Japan.

Sadly, radioactive fallout has also been detected on food crops.  Radioactive contamination was first detected on foods produced near the damaged Fukushima power plant.  Disconcertingly, radioactive pollution was detected today on vegetables grown in Tokyo.  The discovery of contaminated food has prompted the Korean government to ban the import of food from certain regions of Japan.  I think that food produced in Japan will have to be carefully monitored in order to ensure that no unsafe food is sold to citizens or exported.

To make matters worse, it is now feared that radioactive pollution is leaking from the core of three of the reactors at the Fukushima power plant.  This was discovered after two of the individuals working at the plant received radiation burns after stepping into water.

Hopefully, radioactive fallout will not continue for too long over Japan.  But ultimately, most if not all of the radioactive materials that have been emitted into the air will fall out.  These materials will end up in the environment somewhere.  Koreans seem to be concerned that radioactive pollution could occur in their country as a result of the disaster at the Fukushima power plant.  But I believe that to date, no abnormal radiation levels have been detected in Korea, and no radioactive fallout has been detected in rain Korea.