No acid rain in PHL from Japan: DOST dismiss sms

The Philippines Department of Science and Technology (DOST) dismissed reports circulating via text message that the Philippines will be affected by a radiation leak from earthquake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan.

 

Science Secretary Mario Montejo said the level of radiation in the environment in the country has remained stable since the Fukushima incident.

 

“No increase in radiation level means that, as of the moment, there are no immediate effects of the Fukushima nuclear power plant explosion to the Philippines,” Montejo said.

 

According to the text message that quoted the British Broadcasting Co. (BBC), “Radiation may hit the Phil. Starting 4 p.m. today (Monday).”

 

“The explosion (at the Japanese nuclear plant) happened last Saturday, the critical period is one to two days,” he said, adding “it was a small radiation leak.”

 

Montejo said the DOST’s Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) is closely monitoring developments through its 24-hour linkup with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

 

PNRI Director Alumanda de la Rosa also cited a plume trajectory study provided by Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showing that the plume from the site of the incident at Fukushima will not pass the Philippine territory as of March 14.

 

“The direction of the smoke appears to go away from the direction of the country,” De la Rosa said. “The smoke is carried away by the northeast monsoon (amihan).”

 

Containment remains intact at the Fukushima Daiichi Units 1, 2 and 3, according to Montejo, quoting reports from the IAEA.

 

“The design of the Fukushima reactor is different from that of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (in Russia),” Montejo said. “In the event of a meltdown at Fukushima, the melted fuel is expected to stay within the stainless steel containment dome, preventing its release to the environment.”

 

The Chernobyl power plant did not have a reactor building concrete shield and steel containment, he added.

 

Montejo also explained that the explosion at the Unit 1 reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi plant occurred outside the primary containment vessel (PCV), not inside.

 

The plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), has confirmed that the integrity of the primary containment vessel remains intact, Montejo said.

 

To limit damage to the reactor core, Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) approved the pumping of seawater mixed with boric acid into the primary containment vessel. Boric acid absorbs neutrons to prevent reactor criticality.

 

NISA has likewise confirmed the presence of radioactive elements cesium-137 and iodine-131 in the vicinity of Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1. NISA reported an initial increase in levels of radioactivity around the plant earlier today, but these levels have been observed to lessen in recent hours. 

 

The PNRI’s National Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan had put in place an organized emergency response facility for a timely, coordinated action of Philippine authorities in the event of a radiological emergency, De la Rosa said.

 

“The PNRI is closely monitoring developments at Fukushima every six hours and maintains a 24-hour linkup with the IAEA,” she said.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday assured the people that the partial meltdown at the two nuclear reactors in Japan does not pose an immediate threat to the Philippines.

 

In a press conference at the Department of Health (DOH), WHO country representative Dr. Soe Nyunt-U said “even within Japan, there is minimal effect of radiation.”

 

Soe maintained that for one, the wind direction is not going to the Philippines.

 

“The direction of the movement of the radioactive materials (is dependent) on wind direction. It is very good to know that the prevailing wind condition is from the Philippines to Japan. Even if things happen, the radioactive materials will not come to the Philippines,” he added.

 

Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde echoed this, citing a report of the DOST’s Philippine Nuclear Research Institute that “the level of radiation in the country has remained stable since the Fukushima incident (meltdown) in Japan.”

 

“The conclusion is that there is no immediate threat to the Philippines. Just in case, we have the National Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan and this will be the one that will be put in place if there is a threat to the Philippines,” Villaverde added.

 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) urged the public to ignore rumors about the radioactive materials from Japan reaching the Philippines.

 

NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said the people should verify the information they get from experts such as scientists from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.

 

“They should not immediately believe the information relayed to them… They should get the information from the authorities,” Ramos said, philstar reports.