There is much confusion in the news media about radiation and the long term consequences of the Japanese plant disasters. There are many issues but one of the more confusing ones is why we are worried about the wind patterns and fallout. I have heard talking heads say, "I thought radiation was like light?"
The simple answer is as follows:
The immediate concern is the very high levels of gamma radiation coming from the plant itself. Presently plant workers are not able to get anywhere near the plant to assist in cooling the cores. Big problem.
The long term problem is the contamination that will result from the radioactive material (contamination) being blown around the local area and (ultimately) ejected into the atmosphere.
Radiation is emitted from the contamination. Think of contamination in the simplest terms as being a big pile of dog crap. The smell coming from the pile would be the "radiation". As long as the pile is sitting around it will continue to smell and irradiate. It will spread, dry out, blow around, etc. Eventually the smell goes away (in this case it will take hundreds of years for the "smell" to go away on it's own). The key to cleaning up after a radioactive accident is to contain the contamination as soon as possible, clean it up and put it in a safe place. Where that will be with these cores I am not sure.
Each of these explosions carries the danger of spewing radioactive contamination across a large area. Fortunately the contaminants become more diffuse as they spread although this is of little comfort to anyone in their path.
For now, all anyone can do is hope the cores cool fast - build a sarcophagus - and begin a detailed clean up of the area surrounding the plants.
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