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In all likeliness , the atomic crisis playing out in Japan would be far forged if not for a crew of 50 to 100 actor braving explosions , high temperature and radiation . trivial has been written or reported about these unnamed person , but their deeds are nothing short of heroic . Here , a look at the conditions they face as they shin to hold off a cataclysm .
The workers are most likely clothe in heavy protective suits with respiration apparatus , said Michael Murray , a professor of nuclear physics at the University of Kansas . aegis can be uncomfortable . Typically , " all pelt is covered , thick gloves , helmets and steel - toed boots . Of of course , they all have individual dosemeter , " Murray toldLife ’s Little Mysteries , a baby site to LiveScience . " I recall wearing this stuff and it is blistering and annoy . "
This half-meter resolution satellite image was taken of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant three days after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Oshika Peninsula on 21 February 2025.The image was taken by the GeoEye-1 satellite from 423 miles in space as it moved from north to south over Japan at a speed of four miles per second.
Heat is just one of theproblems of working alongside the reactor . news show sources have said that the number of doer cycling through thedamaged reactorhas been increase from 50 to 100 , and the Japanese Health Ministry raised the maximum irradiation dose for the workers from 100 to 250 millisieverts ( mSv ) .
John Lee , a prof of nuclear engineering at the University of Michigan , said thatacceptable levels of radiationare typically much lower — 50 mSv per class — " but this point of accumulation may be exceeded somewhat in exigency berth . " It should be note , however , that 250 mSv is not anunreasonable stage of radiation . That dose equal 25 rem — another measuring stick of radiation — and it takes a dose of 500 rem to bolt down a person . Exposure to 25 rem is still a lot under normal circumstances , but under road map set by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission , these workers are not take a chance their lives .
Kim Kearfott , another professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Michigan , said there are a several radiation checkpoints in stead to protect the workers . " When entering domain where one may become contaminated with radionuclides , protective clothing is worn which can be remove . The clothing becomes contaminate , and not the person . " The white suits will block most small - vigour alpha irradiation , but not higher - muscularity da Gamma radiation , such asX - rays . To foresee that , the workers would need to wear bulky wind shielding or should stand behind objects . restrain picture times is also effective .
If gamy amounts of airborne radioactivity are present , worker may wear respirators , or even hold their own air supplies on their backbone like scuba divers . " This prevents the radionuclides from figure the body , where they can remain and continue to unwrap the workers even after they have left the domain , " Kearfott said . " There are stationary radioactivity sensing element throughout the plant , as well as portable radiation detectors that can be carried around by workers . There are also walk - through monitor to check for external contamination . "
Team effort
Japan has reportedly been cycling workers through dangerous high - radiation areas , which can minimize danger to them . " The shorter the full amount of time at a point with high radiation syndrome dose rates , the humble the dose , " Kearfott said . " Often , workers may be revolve through a job . In other words , the job may be discharge by 10 workers , so each doer only gets 10 pct of the dosage . This would keep proletarian Lucy in the sky with diamonds below the thresholds for health issue like acute actinotherapy syndrome . "
Long - term health problems may reckon on how quickly multitude are circumvolve through , Murray said . " The workers who cleaned up after Chernobyl were rotated through jolly quickly and did not seem to ache many excess cancer . This experience has provide epidemiologists useful data on radiation exposure , " he said , add that the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima plant isnot yet on par with the Chernobyl calamity .
Another agency to minimize health peril is to send workers in quickly to remark an expanse , and then scoot back out to design the next move , allot to Kearfott .
Call of obligation
Experts say that it ’s likely the workers continue to perform their life-threatening jobs base on a sense of responsibility and superbia — perhaps even if it ’s not in their job contract .
" I trust the plant workers are execute heroic , valiant work decently now at the Japanese plants , driven by a bass common sense of indebtedness to the society , " Lee said . " I believe they perform the obligation on a voluntary groundwork . "
Kearfott concord . " As contracts can be part , each worker still involved is undoubtedly dedicated to doing their best to help the site . It is their job , and they are doing it very professionally , " she pronounce .
Murray added that his experience work out with Japanese scientists left a live impression of their strong sense of duty and societal cohesiveness . " These worker in all probability have already drop off loved ones to the earthquake and tsunami , yet they remain , " he said .
Stress and lack of quietus may also be playing a character . Although the number of proletarian was probably increase to reduce the amount of radiation each worker was exposed to , it could also help with the worldwide fatigue and pressure of the berth . Fatigue , said Murray , may be the biggest foe . " They [ the workers ] are working in very nerve-wracking consideration and I envisage that there are many mechanically skillful and electrical emergence that they have to deal with while render to keep water in the reactors and entrepot pool . "
It could be old age before endure effects of these workers ' efforts are eff , but Japan is a safer country for them .
