The FINANCIAL — What threats could come from the radiation emerging from the Fukushima nuclear power plant of Japan? Could the radiation reach Georgia and how ready is the state to resist such a disaster? Some experts believe the threat is real and we should be prepared for it.
The main way of radioactive waste spreading to other continents is by wind. Except for wind, atmospheric sediments such as rain can pour condensed emanation into the ground. Theoretically there is no threat that radiation could reach Georgia, scientists and experts believe. Georgia is 7,000-8,000 thousand kilometres away from Japan. So wind could only spread an insignificant amount of radioactive molecules to Georgia. Besides, atmospheric sediment comes to Georgia mostly from the North Caucasus and Black Sea.
The threat is not so much in that, but in the goods we import from eastern countries including Japan. Tea products are one of the risk factors.
“Tea bushes take in an especially high quantity of radioactive waste from nature,” said Liana Jervalidze, Researcher and Analyst on the Caspian Area Energy and Environment Policy.
“We import tea and some other agricultural products from China. The crop taken this year isn’t dangerous. Plural crops which will be sewn in the coming year, could take high quantitative radioactive waste from the ground. So from 2013 more control will be necessary while importing agricultural products from eastern countries,” said Javelidze.
Japan produced cars are another risk factor. 25% of the Georgian auto market is occupied by Japan produced cars from overseas import. Japanese cars amounted to 22% of the total number of imported cars in 2010, i.e.10,038 units or 68 million USD worth according to the national statistics office of Georgia. In January of 2011, the number of cars imported from Japan amounted to over 1,000 units, (that of 6 million USD worth).
After the atomic explosions in the cities Khirosima and Nagasaki in 1945 it was known that many people died or were injured by the immediate explosion and radiation, but many more were gravely affected by cancer, heart and blood diseases. The Fukushima nuclear explosion again proved that a lack of medical care, shelter, and water could pose a more immediate threat to human life and health.
As Jumber Lominadze, Academician of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences said, even such a developed country as Japan wasn’t ready for a disaster like that. There is no doubt that Georgia today is absolutely unprotected and unprepared to resist nuclear radiation.
“It is impossible to supply the whole country with medicaments and special overalls. In Tokyo, Japan, they are advising people to venture outside dressed only in clothing that provides adequate cover and not to wear sleeveless tops. Furthermore nuclear radiation releases 131 radioactive Isotope of iodine which is easily inhaled by people. In the case of high radiation it’s recommended to consume a higher than normal dose of iodine, which helps one’s organism to lessen the percentage of 131 Isotope absorbtion,” noted Lominadze.
Before the earthquake in Japan the Georgian National Academy of Science made the decision to restore the Council of Radiation Security. As Lominadze said, the disaster revealed that we have to respect our scientists and science more as well.
“After the Fukushima explosion we held a meeting of the Council of Radiation Security and we are going to offer our government and the Ministry of Security and Justice our conclusion on what can be done for the security of the country and settlement in disasters scenarios involving earthquakes, etc,” added Lominadze.
People who studied in primary classes during the Soviet Union in Georgia recall being prepared at school for the event of a nuclear explosion. Every child was taught how to behave in the case of a nuclear disaster. What’s more, once a year, before the beginning of classes, the bell would ring and students had to spend a limited amount of time in the cellar of the school building in practise.
This year Georgia Ministry of Education and Science introduced new Civil Defence and Security Study class in Schools. Students of 8th and 12th classes now get theoretical education about self-defence, first aid, rules of behaviour in case of nature cataclysm including earthquake and spreading nuclear radiation.
US Congress in 2003 recommended that everyone under the age of 40, located near a nuclear power plant, should have Potassium Iodide pills on hand. Despite recent efforts from the CDC and DHSC preventing Americans from obtaining Potassium Iodide; Pharmacists are refusing to sell and Amazon.com is currently sold out.
GPC one of the leading Georgian pharmacy companies told The FINANCIAL that Potassium Iodide is out of stock. But GPC drugstores offer medicines containing iodide. These are Iodomarin, Laminaria and Iodine Balance.
Guram Tevzadze, Vice-President of the Georgian National Academy of Science, also agrees that there is almost no chance of radiation coming to Georgia. He appreciates the mobilization of the Japanese nation on that front and thinks that the threat of radiation is almost over.
“Because of the distance, atmospheric wind can’t spread radiation to our country. If somebody imports products with radioactive elements, that’s another subject. But, I’m sure that our government will improve the terms of import control in light of this,” said Tevzadze.
“This is not 1986, when the Chernobyl reactor melted down in Ukraine, where radioactive emanation was much higher than it is now. For the moment, out of 6 reactors only the third one is in deplorable conditions,” continued Lominadze. “Before Chernobyl I witnessed two other such catastrophes, in the last 40 years. The first was in Cheliapinsk-70, the Kyshtym explosion in 1957 and the second one – in Three Mile Island in California in 1979, which was like a warning, that we have to be careful with reactors. To add to the situation, they also say that the Atomic Power Station of Armenia could pose a threat to the Caucasus. It’s really very near to Georgia, but we can’t fall in to a panic about this. The earthquake in Spetak couldn’t destroy the reactor. Besides, the World Nuclear Association has started to check all nuclear stations worldwide to prevent any more disasters.”
80% of French electro energy is from nuclear power, in Japan it is about 35%, in Switzerland – 55%. Not only they, but Germany and Belgium consume nuclear electricity too.
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