Environment & Energy
In reply to the discussion: Safer Nuclear Power, at Half the Price [View all]ladjf
(17,320 posts)" [...] From Wired Magazine (12/15/2009):
Reinhabiting the large exclusion zone around the [Chernobyl] accident site may have to wait longer than expected. Radioactive cesium isnt disappearing from the environment as quickly as predicted, according to new research presented here Monday at the meeting of the American Geophysical Union. Cesium 137s half-life the time it takes for half of a given amount of material to decay is 30 years. In addition to that, cesium-137s total ecological half-life the time for half the cesium to disappear from the local environment through processes such as migration, weathering, and removal by organisms is also typically 30 years or less, but the amount of cesium in soil near Chernobyl isnt decreasing nearly that fast. And scientists dont know why.
It stands to reason that at some point the Ukrainian government would like to be able to use that land again, but the scientists have calculated that what they call cesiums ecological half-life the time for half the cesium to disappear from the local environment is between 180 and 320 years.
Normally youd say that every 30 years, its half as bad as it was. But its not, said Tim Jannik, nuclear scientist at Savannah River National Laboratory and a collaborator on the work. Its going to be longer before they repopulate the area. [...]"
http://enenews.com/scientists-dont-know-why-cesium-137-in-soil-near-chernobyl-has-half-life-of-180-to-320-years-not-30-years-as-is-typical
I notice that you didn't cite any source for your information concerning the half-life of Cesium 137 at Chernobyl. Since you don't seem to trust info from the INTERNET, where did you get your information?
Recent tests are showing that the Cesium 137 release at the Japanese explosion is four times greater than Chernobyl. That's on an island that is one of the least stable land masses on Earth. And, if you can believe it, they are beginning construction of another nuclear plant.