Fukushima Daiichi Research Paper

Words: 1482
Pages: 6

Fukushima: What Contamination Leads To
Bo Bae (Gloria) Jin
Environmental Psychology
Ramapo College of New Jersey

Abstract The site of world known nuclear disaster, Fukushima Daiichi Plant caused many problems after it faced multiple natural disasters. Starting from contaminating the water sources to releasing radioactive material, the area where the nuclear plant stood now, became an evacuation area for everyone. However, this nuclear disaster did not only affect the environment, it affected everyone near the plant physically, psychologically and socially, disturbing their everyday life style. Environmental contamination was the starting point of numerous other contaminations within people.
Introduction
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Built in 1971, the plant consisted of multiple boiling water reactors, making it the top 15 largest nuclear power stations in the world. However, everything crumbled as the plant experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0, one of the most powerful earthquakes in history. Then, a destructive tsunami with waves that were 14 meters high crashed the plant on March 11th, 2011. Through this natural disaster, the plant received permanent damage that disabled this plant, but this became the start of the problem. The disaster caused damage to the reactor cooling system that caused the releases of radioactivity. Multiple units were decommissioned and the authorities decided that the function units will not continue to operate. Fukushima Daiichi was declared to be a 20 km evacuation area for all members about 40 days after the tragedy because the units of the plant were placed a rating of Level 7 in the International Nuclear Event scale, which means that there are major releases of radioactive material with widespread health and environmental effects that may require extended