It's sad what is happening over there. There is a lot of mismanagement going on with respect to the clean-up efforts.
Quote:
I hope this report is inaccurate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcOol3KJscc&feature=player_detailpage
For this, it's like most things in the popular media with respect to Nuclear Power. Some of it is true, some of it isn't. One thing you can count on is a lot of misinformation, however. For example, the Cesium comments are a little outlandish. Yes there is the possibility that some people could have cesium contamination. However, radiocesium isn't the most likely to even be absorbed by the body. For instance, radioiodine (short lived; most commonly I-135 has a half life of 6.58 hours with a mean lifetime of 9.47 hours) and radiostrontium (Sr-90 is the big deal here with a half life of 28.98 years, Sr-89 is another one with a 50.52 day half life) are much more likely to cause damage to a human that absorbed these radioemitters. This is because radiocesium is easily secreted via sweat, urine, etc... and therefore is easily changed out. Whereas iodine accumulates in different parts of the body (most notably the thyroid) and strontium can slowly replace the calcium in bone, preventing expulsion from the body. The big issue with cesium is the potential to contaminate (contaminate mind you, not irradiate) the food supply. So, frankly, I doubt you would be able to take a frisker to grandpa and detect cesium unless he died via the chemical effects (which are potentially waaay more deadly). Sr-90 is the issue (and I know that doesn't sound any different). However, Sr is produced in a nuclear reactor via the decay of rubidium (Rb), namely Rb-87 (half-life 4.88x10^10 years) decaying into Sr-87 (which is stable; i.e. not radioactive) and since that will take longer than the universe is old, you won't be seeing any Sr-87. Also, Sr-90 is produced in small quantities directly from fission and this along with Cs-137 are the most likely medium-lived nuclides present.
So to summarize, iodine (which should be negligible >~80 days after plant shutdown) and strontium, which could pose longer term threats are two elements of concern for humans directly. Additionally, the best dose estimate I have seen was done by TEPCO (the Japanese company in charge of the Fukishima plants) put long term radiation exposure in the areas surrounding the plants at 1.7mSv/year (that is about half of the normal dose received in a year from exposure to the sun). Long term contamination is more of a concern and what is causing the large evacuation area.
Remember also that it is more important how easily a radioactive nuclide can enter the body and how "well" it is retained once it has entered the body. For example, alpha particles are high energy and high charge particles (relatively speaking). But since they are relatively large they are easily blocked your dead skin layer or by clothing, etc... Whereas gamma particles are smaller and (since they have no charge) they can enter the body rather easily. Your eyes are rather susceptible to this type of radiation (which is why I find it funny that the scientist with the TV crew is wearing a mask but no safety goggles and complaining about gamma radiation). There's a lot more, but I won't geek out more than I already have.
Some links:
NEI responds to shoddy AP reporting
Some more pictures of the Fukishima Plant from just after the Tsunami
