[The Scientist (OP)]

What are the aftermath of getting 'hit' by radiation too? Please elaborate upon explanation. Thanks all!

[syhprum]

The most serious consequence of the Japanese nuclear power station problem is that it will slow down the deployment of nuclear power worldwide leaving us to to rely in polluting sources such as coal and oil and dangerous sources such as geothermal and hydro

[Geezer]

The most serious consequence of the Japanese nuclear power station problem is that it will slow down the deployment of nuclear power worldwide leaving us to to rely in polluting sources such as coal and oil and dangerous sources such as geothermal and hydro

I agree, although, in a very roundabout way, it might be a good thing. The message is that we must determine realistic worst case scenarios.

While the recent events in Japan are exceptional, they should not have been viewed as "impossible". I suspect that we will learn (if there is not a huge cover-up) that a few relatively inexpensive measures could have prevented this situation.

Frankly, I think the IAEA is doing a really lousy job. If they had been on the ball, this would not have developed into a disaster of these proportions.

[yor_on]

It can still become very serious for Japan, and to a much lesser degree, for those getting the winds from there. Reactor three have been upgraded to level 5, same as Three mile island now. We don't know how many used fuel rods they had but it can be as many as 600,000 spent fuel rods in their seven pools for spent fuel rods.  Six of these  located at the top of six reactor buildings, or at least 'was located'. Also some of the rods was of a more unstable composition that easier could melt according to some sources. So yeah, I'm more doubtful now than I was before. But they are doing a fantastic job, so I hope and pray that it all will work out for them, and us.

[wolfekeeper]

It doesn't look too bad at the moment.

It depends on what sort of radiation was released. If it's a lot of long-lived stuff then it's going to be quite serious. If it's stuff like radioactive iodine then after enough half-lifes it would be for all intents and purposes, gone, you can wait it out and distribute iodine tablets. OTOH Cesium-137 is pretty bad, if there's been a lot of that released it could be a problem.

The most serious thing is possibly the spent fuel rods. They weren't properly contained, if they did melt down there could have been some really nasty, long-lived stuff released.