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--Decontamination work is in progress in areas affected by the March 2011 accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, but cases have been uncovered of workers dumping contaminated soil, vegetation and water into nearby rivers or other places without properly collecting them.

“It appears that workers (dumped vegetation) not out of malice but because they removed more radioactive materials than they had expected,” the representative said.

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--New research indicates that radioactive cesium levels in many kinds of fish caught off the coast of Fukushima have not declined in the year following Japan's nuclear disaster.

Using data from Japan's ministry of agriculture, a report found that 40 percent of bottom-dwelling fish such as cod, flounder and halibut, are above limits of cesium-134 allowed for consumption. The report indicates that the sea floor or leakage from the damaged nuclear reactors is continuing to contaminate waters.

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--Fukushima ‘decontamination’ workers threatened: We were punished if we tried to resist. They cited a lack of training, unreasonable deadlines, threats of isolation, and persistent feelings that their efforts were pointless.

“We were pressed to finish the work as quickly as possible”

“If we tried to resist, we would become isolated from other workers, although it did not reach the extent of losing the job”

“Radiation levels returned even after we completed the work, so there was a sense that what we were doing was worthless”

“There will be no end to the shoddy work even if oversight is strengthened”

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--Doctor in Fukushima: Many feel they’re being used as human guinea pigs in the first round and don’t want to take part in the followup tests.

As for the most worrisome internal radiation exposure levels in the early days of the nuclear disaster, radioactive materials consumed have already been discharged from bodies and the amount can no longer be estimated, he said.

“The weakest point of these checkups is that we are not estimating the internal exposure amount of residents immediately after (the meltdowns). And we haven’t been able to measure exposure to radioactive iodine-131? that has a half-life of just eight days, Tsubokura said. “Those are lost forever."

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--It is impossible to recover the pre-disaster environment, and it is unrealistic to think that all affected areas can be decontaminated.

Since the start of the decontamination projects, the emphasis has been placed on private homes, farmland, roads and other places associated with people's day-to-day lives. As for neighboring forests, 20 meters from the periphery has been established as the rough limit for decontamination work.

Last summer, a panel of experts appointed by the Environment Ministry said "Since only a small amount of radioactive materials flow out from forests, there is little necessity to decontaminate all of their areas."

Residents in the prefecture argued quite rightly that forests are very much a part of their daily lives, and that living near contaminated forests will put them under tremendous mental stress. On the other hand, some residents are calling for aid that will enable them to start new lives elsewhere because they are aware of the obvious limits to decontaminating forests.

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--Navy sailor says clumps of hair fell out after Fukushima plume exposure.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Kim Gieseking:

“A lot of us knew people were getting sick. … Some were starting to get bad headaches, some threw up a bit.”

She said she’s also battled exhaustion and poor health

At one point, she lost clumps of hair

Last June, severe back pain revealed a bulge in her spine

“I was a healthy, healthy person. I’m not the same person I used to be.”

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--Attorney: U.S. Marine may join Fukushima lawsuit

Their lawyer [Paul C. Garner, a trial attorney of 40 years] said he also is talking with at least one Marine who could join the suit, and concerns have been raised among other U.S. troops who were based in Japan or located offshore at the time. [...]

Garner said his clients so far suffer from assorted health issues, including bladder problems normally not seen in younger people.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Lindsay Cooper"

She said her health took a dive [after Summer 2011]

She put on weight and found little energy to work

She has struggled with sleep, headaches and digestive problems.

“I’ve never felt like this before. It’s constant”

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--Japan’s cleanup denounced — “A disgrace… absolutely irresponsible” — Company that built all six Fukushima reactor buildings is leading ‘decontamination’

Recent reports in the local media has focused attention on the sloppiness of the cleanup. The central and local governments have handed over much of the 1 trillion yen decontamination effort to Japan’s largest construction companies. The politically connected companies have little radiological cleanup expertise and critics say they have cut corners to employ primitive — even potentially hazardous — techniques.

Kajima Corporation, Japan’s largest construction company is in charge of the cleanup in the city of Tamura, a part of which lies within the 12-mile exclusion zone.. Kajima also built the reactor buildings for all six reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, leading some critics to question why control of the cleanup effort has been left to companies with deep ties to the nuclear industry. http://enenews.com/

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