Hi Eswen
I donīt think that evacuation perimeter of 30 km is needed, but some of the workers recieved quite high dose, what Iīve heard. 200 mSv or so. Thatīs bad, although still no acute radiation disease. People in vicinity of Fukushima are exposed to 20 mSv/year, mostly from isotopes with relatively short half-life. It is however pure luck that NP without secondary cooling system of active zone, which has been built next to sea in volcanically and tectonically active region resisted quite well (although crypt is the only possible solution). Many, many times worse disaster would happen in case of another tsunami, with massive radiation escape, now that the power station is damaged.
This is my oppinion, I just hope that japanese officials are telling us true. Iīve heard from my father that when Chernobyl nuclear fallout was measured with Czechoslovak armyīs old geiger-mullers, result was normal, but Sweden army had detected really high radiadion level (although still no acute radiation disease). letuce and mushrooms had been big that summer...
PS: In some regions, natural background dose is by far higher than in Fukushima (in the evacuation circle, not in the plant). Yet no negative health consequences have been found. And what about pilots? They are irradiated too.
PS2: You also vantet to know some oppinions on nuclear energy. I think it is the best we have. Of course, in some areas, where hydro and geothermal is possible are those the choice no1, but what about Japan? Big consumption, no sources of coal and oil. They just donīt have any other possibility, but of course, they have to be more careful. Record height of tsunami wave is 63 metres (Alaska, 1964) The powerplant was built to endure poor 7 m high wave.
I do not believe in controlled fusion, thereīs just too big force to be overcomed to reach distance, where nuclear forces overcome those repulsive. In all experiments, energy input was bigger than energy output.
[This message has been edited by Prefect Marty (edited 04-17-2011 @ 11:39 AM).]