Technology to measure infant radiation doses and to better enable cleanup activities at Fukushima Daiichi highlighted the news from Japan last week. While in Tokyo, protests formed last weekend following the news that Tokyo Electric Power Co. managers and government officials would not be prosecuted on charges related to the accidents.
Recent developments related to the nuclear plant blacked out following Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami include:
Japan Develops First Whole-Body Scanner for Infants
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a whole-body radiation scanner sensitive enough to measure the internal doses of infants and small children, the International Business Times reported. The first-of-its-kind machine has been used at a hospital in Fukushima Prefecture and has not detected elevated radiation levels among 100 children tested so far.
Government Ramps of Spending on Cleanup Technology
Jiji Press reported Thursday that the Japanese government has set aside $1.6 billion to research decommissioning technologies for use at Fukushima. Priorities include new robots that can reach inaccessible parts of the plant and a center for radioactive material analysis to help prepare for the removal of fuel from the damaged cores.
Decision Against Criminal Charges for TEPCO Execs Draws Protest
Japanese media reported that hundreds of protestors gathered in Tokyo Saturday to protest the recent decision by an appeals body not to pursue criminal charges against TEPCO executives and government officials. About 15,000 people who lived near the plant filed a criminal complaint against them in 2012. They attribute the deaths of evacuated hospital patients to the decisions of TEPCO and government officials, alleging they were negligent in preparing for natural disasters and in their response to the crisis. Prosecutors declined to bring charges against them in September, arguing that TEPCO could not have anticipated an earthquake and tsunami of the magnitude experienced in 2011. A citizen panel denied an appeal of that decision last week.