E' tutta una questione di acqua

Il professore David Hinde, a capo del dipartimento di fisica nucleare all'Australian National University, spiega l'importanza dell'acqua nel determinare la gravità della crisi nucleare ai reattori di Fukushima Daiichi.

We should always think about the worst case but if the water is simply boiling, and there is access to it, there is no danger to anybody – certainly outside the plant.

As long as the water level can be maintained, that shouldn't be a serious problem. The fact it is unit number 4, which was not operating at the time of the earthquake, means there should be no problems gaining access... I would worry more about the pool of reactor number 2.

If the water did boil away, there might be a problem.

The question is whether the zirconium alloy cladding could react with the steam and lose its containment ability. That, I'm not sure about.

I believe the upper part of the building is still largely intact, but a report suggested it may have been slightly damaged from the explosion in number 4. "The cladding should restrict the egress of radioactive material but if it's slightly compromised it will not be as effective as it would be ideally.