My condolences to Japan after a series of unfortunate events which happened within the past few days.
First it was a 9.0(revised) mega earthquake. Followed by a 10 metre tall tsunami hitting the eastern costal shores of Japan, series of tsunami waves and numerous aftershocks of magnitude more than 5. Many were homeless and without electrictity, food and water. Death toll on the rise. Volcano eruption in the southern Japan. Large fire erupts Oil refinery near Tokyo and burns out of control. Nuclear plant explosion and radiation leaks. Till date, 4 nuclear plants were damaged. Immediately Japan shares nosedive in the stockmarket. They could possibly face another round of tsunami, called the economy tsunami, when tourist avoid visiting Japan and investors turing away from the country. It was indeed a hard hit for Japan.
It is so heart saddening to see such a beautiful country and a country so advanced in technology to be hit by natural disasters. And i suddenly felt that we humans are so fragile. In the past when such major disaster came, i would just think probably back then the technology was not as advanced to give warnings or do something to prevent deaths. But this recent incident just proved me wrong. I appluad the courage and the cohesiveness the Japanese demostrated in times like this. And is touched by how neighbouring countries willingly to offer their help.
There is this scam going on recently about how we singaporeans should leave house with umbrellas and avoid going out into the rain and take iodine pills because of the radiation that can be carried all the way from Japan by wind. Hello?! Japan is like how far away from here? Before it reaches us, Korea, China, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia shouldn't be in panic already? And by the time it reaches us, it is insignificant to cause any harm to humans. So, don't go by new umbrellas and iodine pills ok?
And i noticed most of us don't really understand how radiation works or how it affects humans directly and indirectly. We think if we get in contact with those radiation, we'll somehow mutate and be part of the x-men crew.
But the issue is very real and worrying in Japan. First we must understand what causes the powerplant to explode or damaged. It is because of the earthquake which causes the cooling system in the plants to fail. And temperatures build up rapidly and causes the uranium to melt and the fission products can be released from the fuel into the reactor pressure vessel and then into the containment, if the coolant leaks from the reactor vessel.
Radiation exposure can also increase the probability of developing some other diseases, mainly cancer, tumors and genetic damage. Direct exposure to high radiation will suffer thermal burns. Take sunburnt for an example, in an extreme case.
While indirect meaning inhalation or ingestion depening on the level of intake, sympton varies. Nausea and vomiting are usually the main symptoms. Diarrhea, headache, fever follows. It can be carried by air or the food we eat. Take microwave for an example, how it uses radiation to heat up a meat. Like how, when you consume or inhale a radioactive particle, it stays in your body and burns. It will begin to destroy the cells in your body that divide rapidly. Like white blood cell. Cell-cycle genes are mutated. Cancer is easily caused.
It is deadly because it cannot be seen or felt. Some take years to discover by the time usually with cancer. Babies born may be mutated because of the change in DNA. Permanent damage to DNA can be passed down to children and their children.
I think the Japan government is still having it under control. I hope they'll tide over this crisis soon and i believe they will.
がんばってください!
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