The top U.S. nuclear regulator warned on Wednesday that one pool holding spent fuel at Japan's stricken nuclear plant may have run dry and a second could be leaking, something experts say could accelerate the release of radiation.
"We believe at this point that Unit Four may have lost a significant inventory, if not lost all, of its water," Gregory Jaczko, head of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, told lawmakers at a House energy and commerce subcommittee hearing.
Officials in Japan have not said how much water remains in the pool.
The dangers of an exposed fuel pool are explained as follows:
DANGEROUS POOLS
The pools are dangerous for two reasons: being outside a containment wall protecting the nuclear core, they are more easily exposed to the atmosphere; and the building housing the No. 4 reactor's pool has suffered hydrogen gas explosions.
They also hold radioactive elements that could quickly heat up again if water burns off. Experts worry that this could expose the used nuclear fuel and start a fire that would release more radioactivity.
"There is no water in the spent fuel pool and we believe that radiation levels are extremely high, which could possibly impact the ability to take corrective measures," said Jaczko, making his first appearance before Congress since the crisis began.
Source: au.news.yahoo.com
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