Update number 14 (as of 28 March 2011) on Japanese nuclear incident

The Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna has reported the following updates regarding the situation at the nuclear facilities in Japan:

In a briefing for diplomatic Missions, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization showed a demonstration of the detection of radioactive isotopes by its monitoring stations worldwide.

Based on the CTBTO’s Atmospheric Transport Model, following the nuclear incident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility, the stations had initially detected gaseous isotopes and one non-gaseous isotope (Technetium-132). Additional non-gaseous isotopes were detected beginning 17 March at the station nearest the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility—RN 38 at Takasaki, Japan—and later at other stations. Subsequently, however, the ratio between gaseous and non-gaseous isotopes has remained stable. The CTBTO said that all detections are in line with recent reactor-related activities rather than emissions from the spent fuel pools at the facility.

Based on the data tracked, the radionuclide particles are moving towards the northwest from the central point which is the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility. Tracking of the radionuclide particulates (from 17 to 22 March) showed their movement to the territories of Russia, USA, Canada and Iceland.

However, while the data confirmed the trans-boundary movement of the particles, the CTBTO confirmed them to be at levels far below that deemed to be dangerous to human health, especially at the farther distances.

Thus, unless there is a major dose of emissions from the facility—either from an explosion or damage to the reactor core and its vessels—the particles will not disperse near or on Philippine territory.

The CTBTO’s International Monitoring Stations network has the technical capacity to detect and monitor radionuclide particles and noble gas based on global standard measurements. Since these facilities are not owned by any specific country, the data and related products are available to all States Signatories.

The CTBTO, along with the International Atomic Energy Agency, World Meteorological Organization, UN Development Programme, World health Organization and UN Office for Disarmament Affairs also held a videoconference on 25 March with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss ways to further enhance cooperation among the international organizations, particularly on the issue of an international emergency response framework for nuclear accidents.