ENEnews reports as of Wednesday, May 25 a level of 204 Sieverts [20,040 Rem] per hour in the drywell of Fukushima Daiichi #1. The level's been rising for over a week, the graph looks like this:
This no doubt explains why TEPCO's PR department felt it needed to let loose of the information that yes, there was a total meltdown at Unit-1, right as the drywell levels started rising precipitously. Since they have now reported the same for units 2 and 3, we can no doubt expect much the same sort of sudden 'bursts' of radioactivity coming from them in the next few days.
What they are NOT reporting, of course, is anything whatsoever about neutrons. Though fresh iodine has been detected in several areas outside the dead zone. Meaning new criticalities as the crusty corium breaks loose and encounters water in the containment drywall. Just enough 'extra' exponential heating to give it a good start on the concrete (melts easy) and bedrock (melts hard) between it and the water table.
And while the French (as part of their presence at Fukushima to manage the meltdowns and Kan's meetings with Sarkozy this week) have 'strongly' advised evacuating another 70,000 Japanese citizens from most endangered areas outside the exclusion zone, it does not appear that Prime Minister Kan's government has any plan in the works to do that beyond those new evacuations begun last week.
And just so you know not to be concerned about iodine/cesium levels in milk as the clouds of invisible Fukushima contamination circle to planet to dump indiscriminately like fallout from bombs, it may help to know that the EPA and FDA are no longer monitoring radiation levels in air, food and water (so you won't be worried about radioactive contamination in the air, food and water).
But if you are one of those sticklers about harmless stuff like this, you'll be happy to note that Hawaiian Dairy Farmers have come up with a way to ensure their customers they're on top of the situation.
Now, boron isn't something that has any effect on the radioactivity of isotopes like iodine, cesium or strontium, as it is a neutron absorber added to reactors to control fission rate. Iodine, cesium and strontium are fission products, not fissionable isotopes. But it sounds good, so this PR campaign will no doubt help sell more milk on the Big Island. They're also adding kelp to the feed, which is certainly helpful for the cows (but will do nothing about radioactive iodine in the milk).
S'alright. We can all go back to sleep now… [/snark]