Japan Has Its Worst Nuclear Accident
At a glance:
- Series: Great Events: 1900-2001
- Categories: Disasters
- Subcategories: Nuclear Weapons, Power, Radiation
- Curriculum: Asian History
- Geographical Location: Japan
- Date: September 30, 1999
Article abstract: A radiation leak at a uranium processing plant killed two workers, posed a severe health risk to the surrounding population, and raised international questions about nuclear safety.
Disaster Strikes
On September 30, 2000, three workers at the JCO fuel production plant in Tokaimura—Hisashi Ouchi, Masato Shinohara, and Yutaka Yokokawa—were preparing uranium oxide for use as fuel in an experimental nuclear reactor when disaster struck. Under Yokokawa’s supervision, Ouchi and Shinohara made the mistake of adding too much...
[The entire page is 1078 words long]
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