Spanish Government releases information for public use on the nuclear crisis in Japan

The information is also being made available to the public via the following websites:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation: http://www.maec.es
• Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality: http://www.msps.es
• Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade: http://www.mityc.es
• Directorate-General of Civil Protection: http://www.proteccioncivil.org

Could what has happened in Japan happen in Spain? In other words, might there be an earthquake, a tsunami and consequently a serious problem at a nuclear power plant in Spain?

Fortunately, Spain is not located in a region of such severe seismic activity as Japan. Strong earthquakes are a common phenomenon in Japan. The seismic risk is much lower in Spain and it is also quite unlikely for a tsunami to occur in Spain.

Furthermore, the nuclear power plants in Spain are located inland (the only exception being Vandellós 2) and are therefore not susceptible to the affects of a possible tsunami.

Neither would the Vandellós 2 power plant on the Mediterranean coast be at any risk from the effects of potential tsunamis that might take place in the Mediterranean because of its height above sea level.

In light of the above, it is highly unlikely that Spain could suffer the combination of events that has taken place in Japan. From that point of view, we can put our minds at rest.

If a problem of such magnitude can arise in Japan, a country that is very prepared to deal with earthquakes and that uses cutting-edge technology at its nuclear power plants, what guarantees are there that something similar cannot happen at the plants that exist in Spain?

As stated above, the geographic situations of Spain and Japan are very different and, in this case, the difference lies in Spain's favour.

The nuclear power plants that exist in Spain are designed to reduce to a minimum the probability of accidents taking place that could affect the population and the environment.

However, Emergency Plans are in place (all of them published in the Official State Gazette [BOE]) to tackle any situation in the event of an incident or accident. The purpose of these plans is to control the accident, restore the plant to a condition of safety and protect the population and the environment from any radioactive leakage that might take place.

Furthermore, after having seen what is happening in Japan, every country in the European Union, including Spain, is going to revise the safety systems at its nuclear power plants in order to strengthen the guarantees already in place, if necessary.

What role is played by the weather in dispersing any radioactivity?

The wind disperses a radioactive cloud. The direction and speed of the wind influence the distance the cloud travels but, the further that distance, the greater the dissolution of radioactive particles and therefore the lesser the radioactive impact.

Rain accelerates the process by which the radioactive particles are deposited on the ground, which would reduce their dispersion.

Could a radioactive cloud form in Japan and reach Spain?

No. Japan is more than 12,000 kilometres from Spain.

Furthermore, history can also help answer that question. 2 atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and no radioactive cloud reached Spain in those cases.

Will the people now returning to Spain from Japan have to be isolated due to a radiation risk or will they be able to go home?

The Ministry of Health and the Nuclear Safety Council have drafted a protocol for monitoring the people who arrive from Japan. The pertinent measures in each individual case will be adopted. In principle, it can be expected that all those people will be able to go home because, according to available data, no Spanish citizen would have been severely contaminated in the area surrounding the Japanese power plant.

Is radioactivity contagious?

No. Radioactivity is not contagious. In fact, every human being is exposed to small doses of radiation every day. There are naturally radioactive materials in the soil, the water and the air. We also receive radiation from artificial sources when we have an X-ray taken, for example.

Effects that are negative to human health can only occur in those people who have had direct exposure to significant quantities of radiation above normal levels.

The three forms of exposure are:

• Internal exposure: when radioactive material enters the body by breathing, eating or drinking;
• Direct external exposure: when there is exposure to a radioactive source located outside of the body;
• Contamination (indirect external exposure): through contact with an object or source that has received radiation. Such contamination is usually easy to eliminate from the body (by taking a shower, for example).

At what level does radiation exposure become lethal?

The unit used to measure radiation is called the milisievert and effects such as death only occur in doses of thousands of milisieverts (higher than 5,000).

To give you an idea, radiation exposure from a tooth X-ray amounts to 0.005 milisieverts.

What are the symptoms to know whether someone is suffering from radiation exposure?

Effects such as skin reddening can occur if the dose of radiation exceeds a certain threshold and hair loss, radiation burns and even the so-called Acute Radiation Syndrome can occur after very high doses.

It is unlikely that an accident at a nuclear power plant would expose the general population to doses that are sufficiently high so as to cause these effects. Those people who might be exposed to high doses are front-line response personnel and workers at the nuclear plant, although they are equipped with the appropriate protective suits and the doses to which they are exposed are constantly controlled.

What effects can radioactivity have on a human being?

It can increase the risk of cancer. According to the experience of survivors from the Japanese atomic bombs, the risk of leukaemia rose a few years after their exposure to radiation while the risk of other types of cancer rose more than ten-fold after exposure.

Radioactive iodine can be released during nuclear emergency situations that, if inhaled or ingested, increases the risk of thyroid cancer.

Is it possible for the people arriving from Japan now to transmit any kind of disease, even if their level of exposure to radiation has been low?

NO. Radioactivity does not produce transmissible diseases.

What is potassium iodide used for?

It helps avoid the absorption of the radioactive iodine released during a nuclear accident and enables the risk of thyroid cancer to be reduced among those people who might be exposed to such emissions.

Does Spain have a reserve of iodine tablets for nuclear emergency situations?

Yes. Spain has a reserve of potassium iodide as part of the Nuclear Emergency Plans.

How many iodine tablets are in storage and available?

Current tablet availability stands at 862,339 capsules for adults and 17,480 doses for children. Of those, 112,479 capsules and 2,280 doses for children are stored at the Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergences and the rest are distributed around areas near nuclear power plants.

In light of what is happening, are any preventive measures going to be adopted for the population living near nuclear plants in Spain?

No such plans are in place. The Spanish plants are currently in a situation of operational normality. No circumstances have arisen that might warrant extra preventive measures in addition to those already included in the exterior Emergency Plans in place at the moment, which are very up-to-date and are considered sufficient.

Is there a risk that Spain or other European countries could import contaminated products from Japan?

No. The control of food and water is one of the first measures contained in the international protocols for action, regarding both exports and consumption.

If other countries, such as France, are recommending their citizens to leave Japan, why is Spain not doing the same?

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has already announced that Spain will provide those Spanish citizens who are in Japan and wish to leave the country with the resources necessary for them to do so.

Is the Ministry of Health preparing any special measures?

The Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality is participating in the Group Monitoring the Situation in Japan and is working in a coordinated fashion with the autonomous regions and international health organisations.