This presentation is too old to represent the current reality. It was recorded three days ago, before the primary containment was breached in reactors 2 and 3, before the fires broke out in the spent fuel cooling pond in reactor 4 (which is now confirmed in the New York Times by US Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairman to be bone dry). Spent fuel is hot (temperature-wise) and extremely hot radioactively from the reaction by-products. Each of the 6 reactors has a spent fuel rod pool, holding from 60-120MCuries of radioactive material. This is independent of the nuclear fuel in the cores of the reactors. It is estimated that Chernobyl released 2.5MCuries into the atmosphere. Temperatures are rising in all spent fuel cooling ponds (except 4, which is dry and whose temperature sensor got cooked to the point where it is not sending any data), and is nearing boiling at reactor 3. Exposed fuel rods melt and catch on fire in the presence of air.

Radioactive contamination of the water in a town 50 miles away has been detected. Highest exposure yesterday measured 400mSv, representing 2000 chest x-rays per hour. At 1000Sv, radiation poisoning effects begin immediately. Japanese government has waived maximum annual exposure level limits for the workers. It was set at 100mSv, now set to 250mSv. US regulations allow 100mSv over 2 years for its nuclear workers. US State Department is telling US citizens within a 50 mile radius of the plant to evacuate. US military will not allow its personnel within 50 miles of the plant.

I'd like to see an updated interview with Mr. Hawthorne, or see this one get pulled.