THE MASS CONFUSION – AT 8:32 A.M. ET:  The fact is, we really know very little about what's going on with the Japanese nuclear plants.  We're told of explosions, radiation leakage, and warnings to civilians, but details are still scarce.

The issue, of course, isn't "radiation" in the air, but what kinds of radiation, and the amount.  Obviously, every precaution must be taken.  But please recall that in the worst nuclear-plant accident in the United States, at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, no one died.  It is a time for hard work and precision, not panic or wild stories. 

From CNN:

Sendai, Japan (CNN) -- A deepening crisis at a damaged nuclear power plant compounded the misery in Japan Tuesday as the death toll rose to 2,734 and the stock market plummeted for a second straight day.

In areas decimated by the strongest quake in the country's history, survivors huddled in cramped shelters with temperatures forecast to drop below freezing by Wednesday. And in cities spared the devastation, the specter of radioactive exposure loomed large in rattled residents' minds.

"I think from a sanity standpoint I'm trying to side with the cool-headed point of view because I don't want to think about the possibly of a full-blown meltdown," said Osaki resident Tyler Martin.

Radiation level readings have decreased at the quake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Tuesday afternoon.

"The level has come down to the level to cause no harm to human health, according to the report I have received," Edano said.

But for many, calming jittery nerves is becoming increasingly difficult as the situation at the damaged facility looks increasingly dire with each passing day.

COMMENT:  No one wishes to minimize the urgency, or the threat, but the CNN report seems rational.  I've seen some well-qualified nuclear scientists on television, and they really can't provide significant answers at this point.  It will take more time before we get a clear picture.  Some speculation seems driven more by political beliefs than by science, and where have we seen that before?

March 15, 2011