I'd argue that is splitting hairs. What will magically lower the radiation when the workers leave?
They can't drop boric acid and water on the half-melted reactors from helicopters for fear of rupturing them further, the control systems are no longer effective, and pumping in seawater hasn't worked too well so far.
I would point out that the dangerous stuff that is there is iodine(-131 IIRC) with a half life of 8 days and since it can give you thyroid cancer it is not "safe" until it virtually is gone at 80 days; and cesium-137 with a half life of 30 years, a gram of which can kill you.
Right. Most of the radiologicals that have been released with the steam have very short half lives so the radiation levels drop rapidly (relatively speaking).
They can't drop boric acid and water on the half-melted reactors from helicopters for fear of rupturing them further, the control systems are no longer effective, and pumping in seawater hasn't worked too well so far.