Radiation Levels Soar Near Fukushima Nuclear Plant

[Purveyor]

AFP March 30, 2011 4:24PM

RADIATION levels in the sea off Japan's stricken nuclear plant hit their highest reading yet, officials said, amid a struggle to deal with large amounts of radioactive water at the site.

A spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant crippled by a March 11 earthquake and tsunami, said today levels of radioactive iodine-131 were 3,355 times the legal limit in the sea near the plant, according to a reading taken yesterday.

Officials said they did not know what cause the radiation level to rise.

"The figures are rising further. We need to find out as quickly as possible the causes and to stop them from rising any higher," said nuclear safety agency spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama.

The sampling location is 330 metres south of the discharge outlet for four troubled reactors. Officials have said that tidal dispersion means that there is no immediate health threat, and that the iodine degrades relatively quickly.

MORE...

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/radiation-levels-soar-near-fukushima-nuclear-plant/story-fn3dxix6-1226030854699

[Hannah Bell]

1. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says radioactive iodine in excess of 3,300

times the national limit was found in seawater near the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on Tuesday afternoon. This was the highest measured in waters off the plant.

The level of radioactive iodine-131 found 330 meters south of a water outlet of the plant was 3,355 times regulated standards at 1:55 PM on Tuesday.

The outlet is used to drain water from the plant's No. 1 to No. 4 reactors.

Radioactive iodine-131 measured 50 meters north of the water outlet of the No. 5 and No. 6 reactors was 1,262 times the regulated standards at 2:10 PM on Tuesday.

This was also the highest reading at this location.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/30_21.html

[upi402]

2. i have lots of

canned tuna
:tinfoilhat:
truestory

[tavalon]

3. Officials said they did not know what cause the radiation level to rise.

May I humbly suggest that your plant is leaking?

Geez, are these the best people they have?

[Junkdrawer]

5. We now know where Saddam hid the Nuclear WMDs....

Only explanation...

[girl gone mad]

6. Maybe dumping the water drained from the reactors into the ocean.

They have nowhere else to put it. On site storage is limited.

[gratuitous]

8. Now, I'm no expert, and I don't have any specialized knowledge

But if they're really puzzled by the readings of increased radioactivity in the area, may I humbly suggest . . . :eyes:

[leveymg]

4. "the iodine degrades relatively quickly." Sure, relative to Cesium. Gotta love those half-truths

that stuck into news article like industry talking points to obscure and derail the reader's train of thought.

[Rex]

7. 'Officials said they did not know what cause the radiation level to rise.'

Bullshit! Said like a true corporate suit. :eyes: