Japanese contamination fears rise over reactor water cooling

Nuclear regulators are becoming increasingly concerned about the levels of contamination in water used to cool Japan's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.


Sea water is currently being used to cool the reactor at the stricken plant and this month the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) began sampling of seawater near the site.

NISA said today (April 18) that by using robots it has found ‘high levels’ of radiation inside and around two reactor buildings

According to a spokesman for NISA radiation was recorded as high as 57 millisieverts inside the housing for reactor three and near to 50 millisieverts inside reactor one.

Tepco, the energy firm responsible for the plant, has also said it plans to establish the Fukushima Nuclear Compensation Office on April 28 as a ‘dedicated contact point’ for people and business.

Luke Walsh

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