Radiation: The Invisible Peril

Fukushima nuclear plant suspected to be leaking highly radioactive water into Pacific Ocean 11 Jul 2013 Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is suspected to be leaking highly radioactive water into the ground, contaminating the Pacific Ocean, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) said. NRA Chairman Shunichi Tanaka said that the recent studies carried out on groundwater samples at the plant have detected high levels of cesium, tritium and other radioactive contamination. The Japan Times reports that Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco) has claimed that a pit seeping radioactive water after the nuclear crisis erupted at the plant in April 2011 is the source of contamination.

Probe launched after contractor JDC dumped 340 tons of radioactive water into river for irrigation in Fukushima 12 Jul 2013 JDC Corp., a midsize general contractor, discharged 340 tons of radioactive water into the Iizaki River, which is tapped for irrigation in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, during government-sponsored decontamination work it was involved in, company sources said Thursday. Local government officials claimed they were never informed of the action. But JDC sources said the dumping occurred after it received assurances from the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, which contracted it to carry out the decontamination work, that the state body had informed the local governments about the discharge in advance and no problem [?!?] was anticipated.