Trace amounts of radiation found in Ireland
RTE News
29 March 2011
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has confirmed that it has detected the presence of trace amounts of radioactivity from the Fukushima accident in Ireland, but they are of no public health concern.
The amount of radio-iodine identified is extremely low, is consistent with levels found in other European countries and has no public health implications.
The sample was collected on the RPII’s high volume air sampler which is located in Dublin and samples extremely large volumes of air.
The RPII’s national monitoring network is used to provide an early warning of elevated radioactivity levels and the high volume air sampling system is the most sensitive element of this network.
Dr Ann McGarry, Chief Executive of the RPII, said: ‘The levels which have been identified are extremely low, are not a matter for concern and do not require any special actions to be taken.’
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan says his government is in a ‘state of maximum alert’ over the crisis at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.
He told a parliamentary committee meeting that the situation ‘continues to be unpredictable’.
Radiation worries have disrupted efforts to restart the plant’s cooling system, following the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March.
Plutonium found in the soil at the nuclear complex has heightened alarm in the area, and pressure is mounting on the prime minister to widen an evacuation zone around the plant.
Mr Kan said he was seeking advice on such a step, which would force 130,000 people to move in addition to 70,000 already displaced. Read more…
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