HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

April 5, 2011. Tons of lightly irradiated water dumped in Pacific, high radiation levels detected in fish in Japan

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

Officials in Fukushima prefecture launched an emergency radiation level measurement campaign to ensure more than 1,400 schools and nurseries are safe for students in the aftermath of a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. The campaign took place as power plant officials continued to discharge water with low levels of contamination into the seat to free up room to store more highly radioactive water. Officials said the measure was necessary and that it would not harm public health, although an official from the plant operator appeared close to tears as he apologized for imposing "another burden." Officials also struggled to steam leaking water in a concrete pit at the No. 2 reactor. Seawater samples taken on April 2nd near the sluice gate for No. 2 reactor contained 7.5 million times the legal time for radioactive iodine, later falling to five million by April 4th. Japan reportedly contacted Russia to ask for a radiation treatment ship used to dispose of liquid nuclear waste from decommissioned submarines.

In related news, Farm Minister Michihiko Kano said on March 5th he would increase inspections of marine products because of the leaks, with a focus on an area south of the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Officials uncovered elevated levels of radioactive iodine (4,080 becquerels per kg) in young lance fish off the coast of Ibaraki prefecture, south of Fukushima. While there is no radioactive limit for fish in Japan, officials said they would apply the same limit as vegetables (2,000 becquerels per kg) to seafood.