Elevated levels of radiation are noted in the ashes from incineration plants
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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An increased level of radiation is noted in the ash from incineration plants located near the capital of Japan, reports AFP. Experts suggest that this is ash from the burning of garden debris collected after the tragedy.
Radioactive cesium was found at the Kashiwa MRZ in Chiba Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, and nearly 200 km from the Fukushima I plant, which, following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, caused significant leakage of radioactive substances .
A presumed source of "shining" ash is garden garbage. "It seems that some people cut tree branches and mow grass in their garden areas, fearing radioactive contamination, and this garbage got to incineration plants," Kiyoshi Nakamura, a representative of the local authorities, told reporters. Mr. Nakamura specifically stressed that all radioactive ash is carefully buried and does not pose a threat to human health.
However, another official, Masaki Orihara, warned that in 55 days the storehouse allocated for the ashes could overflow and then have to look for a new one.
Recall that the accident at the station "Fukushima I" occurred after a large earthquake and tsunami March 11, 2011. Following the failure of the nuclear power plant cooling system, fires broke out, the fuel rods completely melted, resulting in a significant amount of radioactive substances released into the atmosphere, water and soil. The level of danger at the Fukushima nuclear power plant was equated to the level of the Chernobyl accident in 1986. As of mid-May, the concentration of radioactive cesium-134 off the coast of the prefecture of Fukushima exceeded the permissible norm by 32 thousand times, and cesium-137 - by 22 thousand times.
Japanese experts expect to take the nuclear crisis under control by the end of this year. They are aimed at reducing the number of radiation leaks for 3 months and cooling the reactor for 9 months. Then, over the destroyed building of the nuclear power plant, they are going to build a protective cap. By the way, soon the construction of a new hood, I mean a sarcophagus, over the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, will begin.
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