The discovery of high radiation levels in the sea off Japan’s earthquake-stricken nuclear power plant has fuelled fears about the impact on the nation’s fishing industry.
Operator Tokyo Electric Power said unusual amounts of five kinds of radioactive material had been found in water samples near the Fukushima Daiichi plant. One of the substances, iodine-131, was found at nearly 127 times the permitted level.
Officials said there was no immediate threat to human health from the apparent contamination of the water by radiation leaking from the power station, which had its cooling systems knocked out by an earthquake and tsunami on March 11.