Low levels of radioactive iodine believed to be from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan have been detected in air samples in Glasgow, thousands of kilometres away from the accident site. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said the concentration of iodine found was "extremely low" and "not of concern for the public."
The Fukushima plant was crippled after being hit by a catastrophic tsunami in the aftermath of a severe earthquake on March 11. Radiation leaks were recorded following subsequent explosions and fires.
The BBC quoted SEPA as saying that it had been informed that an air sampler in Glasgow had recorded the presence of radioactive iodine. The agency said the value reported was consistent with reports from other European countries such as Iceland and Switzerland.
The organisation's radioactive substances manager, Dr James Gemmill, said, "The concentration of iodine detected is extremely low and is not of concern for the public or the environment." The fact that such a low concentration of this radionuclide was detected demonstrates how effective the surveillance programme for radioactive substances is in the UK.
"SEPA has an ongoing comprehensive monitoring programme for radioactivity in Scotland and has increased the level of scrutiny to provide ongoing public assurance during this period," he said.
So far Japanese scientists have failed to control the leaking six-reactor Fukushima Daiichi complex, with the International Atomic Energy Agency calling the situation still 'very serious'. Over 27,000 people are dead or reported missing after the March 11 tragedy.
