Detection of Fukushima radiation on the Canadian coast

Scientists first discovered radiation leaking from Japan's Fukushima plant along the North American coast.

Leaks from Japan's Fukushima plant

Radioactive isotopes Cesium-137 and Cesium-134 were discovered in specimens collected on February 19, off Ucluelet - a small town on Vancouver Island of Canada. According to Reuters, this level of radionuclide is very low, does not cause serious harm to people or marine life.

Experts at Fukushima nuclear plant.(Photo: AFP)

" Radiation can be dangerous, and we should carefully monitor the oceans and oceans after the Japanese release of radioactive contamination," Ken Buesseler, Woods Hole Oceanographic Specialist (WHOI). ), said.

Experts predict that radiation will spread to the west coast of the United States, from Washington to California. Predicting the extent of spread will be more complicated as they approach the coast.

Last November, US scientists discovered traces of radiation leaking from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster off the coast of California. During a study expedition from Alaska to California, they collected samples that contained a small amount of isotope cesium-134.

The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster seriously affected the Fukushima nuclear power plant, leading to the leakage of three nuclear reactors. Contaminated water, which is the amount of groundwater pumped into the factory every day to cool the reactors, is leaking into the ocean.Decontamination can last for decades.