Nuclear Meltdown

Austria detects radiation from Japan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-26 22:44

VIENNA - Very low concentrations of radioactive particles believed to have come from Japan's Fukushima Nuclear power plant damaged in a devastating earthquake were detected for the first time in the Austrian capital city Vienna, but posed no threat to public health, the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) said on Friday.

"A health hazard to the people and environment in Austria is excluded," said a spokesman for the agency, adding that the measured values were far below the intensity of natural radiation.

At the radiation monitoring station in Vienna, extremely low concentrations of iodine-131 and cesium-137 were detected on Thursday for the first time, according to AGES.  

The AGES has 11 air monitoring stations across Austria, which continuously collect aerosol samples and analyze the level of contained radiating substances in assorted laboratories.