Japanese scientists have found measurable concentrations of iodine-131 and cesium-137 radioactive seawater samples taken at about 30 kilometers from the coast, said Thursday the body of the UN nuclear watchdog. "The iodine concentrations are at or above regulatory limits Japanese and cesium levels are far below them," he said Thursday the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, for its acronym in English).
Japanese authorities have given the Vienna-based agency information from samples collected between 22 and 23 March, following the discovery of iodine and cesium in the water near the unused Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the agency said in a statement. "The Marine Environment Laboratory in Monaco, the IAEA has received the data for review," the group said.
In a desperate attempt to cool the reactors and their fuel in the tanks, workers have been sprayed or sea water thrown on the ground. Officials have acknowledged that part of that water is poured into the sea. Earlier this week, Japanese authorities tested in sea water outside the plant to measure radiation, but stressed that the high levels already detected were not of a greater problem.
The IAEA said that a ship of the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology had "collected water samples at various points to 30 miles offshore and found measurable concentrations of iodine-131 and cesium 137." The agency also said three workers at the plant had been exposed to "high levels" of radiation, giving details about an incident reported earlier Thursday in Japan.
"The three were working in the turbine building of the Unit 3 reactor and have received a radiation dose in the range of between 170 and 180 mSv," the agency said. The IAEA said two of them were taken to a hospital for treatment of "seriously polluted feet." "The workers had worked for about three hours in contact with contaminated water," he added.
The average dose per worker over five years at a nuclear plant is 50 mSv. The firm in charge of Fukushima said last week it had raised the threshold for emergency work to 100 mSv per hour. 
Japanese authorities have given the Vienna-based agency information from samples collected between 22 and 23 March, following the discovery of iodine and cesium in the water near the unused Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the agency said in a statement. "The Marine Environment Laboratory in Monaco, the IAEA has received the data for review," the group said.
In a desperate attempt to cool the reactors and their fuel in the tanks, workers have been sprayed or sea water thrown on the ground. Officials have acknowledged that part of that water is poured into the sea. Earlier this week, Japanese authorities tested in sea water outside the plant to measure radiation, but stressed that the high levels already detected were not of a greater problem.
The IAEA said that a ship of the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology had "collected water samples at various points to 30 miles offshore and found measurable concentrations of iodine-131 and cesium 137." The agency also said three workers at the plant had been exposed to "high levels" of radiation, giving details about an incident reported earlier Thursday in Japan.
"The three were working in the turbine building of the Unit 3 reactor and have received a radiation dose in the range of between 170 and 180 mSv," the agency said. The IAEA said two of them were taken to a hospital for treatment of "seriously polluted feet." "The workers had worked for about three hours in contact with contaminated water," he added.
The average dose per worker over five years at a nuclear plant is 50 mSv. The firm in charge of Fukushima said last week it had raised the threshold for emergency work to 100 mSv per hour.
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