A radiation leak was detected on the eastern wall of the Analysis Building of the Tokai Reprocessing Plant at 13:20 pm on Monday 21 June. Tokai Reprocessing Plant is owned and operated by the Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC) and is located in Tokai Village, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Alpha radiation in excess of 555 becquerel/cm2 was detected. This is an extremely high reading given that the maximum level for which people are permitted to enter this facility is 4 becquerel/cm2.
According to JNC, the reading on the exhaust monitor was normal and no workers were exposed. However, JNC has declared the area out of bounds and is now investigating the cause of the leak.
Given the raised level of alpha radiation, it is possible that liquid containing plutonium has leaked out.
The Tokai Reprocessing Plant commenced operation in 1981 and has been plagued with problems since then. A second reprocessing plant (in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture) is currently undergoing a series of tests and is due to commence operation in July 1996.
Masako Sawai
(translated by Philip White)
