Japan's nuclear authority starts investigation of sea contamination off Fukushima

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) started an survey on the density of radioactive cesium of the sea off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture on Wednesday to check the impact of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster, local media reported. The survey will cover an area within 20 km off the coast and 50 km north and south of the Fukushima Daiichi plant with the aid of a ship that trails a radiation counter along the seafloor, Kyodo News reported. Past studies have focused on certain points around the radiation-leaking Fukushima plant, while this time the investigation aims to analyze the spread of contamination through a broader investigation, according to the NRA. A team involving the University of Tokyo and the National Maritime Research Institute is conducting the project. The team started a sonic survey and other activities to check the geological formation of the seafloor from early Wednesday and will start measuring the density of cesium between November and February. The final results will be compiled by next March, which could also be used to confirm the safety of marine products.