Radiation normal in Russia's Far East

VLADIVOSTOK, March 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Radiation background was normal
in the Russian Far East on Friday, including South Kuril Islands which are
the closest to Japan.
The background ranged from 12 to 15 microroentgen per hour with the
permissible level of 30, according to monitoring data from 620 stations.
The radiation background was normal on Kunashir Island (11
microroentgen) and Iturup (10).
In the meantime the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on
Thursday measurable concentrations of radioactive iodine-131 and
caesium-137 were detected in seawater samples taken 30 kilometers from
crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
"The iodine concentrations were at or above Japanese regulatory
limits, and the caesium levels were well below those limits," the IAEA
said.
It also said three workers at the Fukushima plant had been exposed to
elevated levels of radiation.
Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power said on Friday water which the
three workers were exposed to contained radioactive materials 10,000 times
the normal level.
The workers were restoring power supplies to the No. 3 reactor and
worked in the basement of the reactor's turbine building. Two of the three
have been hospitalized due to possible burns caused by beta rays which can
cause major skin damage.
The IAEA said the three "received a radiation dose in the range of
170-180 millisieverts" and two were hospitalized for treatment for
"severely contaminated feet."
"The workers had been working for about three hours in contact with
contaminated water," the IAEA said.
The third reactor of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant
could be damaged, the Japanese nuclear safety agency suggested on Friday.
Its representative said such a possibility exists and should be
verified.