Significance of Fukushima gas detection played down

A Japanese power company has suggested that worrying gas detection at the earthquake-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant is not indicative of another meltdown.

Bosses at Tepco have played down yesterday's (November 2nd) discovery of xenon gas, which is produced following sustained nuclear fission.

The team that discovered the leak found the substance in the Number Two reactor at the site and opted to neutralise the potential threat of a nuclear disaster by pouring water and boric acid into the reactor.

However, Tepco spokesperson Ai Tanaka was quick to rule out a major catastrophe.

"Analysis suggests that it was not a criticality," he commented.

The earthquake and resultant tsunami in March caused radiation to leak from the Japanese facility in what was described as the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

Last week, the UK became the first country that holds nuclear weapons to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to enter sites at Sellafield and Barrow to check that safety regulations are being closely followed.

Posted by Claire Manning