Nuclear waste: the radioactive material left over from numerous medical, industrial and military applications can persist for millions of years before its atomic structure decays into a more stable element. Although the long-term storage of toxic byproducts can mostly keep them out of harm’s way for hundreds of thousands ofread more
Last January, France’s Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) detection stations began detecting the presence of radioactive iodine-131 in the air across Europe. While the concentrations of the radioactive substance are still well within accepted safety limits, its source remains a mystery, despite numerous investigations having been conducted into the event over the past month.
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The U.S. and Iraqi authorities have serious concerns that terrorists may be gaining access to nuclear and radioactive materials to use in some form of major terror attack.
A State Department official has revealed that the hard-line terror group, The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (known as ISIS or ISIL), has now taken control of around half of the country, potentially allowing it access to forms of low-level radioactive and radiological materials.
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It has come to light that readings taken at the Fukushima atomic power plant last year were incorrect, indicating figures that "significantly undercounted" radiation levels.
The news has undermined confidence in the information released by the company so far, and many are asking if the world is being given the facts regarding the fallout from Fukushima.
A statement released by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), owners of the nuclear facility which was destroyed by a tsunami following a massive earthquake in 2011, explained that the readings of beta radiation taken between April to September 2013 were flawed, and 164 water samples will now need to be re-tested.
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