Reports from Japan say that concentrations of radioactive strontium 90 has been found in soil samples from 11 sites in Fukushima prefecture, home of the nuclear power plant crippled in the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.
The ABC quotes NHK news as saying the Ministry of Science has found strontium 90 in Fukushima City, abut 60 kms from the nuclear plant.
Strontium 90 is produced as the result of the fusion of uranium in fuel rods in nuclear reactors and has a half life of 29 years.
It is known to accumulate in bone and bone marrow, and can cause cancer and leukaemia.
