The Environmental Health Directorate said today that it is continuing to closely monitor the presence over Malta of radiation follwing the nuclear incident in Japan.

"It can be confirmed that in the past weeks the Public Health Laboratory within the Environmental Health Directorate carried out radiation monitoring in air in some localities. It can now be confirmed that low levels of Iodine and Caesium radionuclides has been detected and are indicative of radiation contamination. However, whilst the public is being assured of this continual monitoring, it should be noted that the levels are of the same magnitude reported by other member states and are not harmful," the directorate said.

"In fact, levels found for caesium 137 are below the reporting level of 30000micro Bq/m3 given in 2000/473/euroatom. Gamma dose rate measurements have not detected any relevant increase, average value 0.1micro sievert/ hour."

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