Uranium spill at Japan fuel plant, no injury
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(AP) - A small amount of liquid containing uranium splashed out of a container at a Japanese nuclear fuel plant near Tokyo, slightly exposing two people to radiation, the plant operator said Friday.
The amount of radiation in the spill was "extremely low" and there was no health threat to the workers, Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan Co. said. The company said the incident was also contained inside the plant in Yokosuka, about 30 miles southwest of Tokyo.
The accident occurred when the plant workers were changing oxygenated water containing uranium without closing a valve on a tank, causing bubbles to emerge and splash on to them, the company said in a statement.
Friday's accident was the second in recent weeks at the plant. Another worker was slightly exposed to radiation in July when a small quantity of uranium powder escaped from a machine. There was no injury or damage.
The company, a joint venture among General Electric Co., Toshiba Corp. and Hitachi Ltd., produces uranium pellets for Japanese nuclear power plants.