Finland detects small amount of radioactivity, says no health impact

OSLO, Aug 31 (Reuters) – Small amounts of radioactive isotopes have been detected in air samples taken from Kotka, southeast Finland, but there is no risk to humans and similar findings are “completely normal”, the country’s nuclear safety watchdog said. Wednesday.

“The observed radioactivity has no impact on the environment or human health, as the concentrations were very low,” the Radiological and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) said in a statement.

Finland, Sweden, Russia and the region as a whole have a number of nuclear reactors.

“Small amounts of zirconium and niobium can escape into the air, for example from nuclear power plant fuel during plant maintenance,” STUK said.

When the sample was collected, air currents were flowing towards Kotka from the east and southeast, but the source of the radiation was unknown, he added.

STUK has no plans to investigate further as such findings are “completely normal”, an agency spokesperson said.

Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Stine Jacobsen

Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.