Five workers at a Japanese nuclear facility that handles plutonium have been exposed to high levels of radiation after a bag containing highly radioactive material apparently broke during an equipment inspection, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday. The incident occurred Tuesday at its Oarai Research & Development Center, a facility for nuclear fuel study that uses highly toxic plutonium. It raised nuclear security concerns as well as questions about whether the workers were adequately protected. Agency spokesman Masataka Tanimoto said one of the men had high levels of plutonium exposure in his lungs. But the restarting of halted nuclear plants has proceeded slowly amid persistent anti-nuclear sentiment since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami.

Source: ABC News June 07, 2017 04:52 UTC