Awwal 12, 1432, April 16, 2011, SPA -- Workers in the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant were attempting to reduce radioactive contamination in waters off the coastal power station, but the levels of highly radioactive water keep rising, the Jiji Press agency reported Saturday. Some 300 kilograms of zeolite, a mineral that authorities hope will absorb radioactivity from water being pumped the Fukushima reactors, were deposited into the Pacific Ocean, just outside a pipe leading out of reactor-One. More of the mineral is available for use over the weekend, DPA reported. Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co is assessing the potential of reducing radioactive contamination flowing into the sea. If effective, zeolite could be used inside damaged reactor buildings, which are flooded with highly radioactive water. Several reactor buildings of the Fukushima plant were damaged in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, leading to leakage of radiation. The level of highly radioactive water at reactor 2 had risen by 1.5 centimeters overnight to 88.5 centimeters, Jiji reported. Groundwater may have seeped in, adding to the water used for cooling the reactor, the company said.
