Japan delayed release of radiation details

A Japanese government official has admitted information about the spread of radiation from Fukushima was provided to the United States more than a week before it was given to the Japanese public.

Testifying in front of Japan's nuclear investigation panel, the science ministry official revealed data about the spread of radiation was provided to the US military three days after the devastating earthquake and tsunami triggered the nuclear crisis.

That was nine days before the Japanese public was officially informed.

The official from the Science and Technology Policy Bureau says the government passed the information to the US military first in a bid to get its support in helping with the crisis.

But it is feared the delay in providing the public with the same data may have resulted in the unnecessary radiation exposure of thousands of Japanese citizens, who later evacuated from their homes around the plant.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-17/japan-delayed-release-of-radiation-info/37...