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LEAD: Hungarian lab identified as source of nuclear leak
Nov 17, 2011, 15:01 GMT
Vienna - A medical laboratory in Hungary was the most likely source of radioactive traces measured across Europe in recent weeks, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Thursday.
'The IAEA has received information from the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) that the source of the iodine-131 detected in Europe was most probably a release to the atmosphere from the Institute of Isotopes Ltd, Budapest,' the Vienna-based agency said. The facility makes radioisotopes for health care, research and industrial use.
The institute's director, Jozsef Kornyeihead, confirmed that iodine has been escaping in 'greater than anticipated quantities' from the chimney of the plant for months, even after filters were installed.
The release, which does not pose a health hazard, occurred from September 8 to November 16, according to the IAEA.
However, Kornyeihead doubted that his firm could have been the only source of the traces detected in the atmosphere over the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Sweden, France and Poland.
Hungary's IAEA envoy, Balazs Csuday, admitted that the problem could have been exacerbated by his country's complex system of nuclear oversight agencies.
'The communication problems we have faced in the present situation call our government's attention for an improvement and simplification of our regulatory system,' he said.
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