Japanese scientists have found measurable concentrations of radioactive iodine-131 and caesium-137 in seawater samples taken 30 km (18 miles) from land, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Thursday.
"The iodine concentrations were at or above Japanese regulatory limits, and the caesium levels were well below those limits," the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
Japanese authorities had given the Vienna-based agency data on samples collected on March 22-23, after detecting iodine and caesium in the water near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, it said in a statement.
"The IAEA's Marine Environmental Laboratory in Monaco has received the data for review," the IAEA said.
In a desperate attempt to cool the reactors and their spent fuel ponds, workers have sprayed or dumped seawater into the plant. Officials have acknowledged that some of the water spilled back to sea.
Japanese authorities tested seawater off the plant's site for radiation earlier this week but stressed that elevated levels already detected were no cause for concern.
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