Radiation leak thwarts bid to regain control of reactors

Conditions at Japan's Fukushima plant worsened during Wed 16th March after radiation levels spiked during the morning, forcing the workforce of around 70 technicians to briefly suspend operations. Workers only returned after the government more than doubled the safety limit determining the maximum legal dose of radiation for workers. A police water cannon has been marshalled to spray the reactors after helicopters were thrwarted by strong winds and high radiation levels, posing a threat to pilots. Attention is increasingly focusing on the threat posed by spent fuel rods, with signs of problems in storage pools at four of the units. Unlike the reactors, the pools are not contained, and if exposed to the air their zirconium alloy coating could react and release radiation.