It has been revealed that protective clothing used by the Self-Defense Forces, which was contaminated with radioactive materials as a result of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, was mistakenly transported outside the base by a private contractor last month and then shredded. The Ministry of Defense has stated that no health hazards have been confirmed for contractors and others, and that they are working to prevent a recurrence.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the items that were mistakenly shredded were the protective clothing, gloves, and masks worn by Self-Defense Forces personnel working in the area after the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident 13 years ago. A total of 51 points.
The items were stored in steel containers at the Air Self-Defense Force Hyakuri Base in Ibaraki Prefecture without a decision on how to dispose of them.
The container had been kept in a waste storage area on the base, but late last month, when a private company was commissioned to dispose of the waste, it was mistakenly taken outside the base, and the contents were crushed and disposed of, including scrap metal. It means that it was handed over to multiple other companies.
These companies measure radiation levels when accepting scrap metal, and there have been no reports of radiation levels exceeding the standards set by the companies, and no health hazards have been confirmed.
The Ministry of Defense said, ``We would like to deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused to surrounding residents.We will confirm the details and work to prevent it from happening again.''