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Traces of radioactivity detected in Swiss air

Radioactive traces from the damaged Japanese nuclear plant at Fukushima have been detected in the air above Switzerland but they pose no threat, Swiss authorities say.

The Federal Health Office said the traces, found at 6,000 metres above sea level, were “extremely minor”.

A spokesman said that the levels were 20,000 times less than permitted limits. He added that measurements taken at ground level had been normal.

According to weather forecasters, radioactive particles take about a week to arrive in Europe from Japan.

As a result of the Fukishima accident, which followed the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Switzerland decided to transfer its embassy provisionally from Tokyo to Osaka.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR