Japan scrap metal dealers adopts radiation safety standards

TOKYO (Scrap Monster): Scrap metal dealers in Japan and South Korea have adopted radiation safety standards in the wake of nuclear crisis prevailing in Japan.

Japanese electric arc furnaces that use ferrous scrap to make steel have radiation detection systems at their plant gates, there is no uniform safety radiation standard for the metal industry and the criteria ranges from 0.3-0.5 microsievert/hour.

Scrap from areas around the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant has been limited so far as the region moves to restore power, water, road and communication infrastructure, but could increase next month. 

Earlier few Chinese steelmakers suspended purchases from Japan for a while. Japan has also advised industries to have third-party organizations check radiation levels of products, Platts reported.