Russian Plant Admits It Emits Nuclear Isotope Behind Leak

MOSCOW (AP) — A senior executive at the Russian nuclear processing plant suspected of being behind a spike of radioactivity over Europe this fall has admitted that it emits the isotope that was recorded in the Ural mountains.

Russian officials last month reported high levels of Ruthenium-106 in areas close to the Mayak plant but the plant insisted it could not have been the contamination source because it doesn't extract the isotope or conduct any operations that may lead to its release.

Yuri Mokrov, adviser to Mayak's director general, said in a webcast press conference the plant does routinely process Ruthenium-106. Mokrov insisted, however, the plant cannot be the source of any major leak, saying the emissions that the plant makes are so insignificant "we can only see it in the chimney."

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