Plutonium has been found?in the soil at five places?at the?Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station,?Tokyo Electric Power Co.(TEPCO) said?on Monday.?

TEPCO said that plutonium 238, 239 and 240 were detected at the nuclear plant but the density was "equivalent to the density in the soil under normal environmental conditions and therefore poses no major impact on human health."

According to Kyodo News Agency, the plutonium detection suggests "certain damage to fuel rods".

Plutonium, a key ingredient in nuclear weapons, is present in the fuel at the complex, which has been leaking radiation for over two weeks.

TEPCO said that it will continue the radionuclide analysis contained in the soil and strengthen environment monitoring inside the station and surrounding areas.