The studies are receiving renewed attention in light of engineers in Japan currently trying to avert a full-scale meltdown of the country's Fukushima nuclear power plant.

The plant was damaged severely in and subsequent . Concerns about the safety of the plant have been escalating sharply over the past few days.

Those concerns were further heightened today after a third explosion rocked the facility causing radiation levels to increase to potentially dangerous levels.

The that it has sent several nuclear experts to Tokyo to provide assistance to officials there.

Among other tasks, the team's mission is to better understand the potential impact of radioactive leaks on people and on the environment, the NRC said in a statement Monday