Rice from 5 Fukushima farms shows high radiation levels

zichi Nov. 26, 2011 - 12:39PM JST

According to NHK, authorities said that in one case, one kilogram of rice measured 1,270 becquerels, which is way over the government-set safety limit of 500 becquerels.*

Cesium is always present from atomic power radiation has cesium-133 and cesium-137, so that means the level of radiation could be 2 times 1,270 becquerels.

A becquerel is one atom splitting and releasing radiation, which is then detected. It's just a count of radiation released, so it's likely to be the total of both cesium isotopes, unless J-Gov is presenting the results in an odd way. BTW, I think you mean cesium 134 - cesium 133 is the stable non-radioactive element.

first time i've seen all comments having a thumbs up....dont want to displease any folk...and just agree with everyone above..

Rice from 5 Fukushima farms shows high radiation levels

really? gee, I wonder why...

Since March ,the trend has been for the radioactivity to spread further and further away from the plant. The policy of the Japanese government is that radioactivity can be 'diluted' Containment is not applicable to low level waste which can be burned and the emissions can be spread into major conurbations.

Instead of the policy of safely transporting people away from dangerous areas the policy is to return them to the dangerous areas after 6 months.

Now is the time that we should be able to see the effect of this on newborns in Japan.

Already I have seen some reports of this but this is a comment for another thread.........

I noticed at Zichi's second link above that the newscaster mentioned the detection of spontaneous fission. Would such self-sustaining high temperatures, a la "The China Syndrome," allow radioactive material to eventually (if it hasn't already) penetrate the water table, further complicating decontamination efforts? For example: water table-> trees-> pollen-> more distant rice paddies and fruit orchards, et al... Not to mention wells; or wherever the water table might venture as far as, or emerge above ground. Or would the radioactive levels be deemed "safe" because of dilution? Yet the radiation level in the water table would become increasingly concentrated...

"China syndrome" Theoretical consequence of a core meltdown, when the heavy molten mass of highly radioactive material actually goes straight through the vessel in which it had been contained and down to the earth's core. In other words, China syndrome occurs when an out-of-control reactor burns its way downwards towards the earth's core. From the USA, it would appear to be heading for China.

I think rice is not the only thing that is contaminated in Fukushima. Im pretty sure that almost all of the food and dairy in Fukushima is also contaminated too. The drinking water in Fukushima is probably also contaminated also. Its just in due time before the government of Japan will admit to it.

Wow....and all the way since the March 11 earthquake, TEPCO and the Japanese government declaring Radiation from the doomed Nuke Plant is within the safe limit. I guess it's time for Fukushima Gov. Sato to shipped all the rice to all the TEPCO management staffs , stiock holders and the government. Let them eat it.

I guess the actual cost of a nuclear power plant is a tad bit higher than previously reported. Especially for farmers who live in the area and can no longer sell their produce.

Also, in the Hokuriku area (home of about 50% of Japan's nuclear arsenal), a mayor was asked what is the city's plan if the nearby nuclear power plant melted down like Fukushima's did and his measured response was, "I don't know."

I suspect rice from this area will show up next to the whale meat in school lunches across this great safety island country of ours. Possibly during the unique four seasons we enjoy.

In other news: extensive research reveals that the Pope is Catholic.

Everything within 50k of that plants either needs to be tested or the farming stopped. God knows where this food is ending up - I am willing to guess at restaurants. They don't have to advertise where their products are from and people won't think twice about it. Sick and disgusting.

why in hells name did the govt allow plnting after 3/11, criminal beyond belief, and since there isnt any REAL testing taking place & no mesures to keep contaminted good in Fukushima this radiated crap is now being sold & eaten all over the country, out of control!

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

They will continue to find heavily contaminated produce to the extent they look for it. That's why they are not looking very closely. They will only investigate when these cases leak through their conspiracy of silence. People were noting that 8% of Japan was contaminated by caesium. Look at the Asahi shinbun this morning. Every prefecture from Hokkaido to Okinawa has been contaminated.

The only surprise here is that the government and media is actually reporting it.

fretting over the safety of domestic produce, despite its previous solid reputation.

Do they mean solid as in heavy-metals solid? Let's be honest here - Japanese foods are only now starting to be tested - a tiny fraction. By comparison before, almost nothing was. What has been in the produce all these years, pray tell ?

despite its previous solid reputation

Of course. Impeccable reputation, just like Snow Brand, Meat Hope, Fuji-ya, Akafuku...

I don't understand why the posters above are confused about why farmers are still allowed to cultivate in obviously contaminated areas. The Farmers Union has had J-pols in their pockets for decades. Now it's time to start calling in a few favours. The safety of the general population, we've seen since March, is entirely immaterial. Like they say in Texas, you dance with the one that brung you.

This place is a feudal kharzi.

The findings will further worry nervous consumers, already fretting over the safety of domestic produce, despite its previous solid reputation.

Oh really? I didn't need to get my geiger counters out at the end of March to realise this..they only just figured it out? WOW.

With Tokyo's and the Tama regions acceptance of debris from Miyagi --for starters--, it won't only be rice that starts to show high levels of contamination. Once the system starts processing the contaminated aftermath....

http://www.kankyo.metro.tokyo.jp/en/attachement/waste_management.pdf

Coming to a bento near you...

No surprise here. The only thing really baffling is that they are still allowed to farm there, and that in all likelihood a lot of rice from the area has already made it to market (labelled simply as 'made in Japan' but not specified where).

Minello7, you may want to read up on the Chernobyl disaster and discover what happened there and why it covered such a large area of Europe.

That's not so bad. Just a minor setback. Now, all they need to do is... raise the safety limits! TA-DAA! Making food "safe" to eat couldn't be easier!

Have the government not been in touch with their European counterparts to get facts and figures from the Chenobyl disaster. That covered Europe not just the 20 kilometres round the Fukishima plant. There are still restrictions on farms all over Europe 25 year later.

57km that's 37km outside the exclusion zone? It had been tested? Then re-tested after one farmer had independent tests conducted.( as I understand it) Now the scale of the problem is a little clearer. I shudder to think what else could use a "re-test".

What the f did they expect!! Cant believe they still allow farming there. Why dont they do what they usually do with chicken, pigs, or cows when discovered to have a disease?? Useless governments!! They are no better than those horrible govt in other parts of the world!!