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TEPCO reveals new contaminated water leak at Fukushima plant

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Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said Sunday that at least 45 tons of radioactive water have leaked from a desalination facility at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and some of it may have reached the Pacific Ocean.

TEPCO said the trouble came in two stages, Fuji TV reported. In the morning, utility workers found that radioactive water was flooding a catchment next to a purification device. Officials said the device was then switched off, and the leak appeared to stop. But the company said it later discovered that leaked water was escaping through a crack in the catchment’s concrete wall and was reaching an external drainage ditch, Fuji reported.

Experts say that before the latest leak, the Fukushima accident had been responsible for the largest single release of radioactivity into the ocean, threatening wildlife and fisheries in the region. As much as 220 tons of water may now have leaked from the facility, according to a report in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper that cited TEPCO officials.

The water is believed to have contained up to one million times as much radioactive strontium as the maximum safe level set by the government, and about 300 times the safe level of radioactive cesium. Both are readily absorbed by living tissue and can greatly increase the risk of developing cancer.

TEPCO said it was exploring ways to stop the water from leaking through the crack and attempting to confirm whether contaminated water had reached the ocean, Fuji reported.

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Pawatan, I think you just want to argue. Feel free. You are essentially agreeing with me (testing not being done, don't trust the food) and then arguing about topics we aren't talking about (TPP for example, friends' salaries)...

Everyone is NOT avoiding food from the area - many are lapping it up because they've been told it is "supporting Fukushima". If no one was eating it, it still wouldn't be sold. If not one was eating it, we wouldn't need to worry about testing it, would we? If would be a huge waste of money to test food that people aren't eating. Thing is, people ARE eating it.

Who? Nobody I know. Ignorance is bliss. You're friends with everyone in the country?

Almost nobody, I would imagine. I imagine most of it is rotting. Unless you have proof that this is being bought in any quantity? Do you have proof that most of it is rotting? Plenty of peaches were bought. Why don't you do a search on the internet. Tonnes of food from the area is being produced and sold - like rice which they have just figured out is not safe, after they shipped some and some had been sold. Much like the beef, much like the fish (that currently we are told is "safe").

People are buying and consuming this stuff. You think the people living in Fukushima aren't eating this stuff? Unreal.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That could very well explain it then. You are dealing with "educated" people who have the money and a vested interest.

This makes no sense. What "Money" are you talking about? Most of my government friends make about what Nova pays. What vested interest? We all have a vested interest.

Funny how your government friends work for a government who is still allowing produce from the area

They don't work in anything remotely related to this. Do you point fingers at the guy pumping gas for the Deepwater Horizon spill?

Do you actually believe that a) things are being tested like they should be and b) actually believe the government when they claim things are safe?

No, but there's not a good way to test everything in the country. The scale is too big. How could Meiji, for example, be expected to know they may have radiation problems when they don't use components from affected areas nor do they manufacture there? There's going to be contaminated food issues, I just hope they are caught and dealt with swiftly and openly.

The government is made of people, as you mentioned previously, and I do believe people are trying to do a good job. So no, I don't believe the government but I don't believe there is a grand conspiracy to deceive. Non-TEPCO related, of course.

I don't trust the government with regards to food safety. You would have to be crazy to.

Interesting that people are so pro-TPP. If you don't trust the Japanese government, you DO trust the Malaysian government, the Vietnamese government? Food safety and security is so important.

Why do you think so many of us here are avoiding food from the area? Have you seen the light?

EVERYBODY is avoiding food from the area. That was my entire point. What light are you talking to?

So in the end, it seems you agree with me - except for the number of people who are blindly buying food from the area. There are many.

Who? Nobody I know.

Who do you think bought the peaches, the fish, the apples, the rice....

Almost nobody, I would imagine. I imagine most of it is rotting. Unless you have proof that this is being bought in any quantity?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

In fact most of my circle is government employees, and THEY said "I'm not eating that".

That could very well explain it then. You are dealing with "educated" people who have the money and a vested interest. Others, however, are watching government and TEPCO employees claim things are safe - and are eating foods and drinking water from the area. Funny how your government friends work for a government who is still allowing produce from the area - and now, baby formula is not even safe...

If it's from a safer area and it's been tested to not be radioactive, what's the deal? Do you think supporting something tested and safe from, say, Iwaki or Aizu is a bad thing, but something from Yamagata is a good thing? If so, that's very odd. Do you actually believe that a) things are being tested like they should be and b) actually believe the government when they claim things are safe? I don't touch (or try not to because let's be honest, labeling in this country is pathetic) anything from the area - even things from Saitama are out when I do the shopping. Been trying to buy local as much as possible. I don't trust the government with regards to food safety. You would have to be crazy to. Sadly though, many locals think their government is looking out for them - when we know that hasn't been the case - contaminated beef in Gifu school lunches for example.

But of course the food is highly, highly unlikely to be very safe, and there isn't a reliable testing regime in place, so it's best avoided. Why do you think so many of us here are avoiding food from the area? Have you seen the light?

So in the end, it seems you agree with me - except for the number of people who are blindly buying food from the area. There are many. Who do you think bought the peaches, the fish, the apples, the rice....

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Perhaps you should be speaking to more people then.

I speak to plenty. In fact most of my circle is government employees, and THEY said "I'm not eating that".

I have indeed had students tell me we should support Fukushima by buying their produce, using their fireworks, using their wood.

Now wait a minute. Are you confusing the issue here? I'm talking about FOOD. No fool wants to eat the food from Fukushima. But wood? Fireworks? "Made in Fukushima" is not the same as a "Mr Yuk" sticker. If it's from a safer area and it's been tested to not be radioactive, what's the deal? Do you think supporting something tested and safe from, say, Iwaki or Aizu is a bad thing, but something from Yamagata is a good thing? If so, that's very odd.

There have been campaigned all across the country and people are buying into it - I was give Fukushima products myself (with a huge "support Fukushima" sticker) this past summer.

Well of course people should support Fukushima if it is a confirmed safe product! Why would you think otherwise? But of course the food is highly, highly unlikely to be very safe, and there isn't a reliable testing regime in place, so it's best avoided.

Until more people are vocal, we'll all just have to question if our food is safe or not.

You should NEVER stop questioning if your food is safe or not, radiation or no radiation. Look at the E Coli deaths recently, or the Listeria outbreak in the US.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I don't think so. As I said I have not heard even a single time anyone I know say "Oh, I gotta eat that Fukushima food to support the farmers" but I have heard many, many, many times "No way am I eating that". I somehow doubt your students tell you they must eat food from Fukushima.

Perhaps you should be speaking to more people then. I have indeed had students tell me we should support Fukushima by buying their produce, using their fireworks, using their wood... Heck, I had some write papers about it. I wonder if you actually speak to locals if you think none of them are buying into the brainwashing. You do know there are families with kids living in the area, right? There have been campaigned all across the country and people are buying into it - I was give Fukushima products myself (with a huge "support Fukushima" sticker) this past summer. A quick search would show you that this IS happening.

I myself spoke to the produce manager at my local store because I was sick and tired of Fukushima produce (and Tohoku produce) only. I get off my butt and make my voice heard - do your friends? If more people did, perhaps some of the issues would be done away with. Until more people are vocal, we'll all just have to question if our food is safe or not.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Pawatan. I've heard this too. That we should support Fukushima by continuing to buy food. Quite a few times actually. I cannot understand the thought processes involved there particularly when you are talking about children, the future generation of Japan.However, I also have friends who feel the same as I do about this whole situation and wouldn't touch certain produce with a bargepole!

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Who do you think is allowing this stuff to happen? Why do you think top soil and garbage is being shifted around the country? Where do you think the "support Fukushima" crap is from?

Hmm.

The government.

Yup. Only time I have seen anyone purposefully buying Fukushima produce was when I personally saw the head of METI do it in May. I most certainly did not see him eat it.

The people.

I don't think so. As I said I have not heard even a single time anyone I know say "Oh, I gotta eat that Fukushima food to support the farmers" but I have heard many, many, many times "No way am I eating that". I somehow doubt your students tell you they must eat food from Fukushima.

You're either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Wow.

Have yours 'friends" spoken out about it? Have then told store managers they are disgusted with Fukushima food being sold in their stores?

Have YOU? Or do you just post on JT?

If they haven't done anything to stop the issue, they are passively letting it happen.

Right.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Pawatan, it isn't just "friends" - it is my students and society on a whole. Who do you think is allowing this stuff to happen? Why do you think top soil and garbage is being shifted around the country? Where do you think the "support Fukushima" crap is from? The people. The government. No one is making this up. You know yourself this is happening. You're either part of the problem or part of the solution. Have yours 'friends" spoken out about it? Have then told store managers they are disgusted with Fukushima food being sold in their stores? If they haven't done anything to stop the issue, they are passively letting it happen.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Heaven forbid you actually discuss this with a local and well, you'll get called anti-Japan and other pathetic comments will flow from their mouths for the most part.

tmarie, I honestly wonder who some of you are hanging around. Is it the black truck crowd? Everyone, and I mean everyone I know - man, woman, child - is disgusted, nervous, doesn't want to eat the food from anywhere near Fukushima. I showed a couple of friends the "cheap Fukushima produce" section at my local super and they are amazed and disgusted. These are typical Japanese men and women.

I have never heard anyone say "you should be patriotic and eat Fukushima food". It's always been "I am not feeding that to my child".

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It's not shoganai anymore.

Disagree. Until those kids are moved out of the area, the food is not being sold in ANY shops, the fisherman are told to put away their boats, the top soil is not shifted around the country, the garbage from the area in not burned in otherr areas, TEPCO continues to exists and TEPCO and politicians continue to lie, it IS "shoganai" and people are putting their heads in the sand and refusing to look at the issues. That attitude is what is doing Japan in.

Heaven forbid you actually discuss this with a local and well, you'll get called anti-Japan and other pathetic comments will flow from their mouths for the most part. Thank god there are some decent and well informed people who are just as disgusted as the rest of us but sadly they are a minority. If they were a majority we wouldn't be putting up with the crap I wrote above.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

My gosh, what is Japan coming to? I mean a preventable disaster brought on by decades of corporate greed and lax oversight, which has poisoned a large part of the Tohoku area as well as the Pacific Ocean, has actually got "people saying strong words". Are they different from the millions simply mumbling "shoganai" all the time?

Do you expect riots or something? Strong words lead to action. I know you are one of those that think everything should happen instantly but the real world doesn't work that way. I wonder anymore if you ever actually lived here.

Because as soon as the prosectutors would go after the officials at TEPCO, they would break out years of letters, memos and emails from bureaucrats and politicians praising TEPCO for the wonderful job they were doing, as well as all the records regarding the millions of yen they gave to various campaigns.

Hey, hindsight is always 20/20. All but the most pigheaded know they were in error to let the oversight slip for so long, and everybody in Japan knows this. The strong words you like to pooh pooh are being directed at these same politicians. You probably wouldn't know much about this since you fled and now just complain about Japan all day. real people are really doing things. It's not shoganai anymore.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

and heard people saying strong words.

pawatan -- no, really, actually strong words? My gosh, what is Japan coming to? I mean a preventable disaster brought on by decades of corporate greed and lax oversight, which has poisoned a large part of the Tohoku area as well as the Pacific Ocean, has actually got "people saying strong words". Are they different from the millions simply mumbling "shoganai" all the time?

Justice will come

Not in any significant way or in any reasonable timeframe. Because as soon as the prosectutors would go after the officials at TEPCO, they would break out years of letters, memos and emails from bureaucrats and politicians praising TEPCO for the wonderful job they were doing, as well as all the records regarding the millions of yen they gave to various campaigns. And that would bring Japan Inc. to its knees as the 3-headed monster that is ruining Japan -- corporations, bureaucrats, politicians -- would be be exposed once and for all for all to see.

.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

You are right, but in the wrong way. "JUST-us" will come. When most of us are dead and gone and the descendants of TEPCO are still running things the way their grandfathers did.

Don't you want to get personal and see what's going on in their eyes when they are arrested?

I like up close and personal over range from a safe distance. Why wait for Karma? Can you imagine the joy of seeing the people pull TEPCO execs out of their 200k AMG's and put them in the back of a Black and Whites?

Justice will never be served. Don't hold your breath. This city needs to be turned upside down till those responsible are locked away.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

WE aren't making any noise, WE aren't rocking the boat. WE are still here posting when WE should be knocking on TEPCO's door with the rest of the nation and the world behind us to serve justice to those who destroyed the world we live in.

NetNinja, I am not sure what part of Japan you live in and with whom you talk about these things but in my experience people ARE angry, and there are protests, noise is being made. Things don't move in the same pace as you are used to in the US but I see more action on this than I have seen on anything in Japan. I've seen lots of protest signs and banners and heard people saying strong words.

Justice will come.

4 ( +3 / -0 )

Deep Pockets people. What's happening is in preparation for the countless lawsuits. They will fabricate and cook every book in order to hold back all the lawyers ready to represent the people of Japan.

You must know this. The only thing TEPCO is interested in is MONEY and they'll do everything they can to RESTART the reactor, make it profitable again and maintain control of all power for the next 100 years. So that generation after generation of their families maintain it's control on Japan.

You keep asking the wrong question. Your question is why hasn't someone been arrested and fined? Here's your answer: "No one's been arrested BECAUSE we the people, residents of Japan, have not gone down to TEPCOs office and requested their arrest. WE, not the police, WE, citizens and residents alike need to put some smoke in the city so to speak.

WE aren't making any noise, WE aren't rocking the boat. WE are still here posting when WE should be knocking on TEPCO's door with the rest of the nation and the world behind us to serve justice to those who destroyed the world we live in.

If we don't do anything about it, WE only have ourselves to blame. That's how I feel about this, I hope you respect my opinion.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

220 tons!! It's probably more. I mean, who is holding anyone to account?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@7777777

100% agree with your post.I have experienced and observed the same thing.The notion that japanese are polite,is a myth.At best, are no better and no worse than people from other nations.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

1 million radioactive thingamajiggys, that's a drop in the water! .....literally MUHAHAHAhaha

I think the radiation has gone to my head.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@7777777:

When mad cow disease was the scare, I was in a grocery store and a Japanese man picked up some beef. His wife asked where it was from, he read the label "America" and right in front of me she tossed it with a disgusted face and said " We wont buy any of that stuff". He made no argument and the got some Japanese beef and left. Im an American and felt very embarrassed by this. Im not going to buy Fukushima food but I wouldnt do that in front of someone I thought could be from Fukushima

They might've purchased Meat Hope products from Hokkaido. Of course it was good for them and labeled properly.

Whatever TEPCO says, the reality is much worse.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

escape_artist

commented to others nearby that one would have to be slightly crazy to buy such food and was met by stares of amazement and subtle scorn. Not sure if it was because I simply spoke out or that those who heard me truly believe eating possibly contaminated salmon is A-OK. Lots of denial around here

You made a zillion assumptions there. People were actually paying attention to you, cared what you think, got offended, are in denial. You know this all because of a look someone gave you? It's called projection, mate.

3 ( +4 / -2 )

I try to be as discreet as possible shopping! As others have stated there is no need to behave badly, just put it quietly back on the shelf.

One of my Japanese friends told me today that we should all be supporting Fukushima by buying more of the produce from that region. I just smiled and nodded. There is really no point in protesting or trying to put forward another viewpoint with some people. A group of school mums pass out information on local shops that are selling 'safety' food. There are people out there just as concerned as we are about what the children consume.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Tokyo, I've also had the same issue - and the same response by the clerks. I have also complained about being given the option of food from the area or none at all. I have no doubts that I am eating contaminated food even though I am trying my hardest not to. I don't trust the labels.

7777, I had a long reply to your post - which basically said I 100% agree with you. It was removed.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Yes, how can anyone still be eating fish?Watch out for Kamaboko in the New Year - Gawd knows where that will have come from. The shock and surprise that rice from the area is contaminated is proof of the level of head burying going on here. In my supermarket today I was checking the origin of some of the vegetables and turning my nose up at some when I realized that there was actually so little I could 'safely' buy. One big pile of cucumbers in bags had on the list of origins, Chiba, Saitama and Fukushima. i asked the guy which was which and he said they were all mixed up, so I asked him to separate the produce faithfully so we have some knowledge of where the stuff comes from as I want cucumbers but not from Fukushima. He apologized for the confusion and promised to relabel the produce. He missed the point entirely - thought that I'd buy them if he changed the label. I couldn't believe it.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Very good. Now TEPCO and media reporters are talking some truth .....at last . BANZAI.....hehehehe !!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

But, the question remains, is this a new leak from one of the recent quakes or is it just a newly detected leak that has been pumping radioactive water into the ocean and the ground water for 8 months?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"As Smith correctly points out, Japanese act the way they do simply because they dont like criticism. I have to watch speaking out while watching the news while the wife is around as she sometimes flies off the handle when I fire some criticism, & thats even when she AGREES WITH ME!"

But the odd twist to this is I think this only applies to criticizing their own. When mad cow disease was the scare, I was in a grocery store and a Japanese man picked up some beef. His wife asked where it was from, he read the label "America" and right in front of me she tossed it with a disgusted face and said " We wont buy any of that stuff". He made no argument and the got some Japanese beef and left. Im an American and felt very embarrassed by this. Im not going to buy Fukushima food but I wouldnt do that in front of someone I thought could be from Fukushima.

Another incident is the recent article about Japanese protesting Korean dramas. They don`t protest their own bad dramas but will openly and unashamedly show disgust at Korean dramas.

I have had some very rude Japanese say and do things to me and my friends that they would never have the audacity to say or do to one another.

I am not saying this to bash Japan because my spouse and children are Japanese so a part of me is Japanese as well, but I do think culturally it is okay to critize others where the Japanese would more careful among themselves.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Supplies!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

And we don't even get a time frame for when this occurred! So helpful! NOT!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

In short; they killing us all.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@escape_artist -yes,this is a phenomenon that is extremely evident here-denial!

In society here logicality is not the same as other places...

It works both ways though - I get to see gfs I busted up with and pretend (mutually) that nothing ever happened :-)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Happy to see I am not the only one who gets the 'smack down" for stating the obvious! I brought this up over the weekend with some "friends" and was promptly told I was anti-Japanese. Amazing. They are killing themselves and taking others with them but turn a blind eye and tow the line. Pathetic.

Is it possible for this situation to get worse? An honest questions because I honestly can't see how on earth it could get worse.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

gogogo: "Why hasn't anyone been fined or jailed yet?"

Japanese corporate governance and the lack of enforcement of laws by the J-government, who in this case not only has a lot of MONEY invested or received from such companies, but shares a lot of the blame.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@ gogogo 45 tones is a small amount compared to the entire ocean in Tepco's eyes...

Why hasn't anyone been fined or jailed yet?

I completely agree

0 ( +1 / -1 )

TEPCO Gambatte ne !!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

45 tones is a small amount compared to the entire ocean in Tepco's eyes...

Why hasn't anyone been fined or jailed yet?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Upton Sinclair comes to mind at times like this (which seem to be many recently!), be it Fukushima or TMI... with a little added wording...

"It is difficult to get a man to understand [or be truthful about] something when his salary depends on his not understanding [or being truthful about] it."

i.e. if the money is to keep flowing, the charade must go on.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

When 3 Mile Island was doing its thing, they lied to all of us in the tri-state area. I see not difference here. They would never have been able to evacuate the whole NY area up to Boston, and down through Philly.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@ GW and Escape_artist. Totally agree. The silence that descends if I make any kind of negative comment while watching Fukushima news is truly crushing. I've even seen hubby shaking his head with disgust but he still doesn't like me saying anything that doesn't portray Japan in rosy light! Then I'll get the 'Well...in such a such country' speech!

I am worried the food situation might be getting worse. I keep praying that the plant is brought under control but it doesn't look like it's going to be anytime soon. @ Zichi and Charles M Burns. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face!

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Elbuda: I bet you'd be surprised if you discovered TEPCO hired CEOs that knew how to do their jobs. :)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Badmigraine I hope you are wrong it's been 9months of calamity unfolding and my work mates seem not to care, apathetic about the situation themselves and the country they love. Topped of with denial it is no wonder there is no "general" outrage. Shuffling the deck chairs...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Time for the government to once again revise the safe radiation limits for food!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Maybe just pure pessimism, but I feel that other governments are not taking a strict stance because they also have a heavy stake in the nuclear industry, and are themselves playing the same kinds of games at home to protect the image that nuclear power is safe, reliable and cheap.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Nothing surprises me anymore!!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

As much as 220 t, that's a leak?

Think it might be time for other Governments to ramp up the pressure on Japan. Way too much denial at a time of disaster. Makes you wonder what happened today that we will find out about in 6 months.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@GW... totally agree, and I have the same problem at home whenever I mention anything Fukushima/Tepco-related now. It's frustrating to say the least, especially when she says she can get all her news from TV, namely NHK. :-|

I guess I muttered something because it just was so surprising and irresponsible that they'd be so blatantly advertising a big shipment of Fukushima salmon right at the front of the store. The savings actually didn't seem so great to me, either, maybe a couple hundred yen by weight. This isn't Seiyu or some other lower-priced market here, where housewives pinch yen to save 20, 30 yen overall. So a couple hundred yen difference doesn't seem like much to me given the store.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@smith:

the Fukushima incident is responsible for the single-worst radioactive leak in history -- people get upset, deflect, and deny, talking immediately about how much worse Chernobyl was on the whole, etc.

It's the deeply ingrained anti-fuss mentality which, for some of its positives for the Japanese, can be especially damaging in cases like this.

TEPCO can't handle this problem, never could.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Funny how this report comes out AFTER two other reports saying:

No earthquake damage Tepco works were desperate and tried their best.

Marketing machine in full affect people

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Read up on 'bioaccumulation' and act as YOU see fit. We, not a thing or drop from the Pacific.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

escapeartist,

As Smith correctly points out, Japanese act the way they do simply because they dont like criticism. I have to watch speaking out while watching the news while the wife is around as she sometimes flies off the handle when I fire some criticism, & thats even when she AGREES WITH ME!

I think this line of thought/reaction goes a long way to explaining why business & govt get away with so much is that the locals just dont like voicing criticism, although that is changing some, BUT I can guarantee Japanese DO NOT like to hear us gaijin criticise, again even if they agree 100%, its a bizarre world here, sometimes to keep the piece you have to zip those lips & come onto jt to let loose LOL!

4 ( +8 / -5 )

A desalination plant is for making salt water into fresh water if I have not gone insane, so, by that logic isnt the water leaking into the ocean, drawn from there in the first place............

Clearly its not just the above, anyone wanna take a stab at what is really happening with this desalination plant?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

...and no one is going to jail for negligence.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I can see Godzilla coming out of the water already. Bigger and more powerful than ever. His breath toxic as ever. He has absorbed so much radiation that bullets and missiles don't affect him. "Gaiica GAicca!!!" RUN!!!

Hopefully he'll punish those that deserve it.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Didnt greenpeace test a whole bunch of seafood sold at supermarkets, only to find that most of it no radiation, and of the few that did, the most was 88bq/kg (which is still very low) was from just south of the plants? I think i was one of the only ones who saw that report as a positive. Granted, i'd rather zero than 88bq/kg, but that level isnt something that is going to kill you. Radiation that Greenpeace measured in seafood is less than that what was found in Beef/Vegetables...

And beaches on the east side of Japan were tested for radiation, with only ONE beach registering any radiation (again, south of the plant, at something like 20bq/L), everywhere else had no detectable radiation.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@smithinJapan... thanks for the elaboration. You're right, being cheaper is only part of the dynamics going on. We have long bought, and will continue buying, only Norway salmon (not to mention a lot more foreign foods than before too, and we're in Kansai). Assuming we can trust the labels.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

So much for the Pacific Ocean fishing industry.

5 ( +4 / -0 )

escape_artist: "apparently simply because such food from Tohuku/Fukushima, especially near offshore (where I'm guessing the salmon is from), is cheaper."

It goes deeper than that, I think. By saying what you said, which is spot on, by the way, you have basically said out loud what a lot of people know in their hearts but refuse to acknowledge: you simply can no longer say that 'made in japan' means high quality, safe food in a number of cases now. ANYTHING from this area should be avoided like the plague, but saying as much makes people 'feel bad'. You see this from harvesting and selling contaminated rice, to selling contaminated tea leaves, to livestock, etc. The government and others don't want to admit it so they deny it and suggest it's safe until WEEEEELLLL after the fact.

It's the same kind of knee-jerk reaction you get if you mention the fact that, as is stated, the Fukushima incident is responsible for the single-worst radioactive leak in history -- people get upset, deflect, and deny, talking immediately about how much worse Chernobyl was on the whole, etc.

This is not the fault of fisheries or the farmers, of course, save where they knowingly ship contaminated products, and TEPCO is once again revealing problems after the fact. They need to find out how much has leaked and how far it has spread NOW, and until they do in a few months ('now' is not a concept they understand except for when requesting handouts from the government) any and all fishing in the related areas must stop. It won't, though.

Just be sure to check your seafood before buying. If it's cheaper than usual and doesn't state where it's from, saying only, "Pacific Ocean" or, "made in Japan", that's code for 'near Fukushima'.

7 ( +14 / -7 )

up to one million times more than the maximum safe level set by the gov. for strontium and 300 times for the cesium.

........

is TEPCO trying to address the problem of contamination or are they working to make the plant profitable again to cover losses? they NEED to shut this thing down good and proper (well as proper as can be) This plant is like the friggin' Black Cauldron from Llyod Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Prydain

What is there left to salvage at that ruined poison belching metallic undead shell of a plant?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

don't worry Tepco has everything under contril :p

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Saw Fukushima salmon in a Seijo Ishii store a few days ago in Umeda, Osaka, commented to others nearby that one would have to be slightly crazy to buy such food and was met by stares of amazement and subtle scorn. Not sure if it was because I simply spoke out or that those who heard me truly believe eating possibly contaminated salmon is A-OK. Lots of denial around here, apparently simply because such food from Tohuku/Fukushima, especially near offshore (where I'm guessing the salmon is from), is cheaper.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Think about all those people who went to the beach this summer. They went swimming in that water. What will happen to their skin? Will that radiation travel all the way to America? The mayor of Los Angeles is coming to Japan soon. Maybe he should be informed.

0 ( +4 / -3 )

WOW, what a shocking story. TEPCO contaminated the Pacific Ocean. Why on Earth are they still eating fish?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

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