Parts of Japan too radioactive to farm, say int'l researchers
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101 Comments
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5
ExportExpert
Seems Japan needs the TPP even more than ever for fresh produce that is safe
4
gogogo
Why does the article say " 5,000 becquerels per kilogram in Japan" and the image say "2,500"? Which is safe?
11
zichi
All farming should be suspended in Eastern Fukushima, and other affected areas. The farmers should be compensated for their loss by TEPCO/government.
All prefectures should be required to carry out a survey and test of all farm land.
-1
zichi
Enough safe food can be grown in this country.
1
wanderlust
@gogogo - because the legal limit is the sum of the two isotopes Cs 134 and Cs 137, which are produced together, which each have totals of 2,500 beq/ kg, giving a sum of 5,000 beq/ kg. The image is just for one isotope.
-4
zichi
Enough safe food can be grown in the country.
-3
Jared Norman
Farming should just be suspended in tohoku for 30 years, the half life, theirs plenty of farm land that can be given to the farmers not in use. give them money to help them start fresh farms
-24
Kentaro75
Because of TPP negotiation, this is probably more forein lies to bully Japan to joining. Dont fall into this trap, Mr.Noda! We dont need TPP and we can grow enough Japanese foods safely!
7
sau133
Waiting for the "Pass the spinach" brigade to show up. It wasn't going to be long until international scientists exposed the full extent of the contamination. Japan can no longer keep pretending this thing didn't happen.
As predicted, large areas of contaminated farmland has been producing and distributing food since the disaster. If I was 100 percent sure none of that would ever reach my table I would have stayed but this confirms I made the right decision to take my baby out of the country back at the end of March.
It will be interesting to see how many housewives, politicians and Tepco executives are shown on TV eating Fukushima produce to "prove" it is safe.
7
borscht
Zichi,
I don't think enough can be grown in Japan; even in the best of times, Japan is only about 60% self-sufficient. And that was before the Tohoku farms were eliminated from the total.
-4
illsayit
who cares; time to pickle-your-daikon season
-6
pawatan
What a strawman argument this is! Nobody says this. TALK to Japanese people, they are all concerned. OF COURSE farmland is partially to totally contaminated. Everybody from ages 8-88, including those in the government, know this. There probably are some areas even near the plant where it's not as contaminated but generally yeah, it's quite contaminated.
How does this confirm that? This map is an estimate, a model. There's been plenty of other estimates and models as well.
8
yasukuni
Well believe it or not, an Japanese told me that she was opposed to TPP because food from other countries has too much radiation. Sometimes I just can't be bothered taking things further so I just say "eeeeeee" and remind myself that all of Japan is in the twilight zone.
4
NuckinFutz
Kentaro75, I don't think the lies are foreign! Japan has many time admitted it can only supply approximately 40% of its own food. Your government is well known for placing profit ahead of its own people and I don't see anything changing in the future. Joining the TPP might not be the best thing for Japan it is a step in the right direction. Japan should consider opening some of its markets to foreign imports and foreign countries will I'm sure open theirs to Japanese products. If Japan wants to isolate itself economically, then other countries should impose equally high tariffs on Japanese products to keep the playing field level. Imagine how many Japanese cars and tires Americans would buy if the tariff was increased to 100%?
4
YongYang
@Zichi as a net importer of food before 3/11, no, not enough safe food can not be grown in this country. Certainly not cheap and safe. These spoilt farmers have to go the way of the Samurai, in the dustbin of history.
-2
zichi
borscht
what I meant was, that even without farming from East Fukushima, the current supply situation would not change much and I think food production is down to 40%.
We don't need the TTP just to import more food even with the temporary lifting of tariffs.
8
smithinjapan
But didn't the government say we should feel sorry for these people and therefore ignore the safety risks? Why does it always take an international body to correct Japan? But let me guess... the J-government had no idea the food might not be safe.
Seriously, Japanese testing of food since the 3/11 disasters has made American testing of cattle look like gold.
3
zichi
All food grown in Europe contains some level of radiation from Chernobyl. There are still 350 British farms which are required to measure the radiation before releasing their foodstuffs to market.
7
smithinjapan
But hey...; get ready for the 'we should feel sorry for them and therefore buy their products' "safety" campaign.
6
Disillusioned
Oh, my goodness! It makes me wonder if this report will be taken seriously or written off as foreign rhetoric. If it is not safe to farm it would be safe for living either.
6
smithinjapan
zichi: "Fukushima, the current supply situation would not change much and I think food production is down to 40%."
Perfect argument in favour of the TPP (not TTP), thank you. Sadly, the farmers in the affected areas will complain that banning their products due to radiation will make them lose money and make others feel bad, so we should ignore the stats and buy the 'goods' anyway.
1
japan_cynic
Most of the values are actually quite low. Bq is quite a misleading unit - these are at the level of an individual atomic decay, and the overall radiation probably won't be as high as the background in much of the USA. But some of the "hottest" areas may well have to be carefully checked for farming, in case some crops concentrate the isotopes.
Personally I am not in the least worried by the food here - at least, not by the radiation. The salt content, on the other hand...
-1
zichi
smithinjapan
the farmers in East Fukushima should receive compensation equal to their losses.
The TPP is at least 10-15 years down the road, even if it actually happens for all the countries involved.
5
Ivan Coughanoffalot
So can we now dispense with the pretence that helping out the farmers in the area by buying their contaminated produce is in some way beneficial to the overall wa?
0
zichi
Both farming and industry are in need of a radical overall.
Time for the country to a renaissance......
5
cactusJack
I don't see the J-gov stepping up to provide safe food...more like backing down from the angry farmers.
1
smithinjapan
My guess is that the response to these facts will be that the politicians with the farmers' money in their pockets will decide to hold an event with fruit and vegetables from the 'hot spots' to 'PROVE' that it's not a problem.
4
zichi
Under the Food Sanitation Law, 5,000 Bq/kg of total caesium is considered the safe limit in soil. If we looked at the standards in other countries we would probably discover similar standards.
The researchers estimate that caesium-137 levels close to the nuclear plant were eight times the safety limit, while neighbouring regions were just under this limit.
5
It"S ME
Sorry, this is just more scare-mongering news here.
I read the overseas reports way before they got mentioned here(days ago), yes there is a worry but way less than the above report wants you to belief.
Overseas reports gave a map with current reported levels(non-japanese) that can be compared easily vs overseas acceptable levels nation-wide. They also gave advise for further testing, etc.
But of course JT-posters jump on most reports here(accurate or not).
0
hatsoff
sau133, I recommend for your own peace of mind you pay no heed to anyone who might offer a view that differs from your own. For the record, I haven't seen any posters here who claim there is NO danger in Japan, but don't let that put you off. LOL.
6
hatsoff
The more international researchers that show up in Japan the better. Keep 'em coming please.
-1
ssway
People do not like to hear about reality and want things to be as they were before (as do I) but the harsh fact of the matter is we have had 3 nuclear reactors explode, a 4th with spent fuel in a very unstable state, a 5th and 6th in an unknown state. Radioactive contaminants have been spread far and wide with great attempts by the government, TEPCO and the media to downplay and cover up this information.
Japan is a very small nation and now a great area of its land has been contaminated in addition to the ocean surrounding it and the sea shore (including beaches). The officials running the nation should have realized the great gamble they are playing by having reactors on this tiny piece of precious land. Is it worth the risk to contaminate and lose the entire nation over nuclear reactors? The answer should be simple. I can only imagine the great pain the many ancestors of Japan would feel if they could know the current state of the country and its beautiful and irreplaceable land.
This is tragic beyond understanding and no amount of government downplaying can fix it. Smile everyone.
-4
zichi
ssway,
there were no explosions at the reactors. There was a meltdown and melt-through in reactors 1-3. $ was empty of fuel and 5&6 were shut down prior to 3/11.
2
sunhawk
just think the food all read irradiated will be safe to eat against microbe contamination.
-3
cloa513
Rediculous to lump Fukushima as a whole as too radioactive- its enormous- one of the biggest prefectures in Japan. Sounds a lazy study. Some parts of Tokyo would be more likely affected than other parts of Fukushima.
8
YongYang
@the 500oBq crowd: Over the long term the acceptability of radioactively contaminated food products and soil has to be based on an estimate of lifetime health risk and the number of persons likely exposed, rather than a safe/not safe concentration threshold. The latter implies that there is a concentration below which there is no concern for future risk from exposure, regardless of the number of people involved. The excess lifetime risk from exposure to ionizing radiation is known to vary considerably with the dose, age at time of exposure, and gender. I believe that informed decisions would be more appropriately based on a discussion of the health risks from potential exposure to radiation rather than a simple comparison to a regulatory concentration threshold. Not some theorized magic numbered percentage that people keep grabbing onto and floating around on.
4
tmarie
Ha! And people keep going on and on about "Buy Fukushima to support the farmers". Yeah right. I won't buy anything from Tohoku if I can help it - and this just confirms that I am not "selfish" for doing so. Japan needs to leave all the soil in Fukushima, close it off and farm other areas - and yes, sign up to TPP as I am sick and tired of crappy fruit and veg at ridiculous prices!!
1
m6bob
This is just such a sad, tragic scenario after the earthquake & tsunami. The problem continues for 30yrs! Also, think of the seawater around the Daichi Genpatsu. It cannot be safely contained. Japanese food manufacturers from now on need to have radiation sensors embedded in the containers to reassure consumers of their safety. No one can be trusted as problems arise many years later after consumption.
2
Arthur Dumbolov
Near Chernobyl, people from Belarus and Ukraine grow some really BIG plants! Giant tomatoes, berries and mushrooms... They claim these things are safe. Why not to try to grow something near forbidden zone?
4
Ian Duncan
So can we now dispense with the pretence that helping out the farmers in Fu kushima by buying their contaminated produce is in some way beneficial to the overall wa?
Pay them for their losses - blimey, we're up to our eyebrows in debt by now, what's a few billion more? - and keep the stuff there to lie fallow. Stop trucking it around the country to poison our kids with and making us out to be civic undesirables if we baulk at the idea.
1
Cricky
Japan can/could not feed itself before this happened. Arguing about safety surly must be a moot point. There were explosions shown all around the world Hydrogen build up being the cause but the effect??? Can not go in there and it is still spewing radioactive dung out. Linking this to the TTP? Agriculture in Japan has more to do with a sense of culture and as everyone knows does not amount too much for GDP. This study shows there are concerning levels of radiation in the soil. Came from the air? Test the food quickly publicize the results. Why are dramatically increased levels OK? To protect the almost extinct Japanese farmer? That is regrettable.
-3
The Munya Times
I saw the radiation map and me think that most parts of Japan, especially to the north from Fukushima is too radioactive to live there, as well.
-1
Farmboy
Grammar/spelling error...sorry. didn't realized---->didn't realize
2
Farmboy
The only thing that surprised me in the map was the aqua blue area in northeast Hokkaido. I didn't realized it had gotten zapped to that extent.
1
keika1628
The value of property with a patch of land in Saitama is rising along with other property on the Kanto Rice Plains . Expect your new season Veg and strawberries to be marked up a couple of %
0
herefornow
No surprise. Just wonder why it has to be a group of International Researchers to make this conclusion and not the Japanese government? Is it because of the J-government being lax/incompetent or possibly trying to delay bad news again?
0
ihrwjns
zichi posted;
there were no explosions at the reactors. There was a meltdown and melt-through in reactors 1-3. $ was empty of fuel and 5&6 were shut down prior to 3/11.
zichi, you're correct...there was NO direct explosion of the reactors and there were meltdowns and melt-throughs and #4, #5 and #6 states are as you posted...
Having said that, there WERE explosions of the gases given off from within the plants and there WAS radiation that was emitted into the air and into the soil and water from the entire Fukushima complex...
Those ARE the facts and undisputed at this point...no matter what you or the JN Government and TEPCO would LIKE to have the JN people believe...
Lets stop the crap of saying that ALL is well and we will be BBQ'ing in the Fukushima Nuke Plant parking lot in the Spring...
The S&#% has already happened and all that the JN people as well as the world can hope for now, is to come up with a PLAN...and obviously the JN Government have NO idea what that is...any help from within Japan and from outside sources, should be welcomed, so that the brightest minds can put together a "MANIFESTO", a term that the idiot JN Politicians so like to misuse...that puts some direction on what needs to be done, in moving forward...of which does NOT include living in or farming on, the immediate area around the Fukushima plants and many other areas that have been highly contaminated...
That BS, that was televised and reported in the news lately of moving soil off of the contaminated land is NOT going to work...an idiot would know this and they don't even need to have a "Nuke Disasters for Dummies" book written for them...you can't move 100+ Sq KMs of land!!!...well, you could...maybe Osaka or Tokyo would be good storage areas for the waste material???...lmao...
So, get with the program!!!...and help come up with some common sense, educated ideas on what needs to be done and NOT done for the benefit of everyone...and STOP downplaying the devastation and impact...
1
zichi
ihrwjns,
I object to the "tone of your comment!"
I just commented that there was no explosion in the reactors. I never said there was no other problem like the massive release of radiation.
Over the past months, on this forum, I have made many comments abouts the situation at the power plant and the nuclear disaster. which had you followed, you would be aware of my views on this.
But I would disagree with you that TEPCO or the government don't understand what happened and what needs to be done to deal with the disaster.
In Tokyo there's also an international team of scientists and engineers who have been working on what are the best ways to deal with it and come up with an end-game.
I have been "with the program" since 3/11!
-1
pawatan
herefornow
This is a reiteration of what has already been published by other sources including Japanese official sources. Maps of these sorts have been available for months. This is nothing new. If you do not see the information the Japanese government is releasing it's only because you are choosing not to see it. Try searching in Japanese for a start.
-2
ihrwjns
zichi, I could care less about how your objection to the "tone of my comment"...
I knew that you were talking in particular of the actual "REACTOR" itself but I just needed to get your blood boiling a bit so that in the future to clarify your posts to mean that and not the buidling as a whole...
Putting that aside, my comments are not directed at ONLY you but as a "wake-up" call to everyone, mainly TEPCO and YES, the JN Government...who PROBABLY know the truth but like so many things that they take on, do it for their own or contributors gains...
Stop protecting the JN Government and TEPCO...they didn't do it right from 3/11 and still are NOT doing it right!!!...they need help and it obviously is NOT from the "team of scientists and engineers in Tokyo"...who obviously don't have a clue either...IF it was their recommendations that initiated the recent "end-game" plan!!!...
Get with the program!!!...
2
zichi
ihrwjns
if you had read my previous comments on the nuclear disaster, you would know that I have been very critical of both TEPCO and the government.
What are TEPCO and the government not doing right? An international team of nuclear scientists and engineers don't have a clue, but I guess you do?
-2
warnerbro
"Why does the article say " 5,000 becquerels per kilogram in Japan" and the image say "2,500"? Which is safe?" Gogogo, neither one is safe. The government's decontamination policy, relying on untrained volunteers who don't know a gamma ray from Man Ray is a hideous, deceitful fantasy. Most of Fukushima, Tochigi, and Gunma, and parts of Chiba, Tokyo, and Ibaraki should not be farmed again in our lifetimes.
0
YongYang
There were explosions at the reactors. Reactor No 1 and 3 and 4 suffered explosions. Of the actual containments, no. They were damaged though, cracked or ruptured then damaged by molten fuel and apparatus melting through... In English it's safe to say that the reactor refers to the entire structure, --including the concrete shell-- unless, of course, you are being pedantic.
2
Eddisofbextar
Immediately after the quake and to this day - all the radiation sensors mysteriously show/showed "not functioning due to damage" in above listed prefectures... AND Tokyo. Isnt that odd...
Now a week ago on TV it was announced that tokyo will start testing food in tokyo... lemme count... 8 months after the quake?
fail.
I can guarantee you every single person living in Japan has - since 3/11 - eaten food products that far surpass the limit for radioactive materials, but that said products got past screening because they were purposely mislabeled. Yen > Humans & Japanese (notice the distinction there).
now, because of tepco's fail, the jgov has reason to increase sales tax to 10%. I'm used to 14% so no big deal - but not when health care isnt free, roads arent free, and gas prices are still being double taxed (not to mention city tax, country tax... tax tax... etc).
too much fail going on over here... cause? too many old j oyajis. Get more women in government and clean up the stinkers.
3
Dotobock
Cessium below20 bq per kilo for vegetables is the limit according to the government. Is this the limit for pregnant women? Children? I want more information. What really irritates me is that the government will do tests to say, cucumbers and they will then say that the cucumbers were beneath the safety limits without actually saying how many BQs per Kilos. Every city perhaps every ward has information about radiation. Unfortunately for me most information is in Japanese only so it takes ages for me to read through it.
Currently in greater Kanto area including Shizuoka, the Japanese government has put a stop on sales on Japanese tea. But not on vegetables. Other food one should worry about is shell fish, seaweed, bamboo shoot and mushrooms and dairy products I have bee told.
There already are many citizen groups doing independent research. These I find to be the most trust worthy.
1
Dotobock
I find this strange as various Prefectures have been testing vegetables for some time now. You can go to various official Prefecture web sites and check radiation info on food. This is what I have been doing for some time.
-5
ihrwjns
zichi, I don't need to go back and read your previous comments...I believe you!!!...I got the FIRST time you stated that...enough already!!!...
What are TEPCO and the JN Government NOT doing???...not telling the people that have land in the immediate area around the Fukushima plants, that they will NOT be able to occupy that land for decades...that would be a real good gesture on their part...rather than getting the hopes up of those people...second, to immediately buy up and give or allocate public land to those displaced people, in other areas of Japan where they can start a fresh, new life...third, stop implementing actions which have either no positive outcome or worse yet, compounds the problem...like moving waste material outside of the already contaminated area immediately around the plants...if anything, take all the waste material and move it all to those areas...it's already unusable anyway...why move it to other areas of the country where it COULD make those areas that the Government wants to house containment "tanks", more prone to contamination...I am sure that there are other things but...
And, do I have ALL the answers...hell NO!!!...but what I DO know is...the JN Government and TEPCO, who you say, you have "questioned" in your past posts and the "NUKE" Scientists (I get that too...the first time you posted) and Engineers that you obviously have high regard for...need to sit down and outline several courses of action...discuss these options "in-house" and with experts outside of Japan...and then act on them accordingly...rather than being so quick to act on something that is of course, un-chartered territory for everyone...
Don't get me wrong...I am sure that they ate all confident that they are taking the right road but many of the actions that they have put in place are extremely questionable...
The most recent one, being the "Field Trip" tour for the media, into the devastated plants...I hope the folks in the media that took their "bento boxes" with them on that trip...have good life insurance...I understand that the Government and perhaps TEPCO wanted for the media to get a first hand experience with photos and write-ups to be provided to the public without bias...but we have robots that can do that...and those white suits and surgical masks that the media constantly show people wearing whenever they go into the restricted zone...will do little to stop the radiation from getting to the body...the closest thing I can relate to that is, the "water and food" tubes that they put on Military Submarines, in the event that the Sub sinks...the public is told that they can pass water and food to the crew until they can save them...the only problem there is, the tubes are all welded shut on the inside of the pressure hull...how do I know that???...been there and seen it...
Your turn!!!...I have my cheeks wide open for you...lmao...
1
Fadamor
@Zichi
That was such a vague statement that it would be more accurate to say:
All food grown (even in Japan) contains some level of radiation from Chernobyl.
For those claiming the points made in the article are just foreign propaganda, perhaps you missed the part of the article where they urged the individual prefectures to confirm and refine their findings. Propaganda as a rule doesn't encourage fact-checking as part of its message.
-3
herefornow
pawatan -- nice try, but it is you that is "choosing not to see". As your post states, the J-government has certainly produced lots of maps and other data. What they have NOT done, and steadfastly refuse to do, is make the logical conclusion that this land cannot be used for agricultural purposes again. (Can you not understand simple concepts/words, or do you deliberately twist what I say so you can rant?) Which this group did. It harkens back to the days after the meltdowns when the government and TEPCO released lots of data but refused to conclude, as experts around the world had already done, that they had melted-down at least 70%. You need to choose to see that your government spoon-feeds you information like you are a child because they assume you cannot handle the truth. And you defend that.
1
zichi
Fadamor,
it wasn't a vague statement. Following Chernobyl much of Europe was contaminated by radiation. Many farms in Britain had to stop selling animals for more than two years. There are still 350 farms which are required to test their food.
I don't know what level of radiation Japan received from Chernobyl.
The standard for radiation in food is higher in both America and the EU than currently in Japan.
0
Dotobock
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf05.html
2
zichi
This article gives more information on the survey.
http://www.nature.com/news/fukushima-maps-identify-radiation-hot-spots-1.9355
3
Dotobock
There are some seriously thick people in this country. How about the Shizuoka governor who proclaimed Shizuoka tea to be safe despite information which were available to the public on the Shizuoka government web page which clearly stated that the tea was above the safety limits set by the Japanese government. Tea in many parts of Japan including the heart land of tea production in Japan, Shizuoka is not safe. I would be very careful drinking it. Which is so unfortunate as I prefer that over coffee. You should be all right drinking Kyoto and western Japan tea though.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/atmoney/news/20110519-OYT1T00073.htm
All you gaijins complaining that food has not been tested. I am not sure what planet or country you guys are living in but you guys need to start checking your local government web pages. There are almost daily updates on food including sea food.
-1
pawatan
herefornow
Down, boy! It's you who are choosing to vilify Japan and all things Japanese since you packed up and left this country. I don't know why you bother posting here when you clearly don't like this place, it's people, companies, or institutions.
ALL I said was the information was already online. If you need conclusions spoon fed to you, an AFP article and an international group telling you what has already been reported extensively, in Japanese and English, then I suppose that's your right.
This is a ridiculous argument that perfectly illustrates what I am talking about. Say the government thought the data meant a 30% meltdown. Some other sources thought it meant 70%, minimum. Point 1 - nobody knew for sure and nobody still knows for sure! Point 2 - so what? We know there were explosions, the reactors are badly damaged if not destroyed, and that massive amounts of radioactive matter has been ejected into the atmosphere and water. Everybody agrees on this and the government admitted this directly after the explosions! (I've provided links to this many times before) Does it MATTER what % the meltdown is? Only if you are concerned with semantics, and pointing at the government and yelling to no end.
-1
nec123a
breaks my heart about the radiation in the already heavily polluted Japanese environment. Zichi is doubtless correct that enough safe food CAN be produced in Japan. But to do that efficiently and with economies of scale the farmers of Japan must face the true worth of their product. Introduce the TPP and let the inefficient fail! The consumer and the efficient producer in Japan will be thankful for this in the long run. Market efficiently all the way! Anything other situation is ultimately undesirable.
0
Fadamor
Neither do I, but I know it received SOME. Every country has. My point was your comment that "some level of radiation (exists)" is so non-specific as to include levels below what occurs naturally. Even if Japanese food as a whole contained one-trillionth of a millisievert from Chernobyl, then your statement would be true for Japan as well. One-trillionth of a millisievert is "some level of radiation".
1
Livvie
Um, no brainer. Once again the media and government are trying to buffer the news by releasing it slowly and in small doses.
So how do we know exactly what's safe and what isn't if they are so slow in giving out information? How do I know if the spinach labeled as Hokkaido spinach at my supermarket isn't really from Northwest Fukushima, or another affected area?
My friend bought me some rare organic honey from a farm near the ocean in Chiba and I was so happy to get it until I realized it was harvested this past May. Bees could've collected radioactive pollen to make that honey. So what do I do with that? Use it? Throw it away? Keep it until they finally test the area for radiation?? I wish the government would be more proactive about this instead of taking the "nantoka naru" approach!
-3
issa1
I not believe a word that is published in mass media. When OBAKA - SAN II naoto kan raised level 5 to 7 I found very strange - This idiot promoted a disservice to the nation. What is certain are the financial interests hiding for this negative promotion the region of Fukushima. There is a lot of powerful people interested in buying this land and transforms them into large estates.
-4
issa1
Please never compare fukushima X chernobyl,this is a lies !
-7
issa1
To kentaro75
Because of TPP negotiation, this is probably more forein lies to bully Japan to joining. Dont fall into this trap, Mr.Noda! We dont need TPP and we can grow enough Japanese foods safely!
I regret to inform you but the last thing Our mr. noda will remember it is defend the interests of the japanese !
2
YuriOtani
By my math it will be over 240 years before the highly contaminated areas are beneath the safety limits.
0
Leonardo Paredes
“Estimated and observed contaminations in the western parts of Japan were not as serious, even though some prefectures were likely effected to some extent,” it added.
It should be affected, not effected.
3
zichi
On November 15, the Ministry of the Environment announced the result of the survey of the radioactive material density in bottom soil in 193 locations in rivers, lakes and dams in Fukushima Prefecture. Radioactive cesium was detected in almost all locations, with the highest density of 60,000 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium in the riverbed soil in the Ota River that runs through Minami Soma City, which was designated as "evacuation-ready zone" after the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident.
The Ministry also conducted the survey of the water. Maximum 27 becquerels/liter of radioactive cesium was detected in the water from a dam inside the "no-entry zone" [within 20-kilometer radius], but in most locations it was not detected. The Ministry's analysis is that "radioactive materials have been absorbed by sludge and sands and sunk to the bottom, and that is why the radiation density is high [in the soil in rivers, lakes and dams]."
0
tmarie
Pawatan, can you please stop scremaing "you hate Japan" to everyone who a) disagrees with your opinion and b) is taking issues with something TEPCO or the Japanese government does. Anyone who hated Japan would not be posting on this site and would not be taking these issues seriously. They would be happy about it, not worried about the future of the country. "You hate Japan" is about the worst comeback you have. Stop taking the comments personally - it isn't all about you.
Good call on the levels being safe for adults - what about the kids, babies and pregnant women?? I don't trust the food here and I won't until gets it head out of its butt about food safety.
2
bogva
Everyone is jumping again without reading carefully. This was a scientific paper. If you look at the science as a whole it doesn't mean immediately its the only truth. Science is based on a lot of hypothesis and more often than not new one emerge to be closer to the truth. In this study they rely on simulation and they don't have reliable data to start of. They actually even haven't included data before March 19th so the actual results might be even worse! What I want to say is that local governments really have to check and double check their premises and to control the farmers. And give their data to the scientist who can make better evaluation based on reliable data.
1
pawatan
tmarie
tmarie, do I tell you what to post? No? Then please don't tell me what to post. There's just one or two posters who come on this site and consistently crap on every article with anti-Japan rants. I will call them on this. If you don't like that, ignore what I write. Simple.
Moderator
Readers, please keep the discussion civil.
1
Ted Barrera
Scare mongering or not, better to be safe than sorry. I for one would love to know for a fact that where my food is coming from isn't contaminated with radioactive substances. I'm sure I'm not alone in this sentiment.
0
It"S ME
Ted just hit BBC, CNN, etc and the reports and contamination level maps are there and been for some time. There is nothing hidden anymore(even though some posters still harp on about goverment conspiracies, etc).
The info is out there, if it is reliable or useable for you is another matter ...)
0
tmarie
Pawatan, while you just continue to go on and on with your pro-Japan stuff. Which is equally annoying.
3
pawatan
Happy to be of service. I see you are now chasing me around criticizing my opinions in other threads. Didn't realize I had such an impact on you, I am flattered.
1
ExportExpert
So it took an international panel of researchers (probably scientists) to work this out ?
I guess they werent rocket scientists though.
Anyone with half a brain cell already realised that large parts of Japan are too contaminated to farm but i guess it takes a large internantional panel to make the japan govt and JA understand this.
2
MeLuvULongTimes
Title should be "Many Parts of Japan Too Radioactive to Live"
1
Star-viking
An interesting paper, though the scientists involved point out that simulation plays a key role in the results, so thing are not definitive. I'm a bit sceptical that the Ou Mountains in Tohoku are not seen to be playing a major role in limiting radioisotope contamination in Western Tohoku.
A quote from the paper probably covers this:
Looks like JGov needs to get its collective wellies on and start sampling.
0
crustpunker
We are getting buried by the sound of a world of human wreckage. In a WORLD of human wreckage.....
0
zichi
630 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium has been detected from the rice grown and harvested in Onami District of Fukushima City in Fukushima. It was discovered only because one farmer asked the local JA to test his rice.
The video clip accompanying the NHK News says 630 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium from brown rice, and 300 becquerels/kg from white (milled) rice.
http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2011/11/radioactive-rice-630-bqkg-cesium-from.html
1
MaboDofuIsSpicy
Japan well before WWII was not food self sufficient. That is one of the reasons why they took over Taiwan (Formosa). They did wonderful things there with that colonization, just as the Americans did in the Philippines.
The TPP seems good and will help alleviate the further pressure on self sufficiency due to the radiation crisis.
I have not checked the stats, but will after this on countries that are self sufficient with food. I would be there are none.
0
zichi
America produces 120%
0
MaboDofuIsSpicy
According to the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Japan is only 39 percent food self-sufficient—compared to the United States at 145 percent, or France at 127 percent.
By Jake Caldwell | March 16, 2011
Hi Mr. Zichi, Above is the most recent data I could find.
0
bajhista65
Wow...and still the government and Tepco says, Radiation is within normal limits.....
1
bajhista65
Wow...and still the government and Tepco says, Radiation is within normal limits.....
1
zichi
bajhista65 what are your references that both TEPCO and the government have stated radiation is within normal limits. The government have stated there are 13,000 sq km of contaminated land across 8 prefectures.
0
Elbuda Mexicano
TEPCO needs to take RESPONSIBILITY for this mess! TEPCO needs to buy up this land, pay all the farmers their $$$ so they can survive TEPCO is the EVIL culprit in this horrible situation.
0
kurisupisu
While the Japanese government was saying the food is safe and exhorting the population to 'share the pain' (they will) it is the case that this report shows and states that farming has to be banned due to the radiation!
Why does it take non Japanese research to show this ?
0
Star-viking
zichi Nov. 17, 2011 - 11:16AM JST
What a turn-around, now it's the white rice that is good for us!
I do hope J-Gov will be making sure that rice husks are not being used for anything in the food chain. Might also be an idea to take sample often from those 'mill your own rice' machines we have in the countryside.
1
Joseph Garrett Baxter
when I do not have time to read all the comments I just read Zichi's comments to get the main facts of the story plus more. Thank you zichi!
1
amerijap
@JGB
I agree. Many people don't care about how to express what they say because they just want to get an attention. Instigators, trollers, snippers, Japanophiles, Japanophobes.., you name it.
Some people rash to conclude that the studies are bogus and unreliable because they don't belong here, blah, blah, blah, and swallow whatever a semi-sincere J-goverment and TEPCO are saying instead because they are much more authorized institution who can tell the truth. Then, how come it takes so long to make a clear progress report on de-contamination work? Why are there still over millions of Japanese people angry at them?
-1
wtfjapan
ah but Japanese is food is safe, doesnt matter that in the last ten years theres been, mad cow, foot in mouth outbreak, bird flu outbreak, mislabeling foot scandal, now radiation contamination. why would Japanese want to have cheaper imported foods!? LOL
0
Jerome_from_Utah
OK, time for a "Modest Proposal". Are there non-food items that can be grown in the "hot" area? That way, the cesium would be sequestered and allowed to decay. Vegetation that actively consumes potassium would be ideal and render the land safe in a short period of time. Could tobacco be grown there? The effect on cigarette smokers would be small enough to be statistically insignificant.
0
keibafan
And aside from food consumption, the other costs are loss of tourism, development, eco-events by locals, forestry, and other benefits of a healthy and beautiful area...too bad...
0
Ranger_Miffy2
We are in sooo much trouble!
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