Radioactive cesium found in compost in Akita
TOKYo —
The Akita prefectural government said Tuesday that radioactive cesium exceeding the normal level has been found in compost which came from Tochigi Prefecture. A spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries told a news conference in Tokyo that the central government has asked farmers not to use compost from 17 prefectures in eastern Japan.
According to a report on NHK, 11,000 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram were detected in compost sold in one store in Akita Prefecture. However, the government said the level of cesium does not pose a health risk.
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37 Comments
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0
Utrack
the manure from these Radioactive cows were made into Compost fertilizer which has probably been selling just as long as the beef has.
2
mitoguitarman
Ah, how nice to wake up to more good news. Isn't there going to be any end to this madness. Someone in the government has to step up and take charge, making policies that protect both the environment and the people of Japan.
1
herefornow
Yeh, good luck on that one. Farmers have so far shown a great willingness to not sell possibly contaminated products, right?
1
some14some
exceeding by.... percentage? unknowm. "Does not pose a health risk.." what makes the story newsworthy?
1
Osakadaz
This is actually leaf compost, not manure,although manure is being sold and the cesium straw was sold as mulch as well as feed.I read that the compost actually contained 17000 Bq/KG of cesium in the Japanese news.
-3
sunhawk
guess what people. they are going to find radioactive cesium and maybe even still iodine a lot of places in eastern japan for a long time to come. you can't blame the diet for not doing something sooner every time they find some. abandoning nuclear power completely isn't going to solve anything either.
1
miamum
.Asked? How about ordered tham not to with penalties for breaking the order?
Headline is kind of misleading though - the compost was in Akita when it was found to contain cesium, but wasnt actually from Akita. I bought veggies from Akita the other day thinking it was safe - I was concerned when I read the headline, but not now.
0
Utrack
@ Osakadaz
The compost is from manure and humus is from the fallen leaves.
3
Osakadaz
ok Utrack.Cheers. I know that the fallen leaves in Tochigi were measuring an insane 70,000 Bq/KG a few months back, so I don't think either products are something you would want in your garden. There is no law to ban the sale of compost,which is why the govt. can only suggest and recommend not to sell it. At present this has only been sold in three prefectures,including Akita.
0
Utrack
@ Osakadaz
Thanks for the information, I read the article on NHK and it talked about the Compost and Humus and the compostion of them.
0
borscht
Shouldn't it be:
"the Japanese government, with their head in the (radioactive) sand, said the level of cesium does not pose a health risk (for today.)" ?
Or can somebody explain the difference between becquerels and uCi/kg? Thanks
0
Utrack
1 microcurie = 1 uCi = 37,000 Bq = 37,000 cps.
1
Ayler
the farmers will use it and sell their radioactive products anyway, guaranteed.
3
Farmboy
And yet, the level set for vegetables is 500 becquerels per kilogram, isn't it? If you grow vegetables in compost that has 11,000 becquerels per kilogrom, it's safe? Or do they mean that you won't drop dead from walking past the compost pile?
-1
Utrack
What about the soap makers do they receive tallow (beef fat ) from this cattle. Radioactive soap can't be good.
0
SumoBob
It's safe to figure that cesium is going to show up in products all over the country. I don't really know if there is any way to stop it.
1
miamum
Didnt know about the leaves in Tochigi - thats pretty scary. I got a mail from a J friend of mine who has been living overseas for the past 11 years. She has just found out her husbands company is moving them back to Tochigi at Christmas. She was really excited at the thought of coming home after all this time....but shes not feeling quite so happy about it now.
1
nandakandamanda
Living way out in the boondocks in Western Japan and just discovered in the regional newspaper that our city's high class supermarket has been selling the meat, since May!
1
smithinjapan
"A spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries told a news conference in Tokyo that the central government has asked farmers not to use compost from 17 prefectures in eastern Japan."
Well, you see, that's the problem; stop ASKING them and TELL them, on threat of prison. It should not be voluntary or simply suggested, otherwise you're definitely going to end up getting people who will cut corners and use the stuff they shouldn't be using. Make it illegal and charge those who use it, even with the inevitable 'I didn't know'.
"However, the government said the level of cesium does not pose a health risk."
This broken record is getting tired. Did they eat some of the compost and come up with this conclusion? Of course not! (and I know, of course, you don't actually eat compost) How could they know it won't have ill effects in the future if/when people are exposed to it.
0
Utrack
I really think some places have had tainted fertilizer since mid to late March especially in Fukushima and the Hot spots where radiation touched down. The consumption of the tainted straw by cattle to create more tainted compost to sell since March Large cattle farms have had this compost ingredient to sell.
0
ExportExpert
No surprises here, everything in Japan will be tainted with radioactive particules now, Read That As EVERYTHIING.
There is no escape so long as you stay, deal with it or move on.
But there is no threat to your health, hahahaha yeah right !!
Deal with it.
0
sillygirl
from which 0refectures?!?!?!?!?!?!?
0
sillygirl
prefectures
1
fabricij
Want some perspective on this . Check this out.
http://gizmodo.com/5824536/japanese-nuclear-emergency-director-you-have-no-right-to-a-radiation+free-life
1
Cricky
We all have to share this, that's fair. A little bit each can not be too bad right? It's not like we live in an intelligent enlightened country.
-4
ichiichi
Don't panic. This is all perfectly fine.
3
Spidapig24
ichiichi
Thanks for the laugh Ichinichi, how exactly do you know this is perfectly fine?
And if its so fine then why do they have a limit for radiation in compost and if it was higher than that limit then one may suggest then it isnt fine. True? If it was under the limit then yes it would be fine.
1
delrennich
Japan: Abandon Nuclear Power!
1
BuzzB
I wonder what these compost piles were registering on March 10, 2011. We could be seeing something now that was not there before simply because it was not being measured. How do we know that radiation leaks weren't spewing forth long before March 11 and not being reported or detected. The mindset seems to be if we don't measure it it must not be present so all is well. Or so says TEPCO and the Govt.
-1
ichiichi
Spidapig24
You're welcome. People need to lighten up these says... I know this from watching the numerous Japanese news channels and reading the numerous Japanese newspapers. How do you know anything to the contrary? Watching Murdoch's and USA channels and eeading the UK tabloids?
You're not making any sense. Nonsense!
-1
CHAMADE
How long will it be until we see deaths occuring among the general public as a result of this contamination?
2
amerijap
Yeah, tell me when J-news media would ever give us optimistic news about the nuclear crisis. This Fall? Next year?? If you don't trust foreign media--because it's foreign, partisan, or whatever--, go watch NHK World or BS News. If language is the reason not to believe what media says, then listen to the local news and read the domestic newspaper in English. And figure it out how you feel it.
Moderator
Back on topic please.
2
NRT00
Watch this video. You do not have a right to a healthy life, free from radioactive contamination. That is what a government official said and if you don't believe it here is the meeting from last week. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVuGwc9dlhQ&feature=player_embedded
1
nandakandamanda
NRT00 4pm yesterday. Repost.
Actually that meeting was a farce from both sides. The audience did not want to listen, but just to sling insults. Meaningless. Good for the camera, though.
1
marcelito
People need to lighten up these says... I know this from watching the numerous Japanese news channels and reading the numerous Japanese newspapers. How do you know anything to the contrary?
Hey stop worrying everyone...everything is fine because ichiichi watched Japanese news and they said so... Media here is completely trustworthy and independent as we have all witnessed numerous times in the past..
-4
Skeptical Hippo
That's not what he said...
Try and learn Japanese, first before making stupid little videos and posting lies
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