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November 26, 2014

Experts: Debris removal not cause of tainted rice

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20141126_31.html

Nov. 26, 2014 - Updated 11:27 UTC+1

Japan's nuclear regulators say rice fields some 20 kilometers from Fukushima Daiichi were not contaminated with radiation due to work to remove debris at the damaged plant.

Some paddies in the city of Minami Soma yielded contaminated rice last year.

Experts speculated that the rice paddies may have been tainted by airborne radioactive material released when debris was removed from the plant's No. 3 reactor in August.

To test the theory, experts at the Nuclear Regulation Authority simulated the spread of radioactive cesium caused by debris removal. They announced their findings on Wednesday.
The experts estimated that 30 becquerels of radioactive cesium per square meter would have fallen on one location where the contaminated rice was harvested, and 12 becquerels on another.

Regulatory authorities say those levels are far below the allowable limit, making it almost certain the removal work did not cause the contamination.

They warn that other tainted crops could turn up. Soil and trees are still contaminated with radioactive material that leaked from the plant at the time of the nuclear accident in 2011.

Officials at the agriculture ministry say they will continue testing soil and water in the city to find out what caused the rice contamination.