Tokyo, Nov 18(ANI): Radioactive cesium emanating from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant has reached as far as Hokkaido, Shikoku and the Chugoku region in Japan, a research has suggested.
The study, which is based on data after March 20, indicated that eastern Hokkaido might have been contaminated with about 250 becquerels of cesium-137 per kilogram, while Shikoku and Chugoku regions probably have upto 25 becquerels of the element.
The research statistics were calculated by a computer simulation developed by a Norwegian research group based on ministry data compiled from daily fallout readings from March 20 to April 19 in each prefecture.
The Japanese Government's soil contamination limit for growing rice is 5,000 becquerels per kilogram for cesium-137, which has a 30-year half-life, and cesium-134, whose half-life is two years.
"The levels are not something that should raise concerns over agricultural production or human health," the Japan Times quoted University Of Tokyo's physics department Chairperson Ryugo Hayano as saying.
But the study also warned that cesium contamination in eastern Fukushima Prefecture would partially limit food production in parts of Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Niigata, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Chiba.
The researchers called on the Japanese Government to conduct nationwide survey of radioactive contamination since their study is not based on actual soil tests.
Japanese science ministry said the study is useful as a reference, and that it would consider expanding its aerial monitoring to wider areas.
The study has been published on the website of the National Academy of Sciences.(ANI)
|
|
Comments:
