Not all radioactive contamination stems from Fukushima

Friday, April 20, 2012

Bridgestone to recall nearly 10,000 Jobno bicycles with radioactive baskets

Staff writer

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120420a6.html

Bridgestone Cycle Co. plans to recall 9,405 of its Jobno bicycles after radioactive materials were found in its Chinese-made stainless steel basket, the company said Thursday.

Radiation of 7.5 to 10.6 microsieverts per hour was detected on the upper edge of the baskets attached to the bikes, according to Bridgestone Cycle and the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.

The isotope was identified as cobalt-60, which was not present in the fallout spewed by the Fukushima No. 1 power plant, they said.

"We are examining why the stainless steel includes the radioactive material, but it probably got into it in the process of producing steel material," Bridgestone Cycle spokesman Toshikazu Sato said.

Riding the bicycle for an hour a day would expose the rider to 0.059 millisievert a year, the ministry said. The level is far below the 100-millisievert level thought to increase the risk of cancer.

Sato also said the company has not yet decided when to issue the recall.

Bridgestone Cycle, a unit of tire maker Bridgestone Co., will recall Jobno models JB40TP, JB60TP, JB63TP, JB70TP, JB73TP, JB40T, JB43T, JB60T, JB63T, JB70T and JB73T. The company's customer call center can be reached at 0120-72-1911.