Radioactive contamination

March 28, 2012

Bamboo shoot contamination detected

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120328_06.html

More radioactive contamination has been found in farm products for human consumption about 200 kilometers from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Authorities in a northern city of Chiba prefecture on Tuesday sampled bamboo shoots grown for food. They found contamination of up to 250 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram. 180 becquerels of cesium was found in the bamboo shoots harvested in another northern city in the prefecture. Both locations are some 200 kilometers from the crippled nuclear plant.

The contamination levels are up to two-and-a-half times the government's new limit of 100 becquerels per kilogram, which goes into effect next month.

Prefectural officials also say 130 becquerels of cesium per kilogram was detected last week in a bamboo shoot in a third city.

The prefecture is asking farmers to refrain from shipping their bamboo shoots to customers.

The officials suspect radioactive cesium carried from Fukushima landed upon the leaves of the parent bamboo and was absorbed by the roots.