ID :
169397
Sat, 03/19/2011 - 16:47
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https://oananews.org//node/169397
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Milk with high radiation levels found near quake-hit nuclear plant+
TOKYO, March 19 Kyodo -
Milk and spinach from areas near the quake-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have been found with radiation above Japan's regulated standards, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Saturday.
Edano, however, said at a news conference that the levels of radiation detected do not immediately pose a risk to human health, asking consumers to remain calm.
If the milk was consumed for a year at the average rate for Japanese people, the radiation level would be equivalent to a single CT scan, Edano said, adding that for the spinach it would be equivalent to a fifth of the level of a CT scan.
The raw milk from the town of Kawamata in Fukushima Prefecture was collected between Wednesday and Friday, and the contaminated spinach, from six municipalities in Ibaraki Prefecture, was picked on Friday, according to the health ministry.
The six municipalities are Takahagi, Hitachi, Hitachinaka, Hitachiota, Daigo and Tokaimura.
The nuclear power plant has suffered a series of problems, including explosions and radiation leaks, since a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the country's northeast on March 11.
The government has set an exclusion zone covering areas within a 20-kilometer radius of the plant and has urged people within 20 to 30 km to stay indoors.
Both the raw milk and the spinach originated from outside the 30-km zone. Iodine around three to five times higher than normal levels was detected in the milk, the ministry said.
Iodine around three to seven and a half times higher than normal levels has been detected in the spinach, it said, adding that cesium was also found in some of the spinach.
Edano, the government's top spokesman, said it will look at further data and make sure nobody is facing any health problems.
The ministry asked the two prefectures to check distribution channels for the milk and spinach and take necessary measures.
According to the Fukushima prefectural government, the raw milk has not reached the market as a factory that should have processed it was not in operation in the wake of the quake.
The prefectural government asked all dairy farmers in the town of Kawamata to voluntarily refrain from shipping or using their raw milk. It also urged all farmers within the zone not to ship or consume their products.
The Ibaraki prefectural government also said the possibility of the spinach having reached the market was very low.
Milk and spinach from areas near the quake-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have been found with radiation above Japan's regulated standards, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Saturday.
Edano, however, said at a news conference that the levels of radiation detected do not immediately pose a risk to human health, asking consumers to remain calm.
If the milk was consumed for a year at the average rate for Japanese people, the radiation level would be equivalent to a single CT scan, Edano said, adding that for the spinach it would be equivalent to a fifth of the level of a CT scan.
The raw milk from the town of Kawamata in Fukushima Prefecture was collected between Wednesday and Friday, and the contaminated spinach, from six municipalities in Ibaraki Prefecture, was picked on Friday, according to the health ministry.
The six municipalities are Takahagi, Hitachi, Hitachinaka, Hitachiota, Daigo and Tokaimura.
The nuclear power plant has suffered a series of problems, including explosions and radiation leaks, since a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the country's northeast on March 11.
The government has set an exclusion zone covering areas within a 20-kilometer radius of the plant and has urged people within 20 to 30 km to stay indoors.
Both the raw milk and the spinach originated from outside the 30-km zone. Iodine around three to five times higher than normal levels was detected in the milk, the ministry said.
Iodine around three to seven and a half times higher than normal levels has been detected in the spinach, it said, adding that cesium was also found in some of the spinach.
Edano, the government's top spokesman, said it will look at further data and make sure nobody is facing any health problems.
The ministry asked the two prefectures to check distribution channels for the milk and spinach and take necessary measures.
According to the Fukushima prefectural government, the raw milk has not reached the market as a factory that should have processed it was not in operation in the wake of the quake.
The prefectural government asked all dairy farmers in the town of Kawamata to voluntarily refrain from shipping or using their raw milk. It also urged all farmers within the zone not to ship or consume their products.
The Ibaraki prefectural government also said the possibility of the spinach having reached the market was very low.
