Radioactive Japan: New Cesium Safety Limit - What New Cesium Safety Limit? (Fukushima)

Ex-SKF.blogspot.com ^ | April 9, 2012 | ex-skf.blogspot.com

[ransomnote]

No matter how the government tweak the safety limits for radioactive cesium in food items, the public are left fending for themselves after all.

First, if you don't measure it, you won't know it.

Chiba Prefecture says it has just found out that fresh shiitake mushrooms sold at an unmanned farm stand had 740 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium. The mushrooms have already been consumed. The prefectural government assures us that the amount is small, and there will be "no immediate, direct" consequence on health.

As if all cesium people ingest is from this shiitake crop.

From Jiji Tsushin (4/9/2012):

740 becquerels from Shiitake sold at an unmanned farm stand in Chiba, already sold and consumed

Chiba Prefecture announced on April 9 that shiitake mushrooms cultivated outdoors in Shirai City were found with 740 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium, exceeding the safety limit of 100 becquerels/kg [notice it is not provisional anymore; it's permanent]. The farmer had already sold 4 kilograms of these mushrooms, and all had been consumed. The prefectural government requested the city to voluntarily halt shipment.

The prefectural government says, "The amount of consumption and the amount of radioactivity are not so great, so it is inconceivable that there will be an immediate, direct damage."

The old, provisional safety limit was 500 becquerels/kg, and the radioactivity of these mushrooms even exceeded the old level. And the same old "requesting voluntary halt" to save money. (Voluntary action is not compensated by the government.)

Second, if you change testing methodology, voila, it is below the safety limit.

Ibaraki Prefecture is one of the prefectures in northern Kanto region whose teas tested above the provisional safety limit of 500 becquerels/kg last year. But now, the national government has changed the rule for teas.

[Vince Ferrer]

Mushrooms can live in very high radiation, and some species even seem to use radiation for energy. Some species, including ones cultivated for food, concentrate radioactive elements in their fruit far more than the ambient radioactivity around them. They would probably be one of the most dangerous foods possible to grow and eat in a radioactive environment.

[ransomnote]

I’ve wondered if that is the reason wild boar in Europe tend to show up with excessive levels of radiation; I assume the boar are eating truffles, mushrooms etc.

[Deagle]

Keep in mind that this is what Government does. Limit the damage the best it can. Means nothing regarding real safety of individuals - it is about the best for the community and the country. Such is life.

Take all statements by Government with a very low grain of salt.

[wetgundog]

Glowing turds in the “honey pot”