Effect of contaminated soil on food chain sparks fears, Cesium absorption through roots may have

[sce56]

long-term effect on farming



Six months after the nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima Prefecture, the public's awareness of the threat posed by radiation is entering a new phase: the realization that the biggest danger now and in the future is from contaminated soil. The iodine-131 ejected into the sky by the Fukushima No. 1 power station disaster was quickly detected in vegetables and tap water — even as far away as Tokyo, 220 km south of the plant.

But contamination levels are now so low they are virtually undetectable, thanks to the short half-life of iodine-131 — eight days — and stepped up filtering by water companies. But cesium is proving to be a tougher foe. The element's various isotopes have half-lives ranging from two to 30 years, generating concern about the food chain in Fukushima Prefecture, a predominantly agricultural region, as the elements wash fallout into the ground. The root of the problem is, well — roots.

Cesium-134 and cesium-137 are viewed as potential health threats because vegetables can absorb the isotopes from the soil they're planted in. "Until early spring, produce was contaminated (on the surface with radioactive materials) that the No. 1 plant discharged into the atmosphere. But now, the major route of contamination is through plant roots," said Kunikazu Noguchi, a radiation protection expert at Nihon University.


So how does this Island nation cleanup all that dirty dirt?

Nuke power is for Morons!

[Prometheus Bound]

1. Certain sunflower species apparently suck it up and clean the soil.

Still, I would never knowingly eat food from that soil ever, no matter how much it was decontaminated.

[sam11111]

2. bet they export such food to US - GOP got rid of "Country Of Origin" on food

AFAIK

Tho might have been Clinton

Anyone sure?

[Raschel]

6. IDK but I hate that! If I can only see "distributed by" on a food item I don't buy it.

I'm sure that hasn't always helped me avoid imported food tho.

[midnight]

3. K&R.

[ellenrr]

4. do you have a link for this? thanks. n/t

[sam11111]

5. "all uranium back in the ground" is a fine goal for a treaty

A mine hole, not farmland...just to be clear

[sce56]

7. Sorry I thought I put it in there Japan Times

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110911a3.html