Radiation found in Japanese rice crops

JAPANESE government officials have found the first case of rice with radioactive materials far exceeding safety levels in the area near the Fukushima nuclear plant.

The preliminary test means that a thorough inspection is needed of all rice to be harvested from the region.

The government said radioactive caesium of 500 becquerels per kg was found in a sample of the pre-harvested rice in Nihonmatsu city, in Fukushima Prefecture, 35 miles west of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant which was crippled by the earthquake and tsunami in March, which in turn triggered the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 25 years.

Officials added that the Fukushima Prefecture will now expand the inspection spots nearly tenfold to around 300 areas.

It is the first case in Japan of rice containing radioactive caesium exceeding 200 becquerels per kg, a level which requires further thorough testing of the area for the harvested rice.

The government introduced inspection guidelines in August, with preliminary tests followed by more inspections before shipments can be approved.

If these preliminary tests find the rice to contain radioactive caesium levels of 200 becquerels per kg or more, the rice crop will then have to be tested more thoroughly before any shipments.

If the level of caesium in rice exceeds the government-imposed cap of 500 becquerels per kg, shipments of locally produced rice will then be halted.