Another #Radioactive Rice from Chiba, 46 Becquerels/Kg

The rice has been cleared for shipping, because the level of radioactive cesium is much below the national provisional safety limit of 500 becquerels/kg which will pose no threat to health, according to the authorities in Chiba.



It's "Koshihikari" brand rice, but since it's not from Niigata the rice may be blended and sold. If it's blended, there is no requirement to state where the rice was harvested.



Caveat emptor, except the buyers don't have all information available to them to decide on their own.



From Sankei Shinbun (8/27/2011):

千葉県は２７日、市川市で栽培された収穫後のコメの本検査で、国の暫定基準値（１キログラム当たり５００ベクレル）を大幅に下回る４６ベクレルの放射性セシウムを検出したと発表した。「健康に問題ないレベル」として、同日以降の出荷を認めた。



Chiba Prefecture announced on August 27 that 46 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was detected from the rice harvested in Ichikawa City. The prefectural government considers the level as "not affecting health", and has permitted the shipment of the rice as of August 27.



　東京電力福島第１原発の事故後、千葉県では白井市の収穫前のコメから微量のセシウムを検出しており、今回で２例目。全国では茨城県鉾田市、福島県二本松市に続いて４例目となった。



In Chiba Prefecture, a small amount of radioactive cesium was detected in the rice before the harvest in Shirai City. The detection of radioactive cesium in rice in Ishikawa City is the second in Chiba, the fourth in Japan. One location in Hokota City in Ibaraki Prefecture and one location in Nihonmatsu City in Fukushima Prefecture also had radioactive cesium in rice.



　千葉県によると、セシウムが検出されたのは、２４日に市川市の１カ所で採取したコシヒカリの玄米。千葉や野田、成田、銚子、旭の５市のコメからは検出されなかった。



According to Chiba Prefecture, radioactive cesium was detected from the brown rice of Koshihikari taken on August 24 in one location in Ichikawa City. No radioactive cesium was detected in rice in Chiba City, Noda City, Narita City, Choshi City and Asahi City.



　千葉県では、これで本検査を終えて基準値以下だった４２市町村でコメの流通が可能になった。



Rice can be sold and shipped in 42 municipalities in Chiba Prefecture now that the post-harvest testing has been complete and the level of radioactive cesium was below the provisional safety limit.

That's what the provisional "safety" limit is there for: to plant the idea in people's mind that anything below that limit is "safe". Clearly many producers and all of government bureaucrats from municipal level upward believe that, and excoriate consumers who still don't buy that argument (and don't buy the produce).

More about → Another #Radioactive Rice from Chiba, 46 Becquerels/Kg

#Radioactive Rice in Chiba and Ibaraki, but Not in Fukushima

Not to the extent that may cause "chaos" as Professor Kosako predicted, but the prefectural authorities have tested the early harvest and radioactive cesium has been found in Ibaraki and Chiba.



The first to find radioactive rice was Ibaraki Prefecture, but the governor vows to fight the "baseless rumor" to promote rice from his prefecture.



From Sankei Shinbun (8/19/2011):

　茨城県鉾田市で栽培された玄米から放射性セシウムが検出されたことを受け、同県の橋本昌知事は１９日、記者団の取材に応じ「安全性に問題はない。８月下旬の本検査の結果を踏まえた上で、茨城のコメは心配ないと、消費者に説明していきたい」と話し、風評被害の防止に全力を尽くす意向を示した。



As the brown rice grown in Hokota City in Ibaraki Prefecture was found with radioactive cesium, Governor of Ibaraki Masaru Hashimoto answered the reporters on August 19 and said "There is no problem with safety. After the formal testing is complete by the end of August, we will persuade the consumers that there's nothing to worry about consuming Ibaraki rice", and that he will do his best to counter the "baseless rumor".



　橋本知事は「１年間食べたとしても心配するレベルではない」と強調。一方で「ほかの野菜からも検出されているのでコメから出てもおかしくないと思っていた」とも述べた。



Governor Hashimoto emphasized safety by saying "It is not the level to worry, even if you eat [the rice] for one whole year". At the same time, he said "Since radioactive cesium has been detected in vegetables, I wouldn't have been surprised to see it detected in rice".



　今回、セシウムが検出されたのは予備検査として採取された玄米。１キログラム当たりセシウム１３４が２３ベクレル、セシウム１３７が２９ベクレルの計５２ベクレルで、国の暫定基準値（同５００ベクレル）を大幅に下回っていた。



Radioactive cesium was detected in the brown rice in the preliminary testing. Total 52 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was found, with 23 becquerels/kg of cesium-134 and 29 becquerels/kg of cesium-137. The amount was far below the national provisional safety limit (500 becquerels/kg total radioactive cesium).

Governor Hashimoto is a former career bureaucrat and a graduate of Tokyo University.



Next to detect cesium in rice was Chiba.



From Mainichi Shinbun (8/26/2011):

千葉県は２５日、福島第１原発事故による放射性物質の影響を調べる収穫前のコメの予備調査で、同県白井市で栽培されたもち米「こがねもち」から、１キロ当たり４７ベクレルの放射性セシウムを検出したと発表した。国の暫定規制値（同５００ベクレル）を大幅に下回ったが、コメの検査で放射性セシウムが検出されたのは、茨城県鉾田市に次ぎ全国で２例目。



Chiba Prefecture announced on August 25 that 47 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was found in the mochi-rice (glutinous rice) grown in Shirai City in Chiba Prefecture in the preliminary test before the harvest to survey the effect of radioactive materials from the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident. The amount of radioactive cesium was far below the national provisional safety limit (500 becquerels/kg). It is the second case of radioactive cesium detection in the country, the first one being in Hokota City in Ibaraki Prefecture.



　千葉県安全農業推進課によると、白井市内２地点で２２日に採取した玄米を検査。うち１地点で放射性セシウム１３４が２２ベクレル、同１３７が２５ベクレル検出され、計４７ベクレルだった。同県は８月末をめどに収穫後の玄米を本調査する方針で、規制値以下なら出荷が可能となる。



According to the division for safe agriculture promotion in Chiba prefectural government, the brown rice taken at two locations within Shirai City on August 22 was tested. From one location, 47 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was detected, with cesium 134 22 becquerels/kg and cesium-137 25 becquerels/kg. The prefectural government plans to conduct the full survey on the brown rice after the harvest by the end of August, and if the rice tests under the provisional safety limit it will be allowed to be shipped.

But in Fukushima, hardly any radioactive cesium was detected in the early harvest rice.



From Yomiuri Shinbun (8/26/2011):

福島県は２６日、二本松市の旧大平村、本宮市の旧和木沢村、旧荒井村、郡山市の旧喜久田村の田んぼで収穫された早場米の放射性物質の検査結果を発表した。



Fukushima Prefecture announced on August 26 the test results of the early-harvest rice harvested in a location in Nihonmatsu City, two locations in Motomiya City, and one location in Koriyama City.



　旧大平村のコメからは放射性セシウムが１キロ・グラム当たり２２ベクレル（暫定規制値５００ベクレル）、ほかは検出されなかった。県は同日、旧荒井村以外の３地区については、旧市町村単位のすべての田んぼの検査で問題がなかったとして、出荷を認めた。東京電力福島第一原発の事故後、同県のコメの出荷は初めてとなる。



From the location in Nihonmatsu City, 22 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was found. No radioactive cesium was detected in all the other locations. Based on the results, the prefectural government has allowed the rice harvested in these locations, except for one in Motomiya City, to be shipped. It will be the first shipment of rice from Fukushima after the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident.



　県によると、検査したのは２５、２６日に収穫された早稲種の「五百川」と「瑞穂黄金」の玄米。旧大平村のコメも白米にして検査したところ、放射性物質は検出されなかった。旧荒井村については、すべての田んぼの検査が終わり、規制値を下回れば出荷が認められる。



According to Fukushima Prefecture, two types of early-harvest rice harvested on August 25 and 26 were tested. When the rice in the Nihonmatsu City location was milled, no radioactive materials were detected. As to the location in Motomiya City (Arai-mura), the testing was done on all rice fields. If the results show the level of radioactive cesium is less than the provisional safety limit, the rice will be allowed to be shipped.

These cities are located in "Naka-dori" (middle third) of Fukushima Prefecture where highly radioactive rice hay has been found. 500,000 becquerels/kg of cesium was found in rice hay in Koriyama City, and in Motomiya City, 57 kilometers west of Fukushima I Nuke Plant, the number was even higher at 690,000 becquerels/kg.



For your reference,

• Fukushima's radioactive cesium detection limit, according to the prefecture: 10 becquerels/kg

• Radioactive cesium (cesium-137) in rice in Fukushima before the accident: ND to 0.14 becquerels/kg, after milling
  
  

• Radioactive cesium (cesium-137) in rice in Chiba before the accident: ND, after milling

• Radioactive cesium (cesium-137) in rice in Ibaraki before the accident: ND to 0.045 becquerel/kg, after milling
  
  
  
  (source data for radioactive cesium in rice in Fukushima, Chiba, Ibaraki from Japan Chemical Analysis Center, from 2000 to 2009)

More about → #Radioactive Rice in Chiba and Ibaraki, but Not in Fukushima

#Radiation in Japan: 70,800 Becquerels/kg Cesium from Burning Household Waste at Kashiwa City, Chiba

Only yesterday (July 9), the officials of this city in Chiba, which has had consistently elevated levels of radiation since the Fukushima accident, announced they had detected radioactive cesium in the ashes after burning the household garbage at its waste processing plants. Over 8,000 becquerels/kg (threshold above which they cannot bury the ashes) but only slightly over 10,000 becquerels/kg.

Wrong.

One day later on July 10, the city announced it was 70,800 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium from the ashes.

Oops.

From Mainichi Shinbun (7/10/2011):

千葉県柏市は１０日、市内の清掃工場で発生した焼却灰から、１キログラム当たり７万ベクレルを超える放射性セシウムを検出したことを明らかにした。東京電力福島第１原発事故の影響とみられ、焼却灰の埋め立てを６月末から中止している。現状では、約２カ月で灰の保管スペースがなくなり、一般家庭などからの可燃ごみの受け入れが不可能になると予想される。

Kashiwa City in Chiba Prefecture disclosed on July 10 that the radioactive cesium exceeding 70,000 becquerels/kg has been detected from the burned ashes at the city's waste processing plant. It is considered to be the result of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident, and the city has halted burying the ashes since the end of June. At the current rate, the city will run out of space to store the ashes, and it won't be able to accept the household trash.

　国は６月、同８０００ベクレル以上の焼却灰は埋め立てず、一時保管するよう指針を定めたが、一時保管後の処分方法は決めていない。同市は週明けにも国に対し（１）埋め立て可能な最終処分の新基準策定（２）一時保管場所の確保（３）処分費用の全額国庫負担－－を緊急要望する方針という。

The national government set the guideline in June to temporarily store the ashes that tested 8,000 becquerels/kg [of cesium] or more, but there is no guideline as to what to do with the ashes after the temporary storage. The city plans to ask the national government to: 1) come up with a new standard for the final burial; 2) secure the space for temporary storage; 3) fully pay for the disposal cost.

　同市によると、公園や一般家庭の庭などで放射線量を下げる目的で、草刈りや樹木の枝・葉の剪定（せんてい）を実施し、可燃ごみとして清掃工場へ持ち込まれたため、数値が上がった可能性があるという。

According to the city, it is possible that the number was high because the residents cut grasses and clipped leaves and branches in their backyards trying to lower the radiation level and they were sent to the plants as burnable waste.

　２カ所の清掃工場のうち、６月下旬から７月上旬まで３回の検査の最大値は南部クリーンセンターで同７万８００ベクレル、北部クリーンセンターで同９７８０ベクレル。両センターの焼却灰の最終処分場で同４万８９００ベクレルだった。

The city has two waste processing plants. The highest radiation of 70,800 becquerels/kg was measured at the Nanbu (southern) Clean Center in the three tests done since the end of June. At the Hokubu (northern) Clean Center, it was 9,780 becquerels/kg. When the ashes from the two plants were combined at the final disposal facility, it was 48,900 becquerels/kg.

　同市は１日平均２８０トンの可燃ごみを２清掃工場で受け入れ、同２１．３トンの焼却灰を最終処分場に埋め立てている。

The city accepts the average of 280 tonnes per day of burnable waste at its two waste processing plant, and buries the average of 21.3 tonnes of burned ashes at the final disposal facility.

Kashiwa City's website doesn't have any news or data on the radioactive ashes at its waste processing plants, and the last update of the Nanbu Clean Center web page was done on March 29.

If Koto-ku (in Tokyo) 's sludge plant is any example, the radioactive cesium from the burned trash may have been contaminating the downwind areas in Kashiwa City, a secondary contamination.

More about → #Radiation in Japan: 70,800 Becquerels/kg Cesium from Burning Household Waste at Kashiwa City, Chiba

"Now They Tell Us" Series: Depleted Uranium Storage Facility Next to Cosmo Oil Refinary In Chiba Burned after Earthquake Hit on March 11

The facility belongs to Chisso Petrochemical, and it contained 765 kilograms of depleted uranium at 0.3% concentration. It caught fire when the adjacent Cosmo Oil LPG tank caught fire and exploded. Not a problem, the Chiba government now says, and Chisso hasn't said anything about the facility.

There was a "baseless rumor"(link in Japanese) that circulated on the Internet on March 12 that said "Harmful substance will come down with the rain after the Cosmo Oil fire. Do not expose your skin." Cosmo Oil and the government dismissed the rumor vehemently. Maybe the "baseless rumor" was not about Cosmo Oil's tank but about Chisso's depleted uranium...

From Chiba Nippo (7/1/2011):

劣化ウラン保管施設も延焼
コスモ石油のガスタンク火災で

Depleted Uranium Storage Facility Also Burned when Cosmo Oil's Gas Tank Exploded

　６月千葉県議会は３０日、総務防災と総合企画水道の２常任委員会が開かれた。総務防災では、東日本大震災で発生したコスモ石油千葉製油所（市原市）の液化石油ガス（ＬＰＧ）タンク火災・爆発に伴い、隣接する劣化ウラン保管施設も延焼していたことが明らかになった。放射性物質の漏えいはなかったとしている。

On June 30 Chiba Prefectural Assembly held meetings of 2 standing committees, "general affairs and disaster countermeasures" and "planning and water". In the general affairs and disaster countermeasures committee, it was revealed that the LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) tank fire and explosion at Cosmo Oil Refinery in Ichihara City, Chiba also burned the adjacent depleted uranium storage facility. There was no leak of radioactive materials, according to the committee.

　【総務防災】県消防課は、同製油所のガスタンクの火災・爆発事故で、隣接するチッソ石油化学の劣化ウラン保管倉庫の屋根が焼け落ちていたことを明らかにした。

The Chiba prefectural fire department disclosed that the depleted uranium storage facility's roof was burned down because of the fire and explosion of the LPG tank at Cosmo Oil. The depleted uranium storage facility belongs to Chisso Petrochemical [subsidiary of Chisso Corporation].

　同課によると、同倉庫は「核燃料使用事業所」として国の許可を受け、ガス製造用の触媒として使われる劣化ウラン７６５キログラムが保管されており、放射性物質が０・３％含まれていた。

According to the fire department, the storage facility is licensed by the national government as "nuclear fuel usage location", and had 765 kilograms of depleted uranium that contained 0.3% of radioactive material [uranium]. The depleted uranium is used as catalyst for gas production.

Looking at Chisso's press releases, there is no mention of the depleted uranium storage facility at this plant location. The explosion and fire at Cosmo Oil Refinery was finally put out on March 21, at which point Chisso was able to go inside their plant to assess the fire damage.

Ichihara City is on the west side of Chiba Prefecture, facing the Tokyo Bay, and there are many industrial plants and petrochemical facilities on the reclaimed land on the Tokyo Bay. Chisso Petrochemical is marked with a Yellow balloon with a dot:

View Tokyo bay in a larger map
A minor detail, but Chisso Petrochemical is NOT adjacent to Cosmo Oil, by the way. There is Maruzen Oil in between the two. Hmmm. How would Chisso's facility catch fire when Maruzen's did not?

Here are some video of Cosmo Oil explosion on March 11, in case you missed:
http://youtu.be/TZqhc-ysHzM (Asahi Shinbun footage)
http://youtu.be/x3Hy2LV_lLo (explosion that darkens the sky after 1:40 into the video)

By the way, Chisso is the same company that caused extensive mercury poisoning in the Minamata Bay in Kyushu by dumping methylmercury in the wastewater from the company's chemical plant, and the company has been kept "alive" so that it makes profit to pay compensations to the victims. TEPCO's likely future.

(By the way, turning gossipy, Japan's crown princess is the granddaughter of the Chisso president who fought and fought the "allegation" in the 1960s that his company's plant caused mercury poisoning.)

More about → "Now They Tell Us" Series: Depleted Uranium Storage Facility Next to Cosmo Oil Refinary In Chiba Burned after Earthquake Hit on March 11