Setagaya, Tokyo's 170 Microsieverts/Hr Supermarket: Europium-152??

While we wait for the digging to start (October 31 Japan Time) in the supermarket compound in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo where extremely high radiation has been detected, nuclear experts and lay people chime in with the theories as to why the radiation is so high.

One theory, offered by Professor Masahiro Fukushi of Tokyo Metropolitan University, is that a radioactive material called "europium" must be buried in the soil, according to TV Asahi (10/30/2011). He has been appearing on TV since March 11 to offer his expert opinions on radiation matters.

Professor Fukushi's theory is based on the fact that there used to be a agricultural junior college on the same land where the supermarket is now, up till 38 years ago. He says europium-152 (half life 13 years) may have been used to analyze how the fertilizer was mixed in the soil.

A big flaw in his theory: TV Asahi interviewed a graduate of this agricultural college who said, "It was the economics division of the college. We didn't do any experiment at all." Oops.

We'll find out soon enough. The Ministry of Education and Science is going to dig up the high radiation spots in the supermarket compound in the afternoon of October 31 (Japan Time).

Radium, europium, anything would be welcome except for radioactive materials of Fukushima origin for Setagaya residents. (After all, you do not want to have your home value to decline because of invisible radiation.)

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