#Radioactive Strontium Was Detected in Monthly Fallout As Late As November Last Year in Chiba, Ibaraki, Ministry of Education's Data Shows

But the Ministry of Education (MEXT) doesn't think the strontium-90 fallout after May last year was of Fukushima origin.

Following up on the post about strontium-90 fallout last year that MEXT (Ministry of Education and Science) announced on July 24 this year, I found some interesting data in the Japan Chemical Analysis Center where I created the chart plotting the Sr-90 fallout for the past 50 years or so in Japan (reproduced here).

The 2011 monthly fallout data for strontium-90 at the Japan Chemical Analysis Center is easier to see than the MEXT PDF file pages (they are the same data). As I was browsing through the search result, I started to wonder:

When was the last month that strontium-90 was detected in the fallout for these ten prefectures?

So here it is, from the search result at the Japan Chemical Analysis Center's website, the last date when strontium-90 was detected in the monthly fallout in the cities/prefectures in Tohoku and Kanto in 2011:

Aomori City, Aomori: March 31
Morioka City, Iwate: September 10
Akita City, Akita: July 1
Yamagata City, Yamagata: July 1
Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki: November 1
Utsunomiya City, Tochigi: August 1
Maebashi City, Gunma: June 1
Saitama City (Sakura-ku), Saitama: August 1
Ichihara City, Chiba: November 1
Chiba City (Inage-ku), Chiba: November 1
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo: August 1
Chigasaki City, Kanagawa: June 30

Of these results, MEXT doesn't seem to think the detection in Aomori had anything to do with the Fukushima nuclear accident, as the prefecture is excluded from the list by MEXT in the press release (see my previous post for the MEXT list). In addition, MEXT seems to think the fallout after the first two to three months of the accident (March through May, 2011) is due not to the Fukushima accident but to the past atmospheric nuclear testing because the measured amount did not exceed the amount prior to the Fukushima accident.

Outside Kanto and Tohoku regions, there are occasional detection of strontium-90 in:

Niigata City (Nishi-ku), Niigata: May 2
Imizu City, Toyama: April 1
Kakamigahara City, Gifu: July 1
Shizuoka City (Aoi-ku), Shizuoka: August 1
Yokkaichi City, Mie: May 2
Kyoto City (Fushimi-ku), Kyoto: April 1
Wakayama City, Wakayama: November 1
Okayama City (Minami-ku), Okayama: April 1
Ishii-cho (Myozai-gun), Tokushima: April 1
Takamatsu City, Kagawa: April 1
Matsuyama City, Ehime: April 1
Kochi City, Kochi: April 1

Likewise, none of the detections above is considered by MEXT as the result of the Fukushima accident.

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#Radioactive Japan: Tsukuba City, Ibaraki's Official Radiation Test for Food Showed Only One-Third of What Was Actually In the Food (Barley), Says a Citizens' Group

In April this year, a citizen volunteer group in Tsukuba City in Ibaraki Prefecture set up "Ibaraki Citizens Radioactivity Measuring Station" to test food and soil for radioactive materials (iodine, cesium). The group uses AT1320A by ATOMTEX (Belarus) with an NaI scintillation survey meter.

The group says over 100 Bq/kg of radioactive cesium was detected from the barley harvested in 2011, using their detector. From the same barley, Tsukuba City had only detected 35 Bq/kg. Tsukuba City uses Hitachi NaI scintillation survey meter, according to the city's website. (The new safety limit for radioactive cesium is 100 Bq/kg.)

So why the huge difference?

It turned out that the city's measurement time was too short, and the software for the detector was not updated. When the city lengthened the measurement time and did the software upgrade, the city's detector found 115 Bq/kg of radioactive cesium.

What a surprise.

According to their blogpost on May 29, 2012, here's what happened:

市民測定所にて、スタッフの11年産の大麦が110Bq/kg程度と計測されました。測定時間を延長するなど、再測定を何度も実施したところ、やはり100Bq/kg程度。

At our Citizens Radioactivity Measuring Station, barley harvested in 2011 by one of our staff was found with 110 Bq/kg [of radioactive cesium]. We repeated the measurement a number of times by extending the measurement time, but the result was still about 100 Bq/kg.

同じ大麦を、以前、つくば市の測定器で測定した際には、35Bq/kgの結果でした。あまりにも結果に開きがあるので、つくば市にて再測定。

The same barley had been tested before, using the detector of Tsukuba City. The result then had been 35 Bq/kg. The two numbers diverged so much, so we had it tested again by Tsukuba City's detector.

結果は115Bq/kg。

The result was 115 Bq/kg.

測定時間が10分から30分へ延長したことと、ソフトのバージョンアップのため、測定所の結果と同等の結果が得られるようになっていました。

[Since the previous measurement,] the city lengthened the measuring time from 10 minutes to 30 minutes and did the software version update [for the detector], which allowed their detector to obtain the similar result as ours.

＊＊＊

これを受けて、口頭で、近隣の麦類に対して、再検査を実施してもらえるよう、茨城県とつくば市に要望するも、「自家用」であるため、対応できないとの回答でした。

Based on this result, we made an oral request to Ibaraki Prefecture and Tsukuba City to re-test the barley grown in the neighborhood areas [of Tsukuba, I assume], but they said they wouldn't, because the barley was for "personal consumption".

その後、話し合いの場を持った上で、今回、書面として、要望書を提出しました。

After we had an opportunity to further discuss with them, we submitted the written request [to the prefecture and the city] today.

The group calls for the consistent and continuous monitoring of radioactive materials in food, and prompt and open disclosure of the results. For Tsukuba City in particular, the group is asking the city to (1) test commercially available food if the radioactivity in food for non-commercial, personal consumption exceeds 100 Bq/kg; and (2) test using the germanium semiconductor detector owned by the prefectural government when the radioactivity in food (commercial or non-commercial) exceeds 100 Bq/kg by the group's testing

Mainichi Shinbun (5/30/2012) reported on this written request from this group. In the article, Mainichi says "Tsukuba City stopped publishing the test results for the agricultural products for personal consumption".

This news hasn't got much attention in Japan, and the group's site does not have an update.

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#Radioactive Japan: Professor Mori Suspects Deformity of Cedar in Ibaraki Prefecture May Be Due to Radiation Exposure

Dr. Satoshi Mori, professor emeritus at Tokyo University (Faculty of Agriculture), has the photographs of male and female flowers of a cedar tree that he collected this year in Hitachinaka City in Ibaraki Prefecture. The city is located at about 120 kilometers from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant.

Cedar is simultaneously monoecious - i.e. bearing separate flowers of both sexes at the same time. Professor Mori explains that some branches bear only male flowers while others bear only female flowers.

But what he found in the cedar tree in Hitachinaka City was asymmetrical, malformed branches with both male and female flowers.

From Professor Mori's blog (6/15/2012):

First, these are what the normal cedar flowers should look like. Note the beautiful symmetry in both:

Male flowers:



Female flowers:



Now, cedar branches he found in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture:

Male flowers growing on top and at the bottom of a female flower:



Female flowers were the odd ones out, Professor Mori says, because this branch was supposed to bear male flowers:



Symmetry is totally lost in this different male branch:



Callus in the center, with necrosis of male flowers (upper part):

Professor Mori suspects that the growing point of the cedar tree was irradiated, and that resulted in the developmental anomalies you see in these photos. He says more samples are needed to definitely conclude the anomalies are the result of irradiation.

Professor Mori has been studying the effect of radiation from the Fukushima accident on wild life by actually going to the affected, high-radiation areas including Iitate-mura in Fukushima and collecting samples - spiders, earthworms, dragon flies, cedars, etc. For more of his observations that I have covered, see these posts.

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This Year's Tea from Shizuoka with 12.37 Bq/kg of #Radioactive Cesium, Measured the Old Way (Dry Leaves)

Whatever the national government or the prefectural governments (particularly the hilarious Shizuoka Prefecture with the Oxford-grad governor) say, the retailers are testing green tea the old way - measuring the dry leaves - for their customers.

Here's a notice from Green Co-op on May 14, 2012, informing the customers that the organic first-pick "Fukamushi" green tea from Shizuoka Prefecture 100-gram package was found with:

cesium-134: 4.98 bq/kg
cesium-137: 7.39 bq/kg
Total: 12.37 bq/kg

They also tested the liquid after the tea was brewed, according to the new guideline from the government, and the cesium levels were below detection levels.

Green Co-op's own safety standard, the notice says, is 10 becquerels/kg of cesium in dry leaves. This particular Shizuoka tea exceeded the standard, but after consulting the directors of the co-op the management decided to offer the tea to the customers anyway. The reason for offering it to the customers even if the level exceeded its own safety standard is not given.

For numbers comparing the radioactivity measured in dry leaves and measured in brewed tea, go to my April post, which shows last year's examples from Shizuoka Prefecture.

There are several brands of green tea in other prefectures that have tested close to 10 bq/kg in brewed tea. The highest so far this year is the tea from a town in Ibaraki Prefecture, which tested 9.3 bq/kg in brewed tea. If you apply the last year's numbers from Shizuoka Prefecture, the dry leaves may have between 700 and 1000 bq/kg of radioactive cesium, far exceeding the provisional safety limit of 500 bq/kg effective until April 1, 2012. But since it passes the test under the new method of measuring brewed tea, the tea passed the test with flying colors, and the Ibaraki prefectural government says it will negotiate with the national government for lifting the shipping ban.

Having looked at the prefectural government sites so far, there is none who measures the green tea the old way.

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(UPDATED with Video) Tornado in Ibaraki Prefecture

UPDATE (5/7/2012):
890 houses were damaged in Ibaraki and Tochigi Prefectures.
52 people injured, one died (14-year-old boy).
9 kilometer long path in northern Tsukuba City
F3 on Fujita scale.
Japan Meteorological Agency issued warning 10 minutes before the tornado hit, but Tsukuba City didn't have the public warning system. The city in Tochigi hit by the tornado did have the public warning system, but didn't bother to use it because "warnings happen all the time".

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Nothing seems to go right for Japan since March 11, 2011...

From Yomiuri Shinbun (5/6/2012):

• Northern part of Tsukuba City in Ibaraki Prefecture was hit by tornado at about 45 minutes past noon on May 6, 2012.

• As of 2:40PM, at least 30 houses were destroyed, 30 people injured, including heavily injured.

• About 17,000 households are without electricity.

• Hails as big as 3 centimeters in diameters fell in Mito City.

ANN video. OMG.

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#Radioactive Turf in Nursery School in Akita Prefecture

The willful ignorance, or the determination to carry on with their lives they knew before March 11, of many Japanese is driving me crazy.

A nursery school in Akita Prefecture bought turf from Ibaraki Prefecture, which is located south of Fukushima Prefecture and was doused with radioactive materials by downwind from Fukushima I Nuke Plant creating areas with high radiation, in middle of July. Small children were playing on the freshly installed turf. Then the city came and measured the air radiation level. Guess what. It was high.

Duh.

From Yomiuri Shinbun local Akita version (9/8/2011):

横手市は７日、同市横手町の相愛保育園（園児１１８人）の園庭に植えられた芝生の上の空間放射線量を測ったところ、県の通常レベルの最大値である毎時０・０８６マイクロ・シーベルトを上回る同０・１３５マイクロ・シーベルトが検出されたと発表した。同園は７日休園し、芝生を除去した。

Yokote City in Akita Prefecture announced on September 7 that the air radiation level above the turf in the school yard at Soai Nursery School (118 children) was 0.135 microsievert/hr, exceeding the normal maximum level in Akita Prefecture of 0.086 microsievert/hr. The school didn't open on September 7, and removed the turf.

　同市子育て支援課などによると、同市は今月５日から、市内の保育園など５６施設を対象に空間放射線量を測定していた。同保育園で５日に行った測定で、芝生の地上１センチ、同５０センチ、同１メートルのいずれからも異常値が出た。芝生の外では異常はなかった。

The city had been measuring the air radiation levels since September 5 at 56 facilities including nursery schools. The survey done at this particular nursery school on September 5 revealed abnormal levels at 1 centimeter from the surface of the turf, 50 centimeters, and 1 meter. There was no abnormality outside the turfed area.

　芝生は７月中旬、横手市内の造園業者が茨城県つくば市の業者から仕入れ、同２１日、園庭の約８００平方メートルに植えた。７日、造園業者が芝生を掘り起こして撤去した後で測ったところ、異常はなかった。

The turf was bought by a landscaping contractor in Yokote City from a dealer in Tsukuba City in Ibaraki Prefecture. 800 square meters of the school yard were covered with the turf on July 21. The contractor removed the turf on September 7 and measured the radiation, which was then dropped to normal levels.

　同課の長谷山達夫課長は「危険な数値ではないと考えているが、慎重を期したい」と話している。

The city says "We don't think it is a dangerous level, but we want to be cautious".

　横手市は８日にも園庭で測定する。異常がなければ、同園は９日にも再開する。市は今後、撤去した芝生の放射性物質の濃度を検査する。

The city plans to measure the radiation on September 8, and if there is no abnormal reading the nursery school will open on September 9. The city will measure the density of radioactive materials in the removed turf.

No news of what happened to the turf or what kind of radioactive material density it had.

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#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)

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#Radiation in Japan Spreads: Wheat, Rapeseeds in Fukushima, Rice Hay Outside Fukushima Far Exceeding Safety Limit

No surprise to anyone who didn't trust the Japanese government.

From Asahi Shinbun (11:14PM JST 7/25/2011):

福島県は２５日、同県広野町の農家が収穫した小麦から、基準値を超える放射性セシウムが検出されたと発表した。この小麦は市場に流通していないという。小麦で基準値を超えた放射性物質の検出は初めて。

Fukushima Prefecture announced on July 25 that radioactive cesium exceeding the provisional limit was detected from the wheat harvested at a farm in Hirono-machi [23 kilometers south of Fukushima I Nuke Plant] in Fukushima Prefecture. The prefectural government says the wheat hasn't been sold in the market. It is the first time that radioactive cesium exceeding the limit has been detected in wheat.

　県によると、今月１９日にサンプルとして採取した小麦から、基準（１キログラムあたり５００ベクレル）を超える同６３０ベクレルの放射性セシウムが検出された。県は農家に出荷自粛を要請した。同県の昨年度の小麦生産量は６５１トンで、全国２５位。

According to the prefectural government, 630 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium was found in a sample taken on July 19. The prefectural government has asked the farm to withhold shipment on a voluntary basis. Fukushima Prefecture ranks No. 25th in wheat production in Japan, with 651 tonnes produced last year.

　また、同県田村市の農家が収穫したナタネからも、基準を超える同７２０ベクレルの放射性セシウムが検出された。流通はしておらず、県は出荷自粛を要請した。

Also, 720 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium has been detected in the rapeseeds harvested by a farm in Tamura City [41 kilometers west of Fukushima I Nuke Plant] in Fukushima. The rapeseeds haven't been shipped, and the prefectural government has asked the farm to withhold shipment on a voluntary basis.

Don't overly count on the statement that these crops haven't yet been sold in the market. That's as far as the farmer has told the government, or as far as the government can tell, which may not be much.

Also, for those who are wondering: When the government asks a farmer to withhold shipment "on a voluntary basis", it means that technically the farmer is free to ship but the government expects the farmer not to ship, and the farmer will not get compensated for not shipping because it is done on a "voluntary basis" - i.e. on his own judgment, technically. The government thus saves money. It is a code word used by the government that means "You are not supposed to ship, but we won't pay you for your potential loss."

Also from Asahi (4:49AM JST 7/26/2011):

茨城県は２５日、茨城県高萩市の農家で集められた稲わらから６万４千ベクレルの放射性セシウムを検出したと発表した。乾燥前の水を含んだ状態に換算すると約１万４５００ベクレルで、国の基準値（１キロあたり３００ベクレル）の４８倍となる。この農家からは牛は出荷されていなかった。

Ibaraki Prefecture announced on July 25 that 64,000 becquerels/kg of cesium was detected from the rice hay collected at a farm in Takahagi City [83 kilometers south of Fukushima I Nuke Plant] in Ibaraki Prefecture. If reconstituted, the level of radioactive cesium in the hay would be 14,500 becquerels/kg, more than 48 times the national safety limit [for the feed] of 300 becquerels/kg. No cow has been shipped from this farm.

　これまで福島、宮城、栃木、岩手各県で地元産の稲わらを与えた牛の肉から基準値を超えるセシウムが検出されている。

So far, radioactive cesium exceeding the safety limit has been detected in the meat from cows that were fed with the rice hay collected in Fukushima, Miyagi, Tochigi, and Iwate Prefectures.

So now in Ibaraki. The US government's decision to evacuate its citizens outside 80 kilometers radius from Fukushima I Nuke Plant, which has been criticized by some in the US media as "overreaction", has turned out to be the very prudent thing to do; maybe that wasn't even far enough, considering Takahagi City is outside that zone.

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17,020 Becquerels/Kg Cesium in Dirt Cleaned Out from Elementary School Swimming Pool in Ibaraki Prefecture

And who did the cleaning? Children.

Now on to one of the favorite topics of this blog: Swimming pools in Japan.

Well they did it again, this time the Board of Education in Joso City in Ibaraki Prefecture. Back in May, as one of the annual, educational events of the schools, public elementary schools and junior high schools in Joso City had their pupils clean out the school swimming pools in preparation for the school swimming classes during summer. The teachers also helped out. Together, they cleaned the pools and scooped out the dirt that had accumulated at the bottom of the pools.

5 schools kept the dirt in a corner of the schoolyards. At one elementary school, a concerned PTA member decided to measure the radiation of the dirt. The result? 17,020 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium.

There are 14 public elementary schools, 5 junior high schools in Joso City. The city's Board of Education runs both elementary schools and junior high schools.

From Mainichi Shinbun (7/5/2011):

常総市の市立小学校が５月にプール清掃を教員と児童で行った際にかき集めた泥土から、１キロ当たり１万７０２０ベクレルの放射性セシウムが検出されたこと が分かった。環境省が放射性物質汚染がれきについて定めた埋め立て許容基準の２倍に当たり、この学校は泥土を隔離。これを受けて市教育委員会が４日、全小 中学校のプール泥土の残存状況を調査したところ、同校の他に４小学校が敷地内に泥土を置いていることが明らかになった。

It was disclosed that 17,020 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium was detected from the dirt that were scooped out from the swimming pool when the teachers and pupils of one public elementary schools in Joso City did the cleaning of the pool in May. The amount is more than twice the safety limit set by the Ministry of the Environment for the radioactive debris that could be buried. The school moved the dirt in a separate area. Upon this news, the city's Board of Education surveyed the situation of the pool dirt in city's elementary schools and junior high schools on July 4, and found out there were 4 other elementary schools who had kept the dirt on the school premises.

同校ＰＴＡ関係者が敷地にあった泥土を６月１１日にバケツ１杯分採取し、うち３キロの試料を専門検査会社に送付。同２９日に届いた検査結果によると、セシウム１３４が７７００ベクレル、セシウム１３７が９３２０ベクレルだった。

A member of the school's PTA collected a bucketful of this dirt on June 11, and sent 3 kilograms of it to a laboratory specializing in radiation measurement. The result, which was delivered on June 29, showed the sample contained 7,700 becquerels/kg of cesium-134 and 9,320 becquerels/kg of cesium-137.

　環境省が先月公表した汚染がれき処理基準では、８０００ベクレル以下については埋め立て処理を認めるが、これを超すと放射線遮へい措置が必要となる。文部科学省はプールなどの泥土もこれに準じるとしている。

The safety limit for disposal of radioactive debris, as announced by the Ministry of the Environment last month, is 8,000 becquerels/kg. If it is below that limit, you can bury the debris. If it exceeds, then the measures will be necessary to shield the radiation. The Ministry of Education and Science says the dirt from the pool would be treated in the same manner.

　同校の教頭は「愛校作業として５、６年生が掃除に携わった」と話しており、放射性物質汚染の認識はなかったという。市教委は５月２５日、プール清掃に際し児童生徒の健康に配慮するよう各校長に指示したが、既に同校を含む４小中学校で児童生徒が清掃に参加していた。

The vice principal of the elementary school said, "As an activity to promote love for the school, 5th and 6th graders participated in the cleaning." The school didn't think of the radiation contamination then. The city's Board of Education instructed the principals of the city's schools on May 25 to pay attention to the health of pupils when cleaning the swimming pools, but by that time 4 schools including this elementary school had already had pupils clean the pools.

　市教委は同校のプール泥土を産業廃棄物として業者に処理を委託することを決定。他の４校の泥土については５日に放射線量を測り、校庭よりも高い数値が出た場合は産廃として処理する方針。坂巻幸一教育部長は「プール清掃は学校の指導の一環だが、配慮が足りなかったかもしれない」と述べた。

The city's Board of Education has decided to have a company that specializes in disposal of industrial waste to dispose the pool dirt from the school. As to the dirt at 4 other schools, the radiation will be measured on July 5. If the numbers are higher than those for the schoolyards, the dirt will be disposed as industrial waste. Koichi Sakamaki, manager for education [at the Board of Education] said, "Cleaning the swimming pools is part of the school instruction. But we should have been a bit more careful."

　調査したＰＴＡ関係者は「子どもが放射性物質に汚染された泥土の処理を行った事実を、将来の健康も考えて記録に残してほしい。市教委はきちんと対策を取り、情報を公開すべきだ」と指摘する。一方、県教委保健体育課は「評価基準はないが、掃除の後きちんと手を洗えばそれほど神経質になることはない」としている。

The member of the school's PTA says, "That the children did the cleanup of radioactive dirt should be recorded as such , for the future health monitoring. The city's Board of Education should provide appropriate countermeasures, and disclose information fully." The Board of Education of Ibaraki Prefecture, on the other hand, says "While it's true there is no standard for evaluating the pool dirt, but there is no need to be nervous as long as you wash your hands after cleaning the pool."

How could the school not think of radiation contamination, when the radioactive plume from Fukushima I Nuke Plant was constantly blowing over Ibaraki Prefecture and the air radiation level remains elevated? (I guess the vice principal didn't have access to the Internet to take a look at those foreign meteorological agencies' simulations...)

No matter. Cleaning is over now anyway, and the rest of the schools didn't even keep the dirt. But the pool water is clean, I'm sure.

But since when the dirt that contains that much radioactive cesium can be disposed as "industrial waste", instead of nuclear waste?

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Rejoice! Mito City Board of Education Declares Swimming Classes Are Safe at City's Schools

Sometimes, it makes one wonder why he/she should care about people in Japan, and I had one such moment when I read this article by Tokyo Shinbun.

Schools in Mito City in Ibaraki Prefecture, just south of Fukushima Prefecture, have started PE classes using swimming pools.

From Tokyo Shinbun (6/29/2011):

　水戸市教育委員会は二十七日、プールがある三十二の小学校、十三の中学校で水質検査を実施した。プールの水は水道水で、放射性物質は検出されなかった。安全性が裏づけられたのを受け、同市教委は水泳授業を始めてもよいとの通達を同日中に出した。

The Board of Education in Mito City [in Ibaraki Prefecture] measured the radiation in swimming pool water at 32 elementary schools and 13 junior high schools in the city on June 27. The water was from tap water, and there was no radioactive materials detected. Safety of the water thus assured, the city's Board of Education issued the notice the same day that the schools may start the swimming classes.

　二十八日は、二十二の小学校、三の中学校で水泳授業がスタートした。笠原小では新たに購入した高圧洗浄機で念入りにプール内やプールサイドを洗い 流すなどして、今月上旬から準備を進めていた。気温三〇度近い晴天の下、プールに飛び込んだ同小六年の竹内康君（１２）は「すごく気持ちいい。水泳をした かったのでよかった」と笑顔だった。

On June 28, 22 elementary schools and 3 junior high schools started the swimming classes. In one of the elementary schools, they've been preparing for the pool opening by washing the pool and the poolsides with a high pressure washer since the beginning of this month. A 6-grader boy was all smiles, after diving in the water on a hot, sunny day, "It feels great. I've been wanting to swim, so this is great."

　同市教委によると、安全性が確認されても保護者から「プールに入れたくない」との声が出ているという。授業を辞退する申し出があったら認めるとしており、既に数校から報告が入っている。

According to the city's Board of Education, there are some parents who don't want their children to use the swimming pools even after the safety has been confirmed. If parents don't want swimming classes for their children they can submit the requests to the schools, and the Board will accept such requests. There are already several schools with parents requesting that their children do not participate.

　県教委によると、県内四十四の自治体のうち、四十二の市町村が水泳授業を既に行っているか、近日中に始める。日立市は国から安全基準が示されるのを待っている状況で、北茨城市は中止を決めている。

According to the Ibaraki prefectural Board of Education, 42 municipalities out of 44 in Ibaraki have already started the swimming classes or are about to start. Hitachi City is waiting for the national standard to be set for swimming pools, and Kita Ibaraki City has decided not to hold swimming classes.

Good for Kita Ibaraki City.

The key is this: by default, swimming classes are on, for everyone. The parents have to submit a request to not have their children participate in the swimming classes.

"Yes, you can refuse to participate in the swimming classes. Now, DO YOU REFUSE?"

Or "Yes, you can refuse to participate. Your child's grade in PE will be 1, lowest grade, because without participation we have no way of grading him/her."

Or both. Sadly. That's Japan, and very a regimented educational system under the Ministry of Education and Science, with prefectural and municipal Board of Education as the Ministry's extension, even in this unprecedented nuclear accident that has spread a large amount of radioactive materials all over the northern hemisphere and even some in the southern hemisphere.

School schedules and events must be maintained at all costs.

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Bando City in Ibaraki Prefecture Made 3rd-Graders Pick Tea Leaves in the Rain, Have Them Eat Tempura Made from Raw Tea Leaves

It's hard to believe that it actually happened in the post-Fukushima Japan, but it most certainly did. For the city's commercial tea growers, the Board of Education and teachers, it was more important to proceed with the pre-scheduled annual event and to promote the local industry (tea growing) than to ever so slightly think about the health and safety of the 10-year-olds.

The event took place on May 11, and one week later, a high level of radioactive cesium (830 becquerels per kilogram) was detected in the tea grown and harvested in Bando City.

From the now-withdrawn (but cached) web page of Iwai Sakura Shopping District (original in Japanese; not the literal or complete translation but you get the idea...):

Wednesday May 11, 2011: "Sashima Tea Field Study" - 3rd-grade pupils of elementary schools in Bando City picked tea leaves in the rain, enjoyed tempura made of raw leaves

Sponsor: The Board of Education of Bando City, Ibaraki Prefecture,
tel: 0297-35-2121

On Wednesday May 11, the annual "Sashima Tea Field Study" was held in Ibaraki Prefectural University of Agriculture in Bando City. It was raining, but 3rd-graders from 13 schools in Bando participated in the study.

13 schools were divided into 6 groups, and took turns in learning about the tea. The field study was first started in Sashima district, which is famous for its Sashima tea, but when Bando City was created by merging Iwai City and Sashima-machi, the field study got bigger in scale.

This photograph [photos were not cached] shows the pupils from the First Elementary School in Group 3. When a Bando City worker greets them, they greet back vigorously.

The head of the Board of Education of Bando City greets the participants.

The head of the Bando Branch of the Ibaraki Prefecture Tea Growers Cooperative explains tea growing, and the pupils listen attentively.

Now it's time to go to the tea plantation and pick the tea leaves.

Bright green, new tea leaves. It almost smells like brewed tea.

Pupils holding up the tea leaves they just picked to the camera.

They pick tea leaves in two rows. For some, it may be their first time to touch tea leaves.

Teachers are having a good time with their pupils.

Members of a Bando city citizens' group make tempura using the tea leaves that have been just picked by the pupils.

Eating delicious tea-leaf tempura. For some, it may be their first time ever.

Organizer: Tea Growers Cooperative of Ibaraki Prefecture, Bando Branch
Sponsor: Bando City, Bando City Board of Education

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