[Asahi] Cesium levels in mushroom have also risen in various areas compared with last year

<Quote> [Asahi]

・・・

As of Nov. 16, officials said 93 municipalities in 10 prefectures, including Fukushima, had a shipment restriction in place.

For five prefectures–Aomori, Saitama, Yamanashi, Nagano and Shizuoka–wild mushrooms constitute the only produce for which a shipment ban is in effect.

Cesium levels have also risen in various areas compared with last year.

According to tests requested by the central government, the highest levels recorded this year were 120 becquerels in Aomori Prefecture, up from only 60 becquerels last year; 2,100 becquerels in Nagano Prefecture (1,320 becquerels last year); and 3,000 becquerels in Tochigi Prefecture (134 becquerels last year).

Yasuyuki Muramatsu, a chemistry professor at Gakushuin University who specializes in radiation effects on ecology, said, “While the detailed mechanism is still unclear, mushrooms can more easily absorb cesium in comparison to plants because they are fungi.”

As for why cesium levels are higher this autumn, Muramatsu said, “There is the possibility that radioactive materials that were attached to the trunks and leaves of trees last year were washed away by the rain and entered the soil into which mushrooms extend their fungal filament.”

Muramatsu cautioned that some types of wild mushroom may have high cesium levels next year as well, which will require continued testing.

<End>

 

 

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Français :

[Asahi] Le niveau de césium dans les champignons est aussi monté dans plusieurs régions depuis l’an dernier

<Citation> [Asahi]

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Au 16 nov, des responsables disent que 93 municipalités de 10 préfectures, dont Fukushima, sont sous limitations d’expédition.

Pour cinq préfectures — Aomori, Saitama, Yamanashi, Nagano et Shizuoka — les champignons sauvages sont le seul produit pour lequel une interdiction d’envoi est en vigueur.

Les niveaux de césium ont aussi augmenté en divers endroits par rapport à l’an dernier.

Selon les tests exigés par le gouvernement central, les plus hautes valeurs relevées cette année ont été de 120 Becquerels dans la préfecture d’Aomori, sur les seulement 60 Becquerels de l’an dernier; 2 100 Becquerels dans la préfecture de Nagano (1 320 Becquerels l’an dernier); et 3 000 Becquerels dans la préfecture de Tochigi Prefecture (134 Becquerels l’an dernier).

M. Yasuyuki Muramatsu, un professeur de chimie de l’Université de Gakushuin qui est spécialisé sur les effets écologiques de la radioactivité, déclare que “alors que le mécanisme exact n’est pas encore connu, les champignons peuvent plus facilement absorber le césium en comparaison des plantes parce que ce sont des fongidés.”

Sur le pourquoi de l’augmentation des niveaux de césium cette automne, M. Muramatsu dit “qu’il est possible que les matières radioactives fixées sur les troncs et les feuilles des arbres l’an dernier aient été lessivés par les pluies et ont pénétré le sol dans lequel les champignons développent leurs filaments mycéliens.”

M. Muramatsu confirme que certains types de champignons sauvages pourront contenir de grandes quantités de césium l’an prochain aussi, ce qui va demander des contrôles continus.

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About this site

This website updates the latest news about the Fukushima nuclear plant and also archives the past news from 2011. Because it's always updated and added live, articles, categories and the tags are not necessarily fitted in the latest format.
I am the writer of this website. About page remains in 2014. This is because my memory about 311 was clearer than now, 2023, and I think it can have a historical value. Now I'm living in Romania with 3 cats as an independent data scientist.
Actually, nothing has progressed in the plant since 2011. We still don't even know what is going on inside. They must keep cooling the crippled reactors by water, but additionally groundwater keeps flowing into the reactor buildings from the broken parts. This is why highly contaminated water is always produced more than it can circulate. Tepco is planning to officially discharge this water to the Pacific but Tritium is still remaining in it. They dilute this with seawater so that it is legally safe, but scientifically the same amount of radioactive tritium is contained. They say it is safe to discharge, but none of them have drunk it.

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