Results of testing on China for Spinach and air (submitted by Bill)

Trace amounts of radioactive isotope iodine-131 have been found in spinach planted in the open fields within Beijing, Tianjin, and Henan, do not pose a threat to public health, China's Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, China's National Nuclear Emergency Coordination Committee said the amount is only one thousandth to three thousandth of the legal limit stipulated in China's national radiation safety standard.

According to the monitoring on Tuesday, radioactive isotope iodine-131 contained in the spinach samples in the three regions was about 1 to 3 bq/kg.

The Health Ministry said recent rains in these regions helped drop the radioactive iodine from the air to the ground, and the radioactive materials fell onto the surface of the spinach. washing the spinach with water can effectively remove radioactive materials.

The country's National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) said earlier low levels of radioactive iodine-131 that have been detected in the air above 31 provinces and cities in China.

In addition, the trace amount of artificial radioactive nuclide Cesium-137 and Cesium-134 with concentrations below 10-5 Becquerel/m3 had also been detected in aerosol samples of monitoring sites at 21 out of 31 provinces and cities in China.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/131358/20110406/japan-radioactive-materi...