Universities in Japan to test soil

Soil sampling begins in Fukushima
Japan's science ministry has begun a prefecture-wide examination in Fukushima to check for radioactive contamination in the soil from the disabled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The ministry began taking soil samples on Monday as part of efforts to produce a map outlining radiation contamination in the prefecture. The study involves direct sampling of soil for the first time. Until now, the ministry has been measuring soil contamination from airplanes.

About 80 experts from 35 universities and laboratories across the country are taking part.

Three experts visited a district in Nihonmatsu City on Monday morning and took soil samples from more than 6 centimeters deep.
Samples will be taken every 4 square kilometers in areas within 80 kilometers of the nuclear plant and every 100 square kilometers in areas further away.
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/06_21.html