Beijing: China, which is keeping a close
watch on the spread of radiation from crippled Japanese
nuclear plant, said "extremely small" amounts of radioactive
isotope iodine-131 have been found in spinach in Beijing,
Tianjin, and Henan province.
However, the amounts are only 1000th to 3000th of
limit stipulated in China's national radiation safety
standard, China's National Nuclear Emergency Coordination
Committee said in a report today.
The committee is putting out a daily reports on the
spread of radiation which has been felt in low quantities in
all most all parts of China except in Tibet.
Today's results are based on a radiation check
conducted yesterday, the statement said.
The Ministry of Health also issued a statement this
evening, saying trace levels of radioactive isotope iodine-131
have been found in the spinach planted in open in Beijing and
Tianjin. Trace levels of iodine-131 were also detected in
samples of shepherd's purse planted in open in Beijing, the
Health Ministry said.
The radioactive material is spreading from Japan's
earthquake-damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant through
atmospheric diffusion, Shanghai Radiation Environment
Supervision Agency had said earlier.
China is also closely monitoring the sea coast to
check whether the radioactive water being leaked into the sea
at Fukushima is traced in its waters.
The radiation crisis in Japan has sparked panic in
China a few weeks ago with people buying large amounts of
iodised salt believing it to be cure.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, April 06, 2011, 21:17