Japan: Above-limit Radioactive Cesium Detected in Fukushima Tobacco, JT Says

Source from:  The Japan Times  10/11/2012

Japan Tobacco Inc. says radioactive cesium levels in some dried tobacco leaves harvested this year in Fukushima Prefecture exceeded the company's limit of 100 becquerels per kilogram. JT said Tuesday it will cancel the purchase of some 4.5 tons of leaves found to be contaminated. Cultivation of tobacco leaves was suspended last year in Fukushima Prefecture due to radioactive contamination from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power station. Sample checks found 110.7 becquerels of radioactive cesium in tobacco grown by three farms in Shirakawa. Radioactive cesium levels were below the limit in leaves from other regions of the prefecture, JT said. It was the first time the results of inspections conducted by the company have been above the limit. Sample checks of tobacco leaves from the prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Ibaraki and Tochigi showed radioactive cesium levels below the limit, the company said. JT will conduct inspections in three more stages, including before tobacco is commercially processed, it said. Enditem