福島第一核電廠周辺海域放射汚染嚴重

Recently the Asahi News reported the following
福島第一原発事故の影響で、原発からの排水が基準の千倍を超すなど、周辺海域で放射能汚染が深刻化している。これに対し、原子力安全委員会＝班目（まだらめ）春樹委員長＝は２６日、「放射性物質は海では希釈、拡散される」として、人が魚を食べてもまず心配はない、との見方を示した。

　東京電力による原発の放水口付近の調査では、２５日朝にヨウ素１３１が１立方センチあたり５０ベクレル、セシウム１３７が同７．２ベクレル検出された。原発の排水を規制する基準に照らすと、ヨウ素は１２５０倍、セシウムは７９倍にあたる。東電は、１日１回だった測定回数を２回に増やすことにした。

　一方、文部科学省が２３日から原発の沖合約３０キロ地点で調べると、最大で１リットルあたりセシウムが２６ベクレル検出。飲用水の基準に比べると、７分の１以下だが、０９年度に調べた通常値の１万倍を超えていた。

　海洋生物への影響について、原子力安全委員会は２６日、「排水口付近では濃度が高いが、魚介類に取り込まれるまでに潮流に流されて拡散、希釈される。さらにヨウ素は半減期が８日と短いため、人が食べるまでには相当低減していると考えられる」とした。

　一方で、財団法人海洋生物環境研究所の御園生（みそのう）淳研究参与（環境放射能）によると、濃度が高いと魚類が取り込んだ放射性物質が体内で最大で海水の３０～５０倍の濃度まで蓄積されることもあるという。半減期が３０年のセシウムは心配が残るという。「２～４カ月で魚に影響が出ることもある。継続的な広域の調査が必要。消費者や漁業者の安心にもつながる」と指摘した。

(試譯文)
Because of the number one nuclear plant accident at Fukushima, the radiation poisoning at the surrounding ocean area was aggravated as water drained from the nuclear power plant had exceeded the standard over 1000 times. In this respect, on the 26th Madarame the chairman of the Atomic Energy Safety Committee held the view that there was no worry because "The radioactive substance would be diluted in the sea, and diffused", there was no worry even if the fish was eaten by people.

In the investigation in the vicinity of the drainage outlet at the nuclear power plant done by Tokyo Electric Power Company, in the morning on the 25th, for each one cube centimeter the iodine 131 detected was at 50 Becquerel while cesium 137 was at 7.2 Becquerel. When compared to the standard on the drainage as set by the nuclear power plant, iodine was 1250 times higher while the cesium was 79 higher. Tokyo Electric Power Company decided to increase the measurement frequency from once a day to twice.

On the other hand, on the 23rd when the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology carried out examination at a point about 30-kilo offshore from the nuclear power plant, the highest cesium detected in a litre was 26 Becquerel. Compared to the drinking water standard, it was below 1/7, but it exceeded 10,000 times the usual value found in the fiscal year 2009.

As for the influence on the marine organism, on the 26th the Nuclear Safety Commission believed that ｢Although the density is high in the vicinity of the outlet, before taking up by the sea organism, it will flow into the current, it would be diffused and diluted. In addition, the 8-day half - life of the iodine is short, it is thought that it would decrease a lot before it is eaten by people｣.

On the other hand according Misonou of the Foundation for Marine Ecology Research Institute researcher Junn (environmental radioactivity), it was said that the radioactive substance that fishes took might be accumulated at a maximum inside the body up to the density of 30-50 time of the seawater when the density was high. It was said that the cesium whose half - life was 30 years remained a worry. It was pointed out that ｢The influence on fish will come out in 2-4 months. It is necessary to continue to survey a large area. It is related to the safety of consumers and fishermen｣.

Because the half-life of cesium is 30 years, it will have a long term impact on marine life. To continue to monitor the situation is of paramount importance.