Fukushima Fish Named Mike Has 2,500 Times Legal Limit of Radioactivity for Human Consumption
Posted on January 21, 2013
Tepco, the company that runs the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan, found a fish that has 2,500 times the legal limit of radioactivity for human consumption. The fish, a murasoi, was found in the bay near the reactor. It is similar to a rockfish. The Daily Mail reports that the fish has been named Mike, but does not explain the purpose behind the name.
The fish has radioactive cesium equal to 254,000 becquerels per kilogram, which is 2540 times Japan's seafood radiation limit of 100 becquerels/kg.
The New York Times reports that about 40% off fish caught Fukushima have too high levels of cesium for consumption according to government tests. However, the cesium levels in the above fish are considerably higher than other fish caught in the area. The second most radioactive fish captured were two greenling captured last year that had radiation levels 250 times the limit set by the Japanese government.