The Japanese government is to toughen inspections of fish and other marine products because of radioactive water leaking into the Pacific Ocean from a damaged nuclear power plant, DPA reported.
"The public has a strong interest in security and safety," Fisheries Minister Michihiko Kano was quoted as saying by the Kyodo News agency Tuesday. "I want to show clearly whether there is an impact on marine products."
Radioactive substances have leaked into the sea from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which was heavily damaged in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Health authorities recommended that no one eat recently caught fish in which elevated levels of radioactive iodine-131 were detected, Kyodo reported. According to the Nuclear Safety Commission, no legal limit for iodine in fish exists. However, because of high iodine concentrations measured, authorities were considering setting levels for fish and clams, Health Minister Ritsuo Hosokawa said.
In other fish, levels above the legal limit of 500 becquerel of radioactive caesium per kilogram have been measured.