Radioactive cesium in total diet in Hokkaido (2011-2012)

Abstract

The level of radioactive cesium (the sum of 134cesium (Cs) and 137Cs) was investigated in total diet samples collected from adults living in the Sapporo area, Hokkaido. They were ashed, and examined with a germanium semiconductor detector. The maximum and average radioactivities of cesium in an indivividual's daily food intake were as follows: 1.0 Bq and 0.24 Bq in July 2011, 1.3 Bq and 0.30 Bq in November 2011, 3.9 Bq and 1.0 Bq in February 2012, and 0.34 Bq and 0.12 Bq in July 2012, respectively. The committed effective dose would be 0.022 mSv/year in the case of continued intake of meals containing the maximum cesium concentration.