Tepco reported levels of caesium-137 at almost 80x legal max

Radiation levels are about 1,250 times the legal limit in the ocean near Japan's stricken Fukushima 1 nuclear plant.

The levels of of iodine-131 reported several hundred metres out into the Pacific Ocean had increased ten-fold in just a few days, said the Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), which operates the plant.

Tepco also reported levels of caesium-137 - which has a longer half life of about 30 years - almost 80 times the legal maximum. Scientists say both radioactive substances can cause cancer if absorbed by humans.

Officials said they would check the seawater about 20 miles (30km) off the coast for radiation and expect it to show there is no need to be concerned about any possible effect to fish.

http://news.sky.com/

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Japan-Nuclear-High-Radiation-Levels-In-Pacific-Ocean-Off-Fukushima-Plant/Article/201103415960544?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_15960544_Japan_Nuclear%3A_High_Radiation_Levels_In_Pacific_Ocean_Off_Fukushima_Plant

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http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110320002851.htm

The Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectural governments sampled cow milk and spinach grown outdoors, respectively, late last week.

Cow milk samples taken by a Fukushima Prefecture dairy farmer 47 kilometers from Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant were found to contain as much as 1,510 becquerel (Bq) of radioactive iodine, about five times the amount permissible under the provisional standards, the prefectural government said.

The provisional standards set the maximum permissible levels of radioactive iodine and radiocesium at 300 Bq and 200 Bq, respectively, per kilogram of cow milk and other dairy products. The maximum permissible levels for vegetables are 2,000 Bq of radioactive iodine and 500 Bq of radiocesium.

In Ibaraki Prefecture, radioactive iodine was detected from spinach sampled from farms in Hitachi, Takahagi, Hitachi-Ota and Hitachinaka cities and the town of Daigomachi and the village of Tokaimura. The highest level found was 15,020 Bq, 7.5 times the permissible level.

A spinach sample in Takahagi was also found to be discharging radiocesium in excess of the provisional standards, prefectural officials said.

Unless there's some variability in where they measured or how the various currents are moving things.

The level (of radioiodine) should fall appreciably over several days unless there's a fresh source...

...and the only place to get a fresh source is from the core of a reactor.

Things ARE "cooling down" (in the sense of heat generated, not temperature), but that doesn't mean there isn't any radioiodine in the core.

There's only a bit more than 25% of what started in there (not counting what has already been released), but that's still more than enough to contaminate water if it's leaking out.

More relevant to the discussion, it's the only source for that isotope. So there's either more leaking out, OR their readings are inconsistent because of currents or different measuring locations.

Iodine is short lasting, and can be blocked with iodine, and many Japanese have good protection due to their diet with a lot of sea related iodine consumption.

Ceasium is another ballgame. It lasts 30 years and will make the area uninhabitable. It causes liver, bone, breast cancer among others.

Consider it done. I'll get the word out to Aquaman.

Do try to pay attention. :)

In Ibaraki Prefecture, radioactive iodine was detected from spinach sampled from farms in Hitachi, Takahagi, Hitachi-Ota and Hitachinaka cities and the town of Daigomachi and the village of Tokaimura. The highest level found was 15,020 Bq, 7.5 times the permissible level.

A spinach sample in Takahagi was also found to be discharging radiocesium in excess of the provisional standards, prefectural officials said.

There's iodine/cesium (and smaller levels of other things) that was released with steam/explosions in the early days of the crisis. That went wherever the wind blew. Luckily, a great deal of it went out to sea, but YES, much of it went in other directions. There's ALSO the material that has been leaking out (by some uncertain mechanism) from one or more cores. Not a handful of steam releases where much of the radiation is caught with filters... water that came right out of the core.

That second source is NOT "going all over"... it's going into these basement levels and also leaking out into the ocean. There's also all of the TONS of overflow from the fuel pools. They wouldn't have any real amounts of iodine, but could have cesium... and in either case could also mix with the other leaks and increase the flow into the ocean.

Lastly, as I pointed out, this is most likely a comparatively "fresh" supply of radioiodine because the level showed a marked increase. The bulk of any steam releases were several days ago, but the leak is ongoing.