March 6, 2015

University releases interactive map of Japanese food radiation levels

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150306p2a00m0na012000c.html

The map showing food radiation amounts by area is seen in this screenshot. (Image from Tokyo Polytechnic University software design laboratory website)

A software design lab at Tokyo Polytechnic University has released an interactive online map of radiation levels in Japanese foods by production area, based on measurements taken since the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant disaster.

Different colors are used to separate areas based on the proportion of foods from those areas that have exceeded radiation safety standards during screenings.

"I want people to see for themselves how safe their food is," said associate professor Yasushi Noguchi, 44, who developed the map.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare regularly posts screening results for radioactive cesium in food, while Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) posts results for Fukushima Prefecture's marine products. However, the results are merely displayed as lists of readings and times. Noguchi wanted to apply his knowledge in computer programming and design to combine the figures and display them in an accessible format.

With the assistance of students, Noguchi harvested data from the ministry and TEPCO, and also obtained the radiation safety standards of various countries and regions. Over the course of about a year, he set up a system to display radiation levels for different products by area following the 2011 nuclear disaster. Radiation safety standards for Japan, the United States, Ukraine (where Chernobyl is located) and Europe can be compared for various products. The map can be viewed at http://foodradiation.org/map/index_e.html

March 06, 2015(Mainichi Japan)