"A team of international researchers said food production would likely be "severely impaired" by the elevated levels of caesium found in soil samples across eastern Fukushima in the wake of meltdowns at the tsunami-hit plant."

"The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, suggests farming in neighbouring areas may also suffer because of radiation, although levels discovered there were within legal limits.

'Fukushima prefecture as a whole is highly contaminated,' especially to the northwest of the nuclear power plant, the researchers said.

The study looked at caesium-137, which has a half-life of 30 years and therefore affects the environment for decades."

The London Telegraph had the story November 15, 2011. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Fukushima Maps Identify Radiation Hot Spots" (Nature News) [3]

"Fukushima Fallout Fears Over Japan Farms" (BBC NEWS) [4]