(Mainichi Japan) October 29, 2011
Gov't should thoroughly explain health risks from internal radiation exposure through food
社説：食品の放射能　説明と測定を徹底せよ

The Japanese government is required to thoroughly explain health risks from overall radiation exposure to the public and ensure that food products are measured for radiation now that the Food Safety Commission (FSC) has shown its safety standards on internal radiation exposure through foods.
　食品から受ける内部被ばくの影響を検討してきた食品安全委員会が、評価書をまとめ厚生労働省に答申した。

In a report it submitted to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on Oct. 28, the FSC explained that if lifetime cumulative exposure to radiation exceeds roughly 100 millisieverts, excluding natural radiation, it will adversely affect human health.
「自然放射線などを除いた生涯の累積線量が、おおよそ１００ミリシーベルトを超えると健康に影響がある」という内容だ。

Based on that report, the ministry will set upper limits on radiation for each type of food product.
　この評価を基に厚労省が食品ごとの新たな規制値を決めるが、

The problem is the interpretation of the 100 millisievert upper limit.
わかりにくいのはこの１００ミリシーベルトの位置づけだ。

When it released an initial draft of the report in July, the FSC explained that 100 millisieverts refers to the upper limit on the total amount of overall radiation exposure, both internal and external.
　７月に評価案が示された時には、「外部被ばくと内部被ばくを合わせた線量」と説明された。

However, the report submitted to the ministry limits it to internal exposure through food.
ところが、答申では「食品から受ける内部被ばく」に限定された。

The report has raised questions as to whether the upper limit on internal radiation exposure through food should remain at 100 millisieverts or should be lowered if the amount of external radiation exposure is high.
　では、外部被ばくが高くても食品の基準は１００ミリシーベルトなのか、それともその分低いのか。

The FSC has declined to answer this question on the grounds that the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry or other government organizations in charge should decide on the matter.
食品安全委は「厚労省などしかるべき管理機関が考えること」として判断を避けた。

The FSC apparently believes that it should stick to its mission of evaluating risks involving food.
　食品安全委の使命は食品のリスク評価をすることだという理屈だが、