日民衆擔憂食品受輻射污染問題

Japanese government officials say food and milk contaminated with radiation is being detected in a wider than expected area. Some shipments are now being stopped, although authorities stress that ingesting the items will not immediately harm people.

日本政府官員說，他們在比預期更廣泛的地區檢測到受輻射污染的食品和牛奶。一些地方已經停止發貨，儘管當局強調，食用這些產品不會立即對人體造成傷害。

Japan's government is reporting additional cases of contaminated vegetables. Authorities say the radiation detected on produce, in milk and tap water is more extensive than anticipated following radiation leaks from the crippled Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant, which was severely damaged by a tsunami.

日本政府報告發現蔬菜受到污染的其他案例。當局表示，被檢測到受輻射污染的食品、牛奶和自來水比預期的更爲廣泛。此前，遭到海嘯嚴重破壞的福島第一核電站發生核輻射泄漏。

The giant waves hit the northeastern coast of Japan on March 11 following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake.

3月11日，日本發生9級大規模地震，隨後巨浪侵襲了日本東北海岸地區。

Japan is now halting the sale of raw milk from Fukushima prefecture and spinach from Ibaraki prefecture. Officials late Sunday revealed that two more vegetables, canola and chrysanthemum greens, have also been found to be contaminated and in three more prefectures.

日本目前停止了福島縣的原料奶以及茨城縣菠菜的銷售。官員星期六晚上披露，另外兩種蔬菜，油菜籽和蓬蒿菜，也被發現受到污染。另外三個縣也發現食品污染情況。

Further restrictions on distribution of crops grown in the region are being considered.

有關方面正在研究如何進一步限制生長在這個地區的作物的產品發送。

But officials say even in the worst cases of radiation detected in the food, a person would have to consume the items for a year before health concerns would arise.

但是，官員表示，甚至在檢測到受到輻射污染最嚴重的食品中，人類至少也要服用這些食品一年，纔會產生健康問題。

Another worry is rising levels of radioactive iodine and cesium in tap water, with the highest concentrations in Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures.

另一個令人擔心的問題是自來水中放射性碘和銫水平的不斷上升。櫪木縣和茨城縣的自來水被發現這兩種物質的濃度最高。

At a news conference, the government's deputy chief cabinet secretary, Tetsuro Fukuyama, was asked if he would allow his children to drink the contaminated milk and tap water and eat spinach from the worst-affected areas.

日本政府的內閣官房副長官福山哲郎在一個新聞發佈會上被問及他是否會允許他的子女飲用這些受到污染的牛奶和自來水，或是食用重災區的菠菜。

Fukuyama says he does not allow his children to drink milk in the first place, even before this incident or otherwise. But regarding the spinach and the tap water, at the current radiation concentrations, he would not hesitate to permit his children to consume the vegetable or the water.

福山哲郎迴應說，他從最初就不允許他的子女喝奶，甚至在這次事件發生之前，或是其他任何情況下。但是提到目前菠菜和自來水的問題，在目前的輻射含量下，他會毫不猶豫地允許他的子女食用這些蔬菜或水。

Officials acknowledge some suspect produce may have been shipped before it could be tested for radiation.

Traces of radioactive substances in the air and water, believed to emanate from the crippled nuclear plant, have been detected as far as Tokyo, 250 kilometers away.

空氣和水中的放射性物質含量相信是來自於遭到破壞的核電站，遠在250公里以外的東京也已經檢測到這些放射性物質。

The Japanese minister in charge of consumer affairs and food safety, is appealing via an official web site posting for the public to act calmly and not be confused by groundless rumors from unreliable sources.

日本負責消費者事務和食品安全的大臣通過官方網站發佈的消息呼籲公衆冷靜行事，不要被不可靠的消息來源所散佈的毫無根據的謠言所困擾。

The food and water contamination scares are a further headache for Japan's government, already overwhelmed by the triple crises of extensive earthquake damage, destroyed communities from the resulting tsunami, and the disaster at the six-reactor Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant.

對於食品和水污染的恐慌是日本政府接下來頭疼的問題。日本接踵而來三場危機，先是大規模地震的破壞，進而由此產生海嘯導致民衆家園被摧毀，再到福島一號核電站六個反應堆發生核災難。日本政府已經感到不堪重負。

The crippled facility continues to emit high levels of radiation as workers attempt to restore power for critical pumps and firefighters in tandem spray water on reactor buildings and re-fill fuel-rod cooling pools.

遭到損壞的核設施還在繼續散發高水平的輻射。與此同時，搶險工人正在試圖恢復關鍵水泵的電力供應。協同工作的消防人員也正向反應堆上噴水，並重新填充燃料棒的冷卻池。

Yet another concern is on the horizon. Weather forecasters predict rain showers in the area Monday.

Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says the precipitation would not pose any health worries, but given the current levels of radioactivity, people should avoid getting wet while outdoors.