JAPAN - Elevated levels of radioactive cesium have been detected in a herd of cattle from Fukushima prefecture.
This marks the first time that radiation has been found in domestic livestock since the start of the nuclear crisis in March follwoing the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, according to an announcement from the Tokyo metropolitan government.
The level of radioactive cesium detected in the group of 11 cattle exceeded Japan's safety standards by three to six times, a Ministry of Health spokesman said.
All cattle originated from the same farm in Minamisouma, which is in close proximity to Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s stricken Daiichi nuclear plant, he said.