[ RadSafe ] Contaminated Silk from Japan?

[Brad Keck]

Joel,

It is said that silk comes from silk worms which eat primarily Mulberry leaves and that natural silk itself is nearly pure protein, the biosynthesis of which would exclude any cesium or iodine if any were actually in the silkworm diet.

Moreover, silk from Japan (China produces much more silk than Japan) is often made in Gumma prefecture - which is well outside any of the prevalent wind and distribution patterns that I have seen from Fukushima.  So while I do not know if anyone has measured this, I would not hesitate to give Japanese silk to my children, nieces or  significant others - the possibility of uptake to silk seems indeed remote.  

I would also assume that Mulberry leaves of that region would be similar to other deciduous trees nearby, so there is a good chance this has now been surveyed;  If no one has gone that far, deciduous trees at the edge of the measurably contaminated zone may give you a good limiting value..    Happy Hunting !  

Bradly D. Keck

 

On Jan 7, 2013, at 9:34 PM, Joel C. wrote:

> I was recently asked about the potential for silk to have been contaminated by fallout from Fukushima.  The literature on transfer factors from vegetation to silkworms is rather thin.  Is anyone aware of monitoring of this pathway and/or data?
> 
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> Joel I. Cehn, CHP
> joelc at alum.wpi.edu 
> 
> 
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