Benzene at new Tsukiji Market site high The Yomiuri Shimbun Benzene at a level 43,000 times above environmental safety standards has been detected in soil taken from the planned relocation site for Tsukiji Market, it was learned Sunday. The toxic chemical had already been detected at concentration 1,000 times above safety levels in groundwater at the relocation site in Toyosu, Koto Ward, Tokyo. Following this earlier discovery of benzene, the Tokyo metropolitan government took and examined samples of water and soil from 4,200 different spots at the site. The metropolitan government has budgeted 67 billion yen for the cleanup of the site, which it hopes to do by replacing the earth near the surface and detoxifying and purifying the groundwater. However, in light of this new data and considering the site will be used for a number of food-related facilities, the government may have to review its pollution cleanup plan. The relocation of the market, now in Tsukiji, Chuo Ward, is scheduled for 2012, but there is a possibility this will now have to be delayed. A Tokyo Gas Co. plant for producing gas from charcoal and other raw materials used to be located at the 374,000-square-meter site. (May. 6, 2008)

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