Ed Storms made the following comment about the plutonium: Plutonium comes in two forms. The oxide is insoluble in the body and, if trapped in the lungs, is quickly encapsulated by scar tissue that keeps the radiation from living tissue. In contrast, the water soluble forms go to the bone where they can cause cancer. Although the form found in soil is probably the oxide, it will be present along with many fission elements, including uranium, that are all bad. You should note, they only mentioned plutonium. This region of Japan will be useless for agriculture for decades. Naturally, they don't want to traumatize the populated any more than they already are, but the problems are just beginning.
Ed
