A Japanese newspaper reports an average of four becquerels of cesium is eaten in daily meals by residents in Fukushima following a disaster at the prefectures power plant last spring.

The Asahi Shimbun said the finding was made through a study of 53 households in Fukushima, the central region of Kanto and the southern region of Nishinihon.

If Fukushima residents continue to eat meals containing cesium at this level, roughly zero-point-023 millisieverts of radioactive material will have accumulated in their bodies after a year. However, this figure is only a 40th of the Japanese government-set allowed level at one millisievert.

A Kyoto University professor who participated in the study said the amount of cesium being consumed in the meals is small enough not to pose a serious health threat.

However, the results of the study are expected to spur controversy since no clear universal standards are in place on the safe level of radioactive materials.