Cyanide, a toxic chemical, was found in water in the basement of one of the main buildings at the new wholesale market in Tokyo's Toyosu waterfront area, though at a level marginally above government-set environmental standards, a survey directed by some Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly members showed Tuesday.
Concerns about soil contamination have put off the plan to relocate the famed but aging Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo's Chuo Ward to the new site in Koto Ward, as the new site is located on land where Tokyo Gas Co. once operated a gas production plant.
In the test, commissioned by members of the Komeito party, on water found in the basement of three facilities in the new market, 0.1 mg per liter was found in the facility for seafood wholesalers, compared with the maximum permissible level of "less than" 0.1 mg per liter.