Health Dept: No Radiation Risk for Bermuda
There is currently no need for Bermuda residents to be concerned that they will receive harmful doses of radiation from the events presently underway in Japan, according to the Department of Health who is monitoring the information from the World Health Organization and other authorities on the risk to areas of the world outside of Japan.
A spokesperson said, “The opinion of both the World Health Organization, its global network of radiation specialists, and independent investigators, is that there is minimal risk of immediate danger to areas of the world remote to the current radiation emergency in Japan.”
“Radiation exposure can pose risks to health, dependent on the dose. The dose of radiation is dependent on the distance from the source of radiation. The greater the distance from the source, the lower the dose and the lower the risk of exposure. Thousands of kilometers from the current source of radiation in Japan, as is Bermuda, the dose and risks are negligible. Still, it is understandable that people would have concerns.”
“Health risks from radiation are determined by many variables, some of them unpredictable. We cannot predict how the situation in Japan will evolve, or how much radiation will ultimately be released by the damaged reactors, so it is helpful to understand some basic facts about health risks from radiation.”
“Radiation-related health problems are determined by the amount of exposure to radiation, that is, the dose of radiation over the time of exposure. Exposure in this case is related to many factors: the amount of radiation being released into the atmosphere, the weather conditions (rain and wind), the distance from the radiation source and the length of time of exposure. ”
“Current WHO opinion is that for those living 50 to 100 km from the damaged reactors in Japan, there is a possible risk of health consequences, and evacuation from these areas has been advised. Biologically significant radiation emissions (Iodine 131) will be of concern to people living in Japan, or South Korea and China if the wind shifts and blows on shore or inland.”
“Should we be worried in Bermuda if nuclear reactors in Japan melt down? We should not be worried for our own safety.”
“The longer-lived isotopes, Cesium 137, cobalt 60, might be dispersed if there is a meltdown and these could enter the food chain: thus food inspection agencies will be testing for radioactivity in food from Japan for some time. Currently, in Bermuda there are no imported food items from Japan, so no threat exists to Bermuda residents from food tainted by radiation in Japan.”
“In conclusion there is no need for Bermuda residents to be concerned that they will receive harmful doses of radiation from the events presently underway in Japan. The Department of Health will continue to monitor the situation closely and advise the public when appropriate.”
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Not yet anyway. Any type of radiation dose however minimal is worse than nothing at all. I wonder if there are any radiation dosimeters on the island so our axeperts can let us know what the readings are or are they just going by what WHO and the IEAE are telling everyone else? Ask them that Bernews.
In response to your question on dosimeters on the island I say yes. As part of my 30 yrs service with the Bda Fire Service, I was trained along with other fire service personnel in the use of Radiation Dosimeters/Dectors. We were trained (and retrained regularly) by members of the British Royal Navy experts.
With the occasional visit of nuclear subs to the Dockyard, it was/is the responsibility of the Bda Fire & rescue Service to deal with any nuclear radiation incidents/emergencies that may occur.
The members of the Bda Fire Service are not just “water sprayers” as some people may think but they highly trained in dealing with emergencies and other ‘classified’ things like you could not begin to imagine.
“Currently, in Bermuda there are no imported food items from Japan, so no threat exists to Bermuda residents from food tainted by radiation in Japan.”
Not true. Across from the Portuguese section just before the liquor section at the Heron Bay Marketplace there are numerous food products that are imported from Japan/Philipines/Asia. Prawn crisps/noodles/soy sauce products etc. Have a look for yourself. I think the Health Dept. is talking before they have actually looked into the facts.
Yo Truth…..That Soy Sauce was made years ago/months ago. Where do you come up with this stuff.
I have Lousinana Hot Sauce and frozen Schrimp et al in my freezer that has an expiration date of 2012. Better check it because of the BP oil spill?
And don’t forget Sushi………if it’s too red it must be rediated………..
It amazes me that people are actually out buying up iodine because they are afraid of radiation poisoning. Really?! On an island on the other side of the world people are concerned about radiation poisoning?! Please get a globe!
So, I guess we don’t import ANY crops grown in California, which are starting to become contaminated???? You people just buy into everything government says. GOVERNMENTS would rather slowly kill their people than cause mass hysteria and panic which is the highest concern of any government. Remember, the tax paying citizens only ever get half the story. Keep that in mind before you buy into the bs
By MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press – 56 mins ago
WASHINGTON – Low levels of radiation have turned up in milk samples from two West Coast states.
Traces of radioactive Iodine-131 were found in milk in California and Washington, according to federal and state authorities who are monitoring for contamination as the nuclear crisis unfolds in Japan. But the officials say the levels are still 5,000 times below levels of concern and do not represent a public health threat.
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that radiation was found in a March 25 milk sample from Spokane, Wash. The California Department of Public Health said on its website that a similar result was found March 28 in San Luis Obispo County.
The EPA always monitors radiation levels in the air at several sites throughout the country, but the agency said this week that it is increasing the level of nationwide monitoring of milk, precipitation and drinking water in response to the situation in Japan. Those substances are normally monitored for radiation only a few times a year.
EPA spokesman Brendan Gilfillan said the radiation detected in Spokane is different than what is normally found there.
“While there can be naturally occurring levels of radiation in milk — as there are in the air, at levels far below levels of concern — we don’t generally see this particular isotope as part of those background levels,” Gilfillan said.
The EPA has found very low levels of radiation in the air connected to the Japanese incident in Alaska, Alabama, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Saipan, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Washington state. Gilfillan said the low level of radiation most likely ended up in the milk after a cow ate grass or drank rainwater that contained it.
The FDA, which oversees the safety of the nation’s food supply, said such findings were to be expected in the coming days because of problems with the nuclear plant in Japan, and that the levels were expected to drop relatively quickly. Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power complex began leaking radiation after it was damaged by a devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this month.
“Radiation is all around us in our daily lives, and these findings are a minuscule amount compared to what people experience every day,” said Patricia Hansen, senior scientist at the FDA. “A person would be exposed to low levels of radiation on a round-trip cross-country flight, watching television, and even from construction materials.”
The United States had already halted imports of dairy products and produce from the affected area of Japan. Other foods imported from Japan, including seafood, are still being sold to the public but are screened first for radiation.
Japanese foods make up less than 4 percent of all U.S. imports. The FDA has said it expected no risk to the U.S. food supply from radiation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uMD5ChSwFE