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发帖数: 29495 | 1 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110330/ap_on_re_us/us_japan_earthq
WASHINGTON – Very low levels of radiation turned up in a sample of milk fro
m Washington state, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Dru
g Administration said Wednesday, but federal officials assured consumers not
to worry.
The FDA said such findings were to be expected in the coming days because of
the nuclear crisis in Japan, and that the levels were expected to drop rela
tively quickly.
Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power complex began leaking radiation aft
er it was damaged by a devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this month
.
Results from a March 25 milk sample taken from Spokane, Wash., showed levels
of radioactive Iodine-131 that were still 5,000 times below levels of conce
rn set by the FDA, including levels set for infants and children.
"Radiation is all around us in our daily lives, and these findings are a min
iscule amount compared to what people experience every day," said Patricia H
ansen, 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."
EPA said it was increasing the level of nationwide monitoring of milk, preci
pitation and drinking water.
Spokane, a city of 208,000 residents, is located more than 300 miles east of
the Pacific coast. Kim Papich, spokeswoman for the Spokane Regional Health
District, said the agency was aware of the EPA report and preparing to issue
a statement to residents.
"This is not a major health concern," Papich said.
The United States had already halted imports of dairy products and produce f
rom the affected area of Japan. Other foods imported from Japan, including s
eafood, were still being sold to the public but 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. |
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