The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it has increased national surveillance of drinking water, milk, rainfall, and other potential exposure routes.
Milk radiological monitoring is carried out under the EPAs RADNET program. The EPA says that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in charge of the safety, labeling and identity of milk and dairy products in interstate commerce.
As soon as a product enters a state, the State Government then has jurisdiction over facilities within its territory.
So far, screenings have produced results that are of no concern for public health. A March 25th sample from Spokane, WA found 0.8 pCi/L of iodine-131, about 5,000 times lower than the Derived Intervention Level set by the FDA.
The EPA says it expects to receive similar findings over the next few days. These are “Far below levels of public health concern, including for infants and children,” the EPA stressed.
Iodine-131’s half life is about eight days, meaning the current extremely low levels detected in milk and dairy products are expected to fall rapidly.
Patricia Hansen, an FDA senior scientist, said:
“Radiation is all around us in our daily lives, and these findings are a miniscule amount compared to what people experience every day. For example, 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 EPA asks state and local authorities to liaise closely with the CDC, FDA and EPA. As sampling results come in, the EPA says it will announce them.
Source: EPA
Written by Christian Nordqvist