Latest correct radiation info regarding all Albacore caught in the Pacific Northwest:
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2013
Subject: Follow up: Radiation in Tuna
Note: Scientists from the BC CENTRE OF DISEASE CONTROL has reviewed results of our recent product testing of Canadian Albacore, has accepted the data and has endorsed it in their report:
Status of Radiological Activity in Japan-FAQ which is available in its entirety here.
Regards
Lorne
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The Canadian Albacore Tuna Association has monitored levels of radioactivity in their products from 2010, the year before the Fukushima (Japan) reactor incident and up to the present. Both stored product from 2010, and fresh product since the 2011 episode were tested for Iodine-131, Cesium-134 and Cesium-137, three of the main radioactive isotopes released during the reactor incident.
No samples had detectable levels of the radioactive Iodine or Cesium isotopes.
Canadian action levels for radioactivity in foods in situations of nuclear emergency (such as Fukushima) have been defined in Health Canada’s Guidelines for 3 food groups: fresh liquid milk, public drinking water, other commercial foods and beverages. The action levels are based on a dose of 1 milliSievert (mSv) accumulated during a nuclear emergency. To put this into perspective, 1 mSv is equivalent to one third ( ) of the dose each individual receives annually from natural radiation. It is also about 2 to 5% of a dose due to an abdominal CT examination in radiology. Radioactivity in milk, water and food samples is measured in units of Becquerels (Bq); depending on a person’s age and the type of radionuclide they may be exposed to, ingesting 1 Bq of radioactive material is equivalent to an internal radiation dose to the body between 1/100,000 and 2/100,000 (0.00001 to 0.00002) of a mSv.
The laboratory limit of detection for the fish samples tested was 0.002 Bq/g. All samples tested had less than 0.002 Bq/g of Iodine 131, Cesium 134 and Cesium 137. One kg (2.12 lbs.) of fish at the laboratory limit of detection would be equivalent to less than 2 Becquerels, or to a dose between 0.00002 and 0.00004 mSv. View the Canadian Albacore Tuna Association Report 2013 here or check them out on their Facebook page.