Public Health Focus > Radiation Safety

FDA NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: March 30, 2011
FDA Media Inquiries: Siobhan DeLancey, 301-796-4668 , siobhan.delancey@fda.hhs.gov

FDA Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
EPA Press Office: press@epa.gov

JOINT EPA/FDA STATEMENT: Update on Ongoing Monitoring

In response to the ongoing situation in Japan, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken steps to increase the level of nationwide monitoring of milk, precipitation, drinking water, and other potential exposure routes.

EPA conducts radiological monitoring of milk under its RADNET program, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has jurisdiction over the safety, labeling and identity of milk and milk products in interstate commerce. States have jurisdiction over those facilities located within their territory.

Results from a screening sample taken March 25 from Spokane, WA detected 0.8 pCi/L of iodine-131, which is more than 5,000 times lower than the Derived Intervention Level set by FDA. These types of findings are to be expected in the coming days and are far below levels of public health concern, including for infants and children. Iodine-131 has a very short half-life of approximately eight days, and the level detected in milk and milk products is therefore expected to drop relatively quickly.

“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,” said Patricia Hansen, an FDA senior scientist.

EPA’s recommendation to state and local governments is to continue to coordinate closely with EPA, FDA and CDC – EPA will continue to communicate our nationwide sampling results as they come in.
Press Announcements > JOINT EPA/FDA STATEMENT: Update on Ongoing Monitoring

For more information:

EPA: www.epa.gov/japan20111


FDA: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm247403.htm
Public Health Focus > Radiation Safety