March 30, 2011 in News, City

Trace radiation found in Spokane milk

• Print
• Email
• Share

Minimal but still acceptable levels of radiation have been detected in Spokane-area milk, federal health and safety regulators confirmed today.

“After the disaster in Japan, many of us are understandably on heightened alert about the possibility of exposure to radiation,” said state Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane. “Today’s news about the infinitely small level of radiation in milk in Spokane is bound to trigger these concerns.”

The Environmental Protection Agency performed the tests and confirmed milk sold in the county is safe to drink.

The tests were part of a nationwide program to monitor milk, drinking water, rain and snow, to ensure public safety in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear crisis and radiation leaks.

A sample taken March 25 detected levels of radioactive Iodine-131 that were 5,000 times below what levels that would cause concern from the federal Food and Drug Administration, according to a Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Similar findings are expected during the week from other tests. Iodine-131 has a half-life of approximately eight days.

“Radiation is all around us in our daily lives, and these findings are a minuscule amount compared to what people experience every day,” Patricia Hansen, an FDA senior scientist, said in a press release. “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.”

Imports of dairy products and fruits and vegetables from Japan have already been stopped. The FDA noted that seafood from Japan may still be imported and sold to the public but only after it is screened for radiation.

Eight comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  hunternomore on March 30 at 5:29 p.m.

  Hm-m-m, is this in milking cows in Spokane? Is this in milk already in the stores in Spokane? What exactly is this article supposed to be saying? Clarity would be most beneficial John.

• 

  SeeRed on March 30 at 6:32 p.m.

  I would venture to say similar readings would have been found prior to the disaster in Japan and will continue to be found well into the future. Regardless, the readings are so minuscule that this shouldn’t even be worth a mention. All this article does is once again attempt to create some false association between events worldwide and Spokane.

• 

  west on March 30 at 6:41 p.m.

  The real facts here:
  http://www.doh.wa.gov/Topics/japan/monitor-history.htm

• 

  Shazamm on March 30 at 7:54 p.m.

  If the level is so miniscule and not a health threat in any way, why is this even in the news? The radon in our basements is a much bigger deal.

• 

  brianth on March 30 at 8:17 p.m.

  You just can’t come in with a story like this and not provide more information

  Is this monitoring of radiation, in milk, a normal thing they have always monitored; even before the Japan incident.? According to what I read in the article it seems to imply they have reason to be concerned, and that is why they are now monitoring for radiation,

  If that is true, than their may be an actual concern that they really should convey to the people that could very well be affected.

  Really not trying to be a fear monger er, but really if no worry about the radiation, why doesn’t our government come out and really confirm this with the information they have, to back up the claims, of nothing to worry about from the radiation.

  I strongly believe there will be implication’s with this disaster,and we should be told that truth; did we get the truth of the BP disaster? No!

  I truly hope for the best but, really starting to have some serious doubts!

• 

  de3 on March 30 at 9:12 p.m.

  and the neatest part is soon the latte shops won’t have to steam the milk to heat it up - it’ll be warm and glowing “naturally”!

• 

  idahocity on March 30 at 10:53 p.m.

  don’t have radon in my house and there is a difference between external and internal emitters. man made radioactive iodine and depleted uranium, our troops breath that death sentence in the middle east, are no threat unless they get stuck in your body where they can zap you until you die.

• 

  leekinny on March 31 at 7:48 a.m.

  If I-131 isotope has a half-life of 8 days I suppose that means after 8 days it is half as strong, then 8 days after that it’s half again as strong.

  It collects in your thyroid. So what’s the accumulative effect on this organ?

  It’s been found on the east coast. Do measurements there show a weakening because of the length of time it takes to get there?

  What other isotopes have made it here?

  Would they tell us?

  Yea, more information would be helpful?

  It would cut down on the rumors and might cause us to trust what we’re being told.