A “MINUTE trace” of radioactive contamination has been found in Irish milk samples following the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan.
The levels were “minuscule” and “pose no concern for consumer health” the Food Safety Authority of Ireland said yesterday.
Three samples of milk taken last weekend for the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland detected minute traces of a radioactive substance called Iodine-131.
“A person would have to drink some 96,000 litres of milk with Iodine-131 at current levels to exceed the annual safe limit set to protect consumers,” Prof Alan Reilly, chief executive of the authority said.
“There was some evidence that the spread of contamination from Japan, albeit at an extremely low level, would eventually be found here.” he said.
Similar low-level findings in milk have been reported in France and Greece.
Low trace levels of radioactivity have been found in air, rainwater and milk samples tested by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland in recent days.
