FRANCE: No health risk for France from Japan radiation, French Nuclear Safety institute says

Record ID: 1526991

  • Title: FRANCE: No health risk for France from Japan radiation, French Nuclear Safety institute says
  • Date: 25th March 2011
  • Summary: FONTENAY-AUX-ROSES, FRANCE (MARCH 24, 2011) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIRECTOR FOR RADIO PROTECTION AND HUMAN HEALTH AT IRSN, JEAN-RENE JOURDAIN SAYING: "These are samples from the environment: grass, vegetables with leaves like spinach leaves which are known for capturing radioactivity easily because of the large surface of their leaves, or samples of milk or water, and especially rain water. If ever it rains in the coming days, we will be vigilant to measure the rain water, because we know that rain water will have a higher radioactivity level." EXTERIOR OF IRSN WITH SIGN READING "INSTITUTE FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION AND NUCLEAR SAFETY " RADIOACTIVITY MARKER IRSN EMPLOYEES PASSING BY RADIOACTIVITY MARKER SCREEN SHOWING LEVEL OF ACTIVITY PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 24, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF JAPANESE SUPERMARKET MAN SHOWING JAPANESE PRODUCTS IN SUPERMARKET VARIOUS OF JAPANESE PRODUCTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) CONSUMER, BRUCE, SAYING: "The fresh food products that you can find here are rice or dried products which come from a past harvest, so for me there is no danger in consuming these products, in France at least. " BOTTLES OF CONDENSED MILK (SOUNDBITE) (English) CONSUMER, MAXIME, SAYING: "I tried to follow the news and to see what officials are doing towards this issue, how they try to prevent, either the food has some problems and try to stop it from exporting. Now I think they are doing all they can." MAXIME IN SUPERMARKET VARIOUS OF JAPANESE DISHES SALESPERSON WITH PIGGY BANK FOR JAPAN VICTIMS OF THE TSUNAMI PIGGY BANK FOR JAPAN VICTIMS OF THE TSUNAMI VARIOUS OF SIGNS OF JAPANESE RESTAURANTS IN CENTRE PARIS PEOPLE PASSING BY RESTAURANTS CLEAR BLUE SKY OVER PARIS STREET
  • Embargoed: 9th April 2011 12:02
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France, France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Health
  • Reuters ID: LVAA3KFGRYQE1PYABI0HVPLBAQNW
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The first traces of radioactive particles trickling into Europe following the Fukushima reactor explosion, are not strong enough to create any health impacts on France, experts from France's Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) said on Thursday (March 24).
    Experts said the radioactive cloud, made up of rare gases and radioactive particles, started to loom over France on Wednesday but the dust particles which are expected to fall are harmless even if they are ingested or enter the food chain.
    "Today we know that there are absolutely no consequences to be expected for the health of the French people, no specific precautions, no evacuation of the population, no need for people to be sheltered. It's useless to ask children not to go to school and to stay home because of the flumes and above all no administration of iode pills which are not necessary regarding the current situation and would even be dangerous," said Jean-Rene Jourdain, expert at IRSN.
    The European Union had asked countries last week to check radioactivity levels in food and feed imported from Japan but left each state to decide what measure to implement.
    The Japanese authorities have urged people to stop eating certain foods originating from the area near Fukushima. Unsafe radiation levels have been found in 11 types of vegetables grown near the nuclear plant, as well as in milk and water.
    Consumers of Japanese products in France are not worried.
    "The fresh food products that you can find here are rice or dried products which come from a past harvest, so for me there is no danger in consuming these products, in France at least," said Brice, who was shopping for Japanese food products at a supermarket.
    France has started testing for the level of radioactivity of all fresh food and fish products from Japan and there have been no direct imports from Japan into France since the earthquake in order to reassure consumers, the farm ministry said on Tuesday.
    "I tried to follow the news and to see what officials are doing towards this issue, how they try to prevent, either the food has some problems and try to stop it from exporting. Now I think they are doing all they can," said another shopper, Maxime.
    Japanese fresh food imports into France amounted to just 8,800 tonnes worth 13 million euros ($18.47 million) last year, the ministry said. At the EU level, the Commission last week said Japan's total food and feed exports to Europe were worth 65 million euros over the same period.
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