ID :
168351
Tue, 03/15/2011 - 13:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/168351
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Thailand is monitoring possible radiation from Japan
BANGKOK, March 15 (TNA) - Dr Paijit Warachit, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said that officials there and others at the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry were monitoring radiation levels, in search of a potential increase coming from Japan, via the atmosphere or food.
He said that the action was not intended to create problems for Japan but was in the interest of public safety. He insisted that Japan had a high capacity for safety control and Thai people should not be overly worried.
Regarding possible food contamination, staff at the Public Health Ministry will use special instruments to test determine whether imports from Japan are contaminated with radiation. Dr Paijit does not think that foods already imported from Japan can be contaminated because the damage done at Japanese nuclear plants was so recent.
Regarding possible contamination through the atmosphere, Dr Paijit said that Thailand and Japan were far apart, so the current level of radiation would not have a serious impact on health. He urged people to follow up developments from Japan regularly, but dismissed the necessity to have iodine tablets as a preventative measure as practiced in Japan.
On Tuesday afternoon, the delegation of Thai doctors who have been deployed to Japan reported their findings over the phone to the Public Health Ministry, to prime relevant authorities to meet and prepare to screen out all radiation-contaminated foods.
Meanwhile, Dr Pipat Yingseri, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration, has ordered its Food and Drug Inspection Port Division to send samples of foods and drugs imported from Japan to the Office of Atoms for Peace for examination. However, the measure will not take immediate effect because the radiation leakage has just recently occurred.
The measures taken aimed at ensuring food safety are similar to those taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following a radiation leakage from a nuclear power plant in Russia years ago. The FDA will also collect samples of cargo for examination from places where exports and imports are handled such as the Klong Toey Port and border checkpoints. (TNA)
He said that the action was not intended to create problems for Japan but was in the interest of public safety. He insisted that Japan had a high capacity for safety control and Thai people should not be overly worried.
Regarding possible food contamination, staff at the Public Health Ministry will use special instruments to test determine whether imports from Japan are contaminated with radiation. Dr Paijit does not think that foods already imported from Japan can be contaminated because the damage done at Japanese nuclear plants was so recent.
Regarding possible contamination through the atmosphere, Dr Paijit said that Thailand and Japan were far apart, so the current level of radiation would not have a serious impact on health. He urged people to follow up developments from Japan regularly, but dismissed the necessity to have iodine tablets as a preventative measure as practiced in Japan.
On Tuesday afternoon, the delegation of Thai doctors who have been deployed to Japan reported their findings over the phone to the Public Health Ministry, to prime relevant authorities to meet and prepare to screen out all radiation-contaminated foods.
Meanwhile, Dr Pipat Yingseri, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration, has ordered its Food and Drug Inspection Port Division to send samples of foods and drugs imported from Japan to the Office of Atoms for Peace for examination. However, the measure will not take immediate effect because the radiation leakage has just recently occurred.
The measures taken aimed at ensuring food safety are similar to those taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following a radiation leakage from a nuclear power plant in Russia years ago. The FDA will also collect samples of cargo for examination from places where exports and imports are handled such as the Klong Toey Port and border checkpoints. (TNA)
