Limits for concentrations of radionuclides in food and drinking water
10.3760/cma.j.cn112271-20231012-00118
- VernacularTitle:食品和饮用水中放射性核素的浓度控制
- Author:
Cai GUO
1
;
Duanjie YANG
;
Ruiying WANG
Author Information
1. 生态环境部核与辐射安全中心，北京 100082
- Keywords:
Radiation safety;
Radioactive contamination;
Concentration limit;
Food and drinking-water
- From:
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection
2024;44(10):896-900
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
The accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has had a severe and ongoing impact on the surrounding marine environment. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) discharged contaminated water from the accident into the ocean in 2023. This has raised concerns among the public on radiation safety. It is necessary to review and analyze the limits and standards for radionuclide activity concentrations in food and drinking water. Different measures are applied to controlling internal exposure via ingestion pathway, respectively, in planned exposure situations, emergency exposure situations or existing exposure situations, with different dose levels and dose concepts being adopted. IAEA, FAO, WHO and other international organizations have issued standards on radionuclide activity concentrations in food and drinking water. These guidelines include Codex Alimentarius Commission guidelines, WHO guidelines for drinking-water quality, operational intervention levels. The methodologies underlying these guidelines are similar, but the exposure situations and the parameters are different. After the Fukushima accident, Japan enacted and revised domestic legislation and requirements in line with the exposure situation to control and limit the radionuclide activity concentrations in food and drinking water. Restrictions are imposed on food produced in Fukushima and other prefectures. Other countries and the local organizations in Japan have also taken a wide range of measures to restrict the circulation and sales of the food from Fukushima area. Based on the experience gained from Fukushima accident and comparison of various categories of standards, this paper aims to present the recommendations on revise of standards in China with respect to applicable exposure situation, dose level, radionuclides considered, types of food, standards on drinking-water. Needs are also discussed to build a continuous and consistent protection system for the internal exposure via ingestion pathway, together with some other issues present in current standards.
