Quality of air, water and food in Singapore all safe

Checks stepped up, but no evidence of abnormalities
Feng Zengkun Straits Times 19 Mar 11;

NO ABNORMAL changes in radiation levels have been measured in Singapore following Japan's nuclear crisis, said several government agencies yesterday.

Wind directions also mean that it is highly unlikely that the radiation plume from Japan would blow over here.

But as a precaution, checks on water supplies and food imported from Japan have been stepped up, but they so far show no signs of contamination.

These assurances came from the National Environment Agency (NEA), the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and national water agency PUB, which held a joint briefing yesterday.

Their assessment follows the Government's statement on Tuesday urging the public not to be unduly alarmed by the Fukushima nuclear incident.

Speaking at the briefing, Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said: 'Even looking ahead to the worst-case scenario in Japan, we don't think Singapore will be affected.'

But as a precaution, the authorities have stepped up measures to keep a close watch on the situation.

Since Monday, three monitoring stations at Changi Airport, Changi Naval Base and the Orchard Road area have started to measure radiation levels around the clock, instead of once a week previously.

The stations recorded levels of between 0.05 and 0.1 microsieverts per hour, which are well within international health standards set by the World Health Organisation (see graphic).

NEA chief executive Andrew Tan cited a comparison: A single dental scan is 30 microsieverts, or 300 times the amount of hourly radiation measured here.

Although radiation in Singapore is higher than in parts of Japan like Kyoto and Hokkaido - where levels of 0.04 and 0.03 microsieverts were detected on Monday - this is not unusual, said Mr Tan.

He said Singapore's higher radiation level has always been the case and it could be a result of its proximity to the equator, which makes the radiation from the sun stronger.

He added that the radiation from Japan is unlikely to affect Singapore because the two countries are some 5,300km apart.

Prevailing wind conditions in Japan would also mean that the radiation plume from the quake-crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant is likely to blow west towards the Pacific Ocean, away from Singapore, he noted.

Even if wind directions were to change, the Republic is too far away to be affected by any radiation plume.

This is because the clouds become less harmful as they travel, due to radioactive particles falling out of them.

By the time the radiation plume reaches Singapore's shores - an unlikely scenario to begin with - it would be no more harmful than radiation from the sun.

To keep abreast of developments, the authorities are also consulting international experts, as well as tracking the radiation levels of other countries closer to Japan, such as South Korea.

So far, countries in the region, such as South Korea, China and Thailand, have reported no change in radiation levels since the disaster.

Water, another area of possible contamination, is also being checked as part of the PUB's routine operations.

Additional checks were also carried out and no abnormal changes have been detected so far, said Mr Harry Seah, PUB's director of technology and water quality.

The same applies to Japanese food imports. AVA said it has increased the number of checks on imports such as seafood, fruits, vegetables and meat.

It added that any impact on Singapore's food supply is likely to be minimal. Last year, seafood imported from Japan made up less than 2 per cent of total seafood imports, while the import of other foods was negligible at less than 0.5 per cent.

Check facts, don't heed old wives' tales
Straits Times 19 Mar 11;

THERE is plenty of nonsense and old wives' tales circulating in the wake of Japan's nuclear crisis.

The department director of the Centre for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science, Mr Koh Kim Hock, advised people to ignore mobile phone text messages and e-mail purporting to be from experts.

Since the disaster broke, several messages have made the rounds, including one urging people to stock up on salt. This is based on the erroneous belief that table salt can prevent radioactive iodine from being absorbed by the body.

Mr Koh debunked such myths and urged people not to pass on such messages without verifying them against authoritative sources.

There was similarly no need for people to stay indoors or wear raincoats in case of radioactive rain, another widely circulated piece of misinformation.

Singapore is unlikely to be affected by radioactive clouds from Japan, which is more than 5,000km away.

Should the situation change, government agencies would be the first to issue appropriate advice.

'Go to the right place for the right information,' he advised, citing the World Health Organisation and Singapore Government websites as examples.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim, who spoke briefly to reporters at the press conference, said Government agencies would continue to monitor the effects of Japan's disaster on Singapore.

The checks would include practices already in place - for example, on the radiation level and food imported from Japan.

'We have emergency plans if the situation worsens,' he said.

He offered his condolences to the Japanese people, and also took the opportunity to remind Singaporeans to avoid travelling to Japan unless necessary.

Those already in Japan should avoid going within 100km of the reactor sites in Fukushima.

Singapore radiation levels normal
Dylan Loh/Tan Qiuyi/Sara Grosse Channel NewsAsia 18 Mar 11;

SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Friday that there are no abnormal changes in radiation levels in Singapore and the public should not be unduly alarmed.

The same assurance came from national water agency PUB which said it is monitoring water supplies and there is no sign of contamination so far.

Some Singaporeans are concerned that dangerous particles from Japan's troubled Fukushima nuclear reactors could get to Singapore.

The UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) currently categorises the Fukushima incident as level 4, which is an "accident with local consequences".

But Japan's nuclear safety agency on Friday raised the threat level to 5, indicating "an accident with wider consequences".

Natural background radiation varies from place to place, but NEA said the average level in Singapore averages at about 0.1 microsieverts per hour, which is within safe limits.

It said it is closely tracking the impact of the Fukushima nuclear incident, and is conducting daily modelling studies.

As Singapore is located more than 5,000 kilometres away from Fukushima, NEA said there is minimal risk of Singapore being affected by the radioactive plume.

"Looking ahead, in the worst-case scenario, if there is a radioactive plume resulting from an explosion at the incident site, the risk of it arriving in Singapore is indeed very low because we are about 5,000 kilometres away," said Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim on the sidelines of a briefing by the NEA.

"But even if we assume that there are prevailing winds transporting the plume towards Singapore, by the time the plume has travelled that distance, the concentration would have been reduced significantly, back to sort of the normal background levels. So there is minimal risk of Singapore being affected by any radiological plume."

Experts added that there is also no need to rush for potassium iodide pills.

"It is not a magic cure for any form of radiation exposure. The only purpose of taking potassium iodide tablets is to saturate the thyroid gland with non-radioactive iodine to block the excess of the radioactive iodine into the body. And that recommendation is only to take it only when the authorities instruct people to do so," said Anthony Goh, head of Singapore General Hospital's Department of Nuclear Medicine.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan also said there's no reason for Singaporeans to worry about the radiation leak from Japan.

"Obviously it's a very serious situation in Fukushima nuclear plant itselt. But based on the assessment, I think the risk outside of Fukushima is very low and certainly Singapore being very far away, the risk is an extremely low one. In any case we have to be geared up just in case," he said.

The minister was speaking after receiving the Eminent Alumni Award from the Australian Trade Commission on Friday.

This is the highest honour given out at the inaugural Australian Alumni Awards.

Mr Khaw, a graduate from the University of Newcastle, was among nine alumni members who were recognised for their exemplary achievements or contribution.


-CNA/ac/ir

'There's no cause for alarm here'
No signs of radioactive contamination in water, air
Dylan Loh Today Online 19 Mar 11;

SINGAPORE - Repeating the Government's reassurances - which came in the form of a comprehensive public statement on Tuesday - the National Environment Agency (NEA) and water agency PUB held a media briefing on Friday with a clear message: There is no cause for alarm in spite of the nuclear crisis in Japan.

Radiation levels, which have been monitored by the NEA since Monday, have not shown any abnormal changes. The water supplies also do not indicate any signs of contamination, PUB said.

Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim told reporters on the sidelines of the briefing that the data showed a "very safe level", with radiation averaging about 0.1 microsievert per hour - taking into account background radiation.

Said Dr Yaacob: "Looking ahead, in the worst-case scenario, if there is a radioactive plume resulting from an explosion at the incident site, the risk of it arriving in Singapore is indeed very low because we are about 5,000 kilometres away."

He added: "Even if we assume that there are prevailing winds transporting the plume towards Singapore, by the time the plume has travelled that distance, the concentration would have been reduced significantly, back to ... the normal background levels. So there is minimal risk of Singapore being affected by any radiological plume."

Separately, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan also reiterated that the risk "outside of Fukushima is very low and certainly (for) Singapore ... the risk is an extremely low one".

"In any case we have to be geared up, just in case," said Mr Khaw, who was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural Australian Alumni Awards.

Latest updates on the Japan situation can be found on the website of the NEA, which is closely tracking the impact. NEA is also conducting daily studies to determine likely wind directions.

The NEA has deployed two machines to monitor radiation levels: One at its Scotts Road headquarters and the other at the Singapore Meteorological Services premises in Changi.

The machines monitor the air for contamination round-the-clock. Readings are sent via the country's 3G mobile network to an information database for monitoring.

Dr Anthony Goh, who heads the department of nuclear medicine at the Singapore General Hospital, said that there is also no need to rush for potassium iodide pills.

Said Dr Goh: "It is not a magic cure for any form of radiation exposure. The only purpose of taking potassium iodide tablets is to saturate the thyroid gland with non-radioactive iodine to block the access of radioactive iodine into the body."

And the public should only take such tablets when instructed by the authorities, said Dr Goh.

Singapore radiation levels normal, says NEA
Dylan Loh Today Online 18 Mar 11;

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Friday that there are no abnormal changes in radiation levels in Singapore and the public should not be unduly alarmed.

The same assurance came from national water agency PUB which said it is monitoring water supplies and there is no sign of contamination so far.

Natural background radiation varies from place to place, but NEA said the average level in Singapore averages at about 0.1 microsieverts per hour, which is within safe limits.

It said it is closely tracking the impact of the Fukushima nuclear incident, and is conducting daily modelling studies.

As Singapore is located more than 5,000 kilometres away from Fukushima, NEA said there is minimal risk of Singapore being affected by the radioactive plume.

"Looking ahead, in the worst-case scenario, if there is a radioactive plume resulting from an explosion at the incident site, the risk of it arriving in Singapore is indeed very low because we are about 5,000 kilometres away," said Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim at the NEA news conference on Friday.

"But even if we assume that there are prevailing winds transporting the plume towards Singapore, by the time the plume has travelled that distance, the concentration would have been reduced significantly, back to sort of the normal background levels. So there is minimal risk of Singapore being affected by any radiological plume."

The UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) currently categorises the Fukushima incident as level 4, which is an "accident with local consequences".

But Japan's nuclear safety agency on Friday raised the threat level to 5, indicating "an accident with wider consequences".

Radioactivity not likely to reach here: NEA
Long distances would also reduce the concentration
Nisha Ramchandani Business Times 19 Mar 11;

THE likelihood of a radioactive plume from Japan ever reaching Singapore's shores is very low, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said yesterday.

Even in the worst case scenario, the travelling distance would reduce the radioactive concentration to normal background levels, it said.

Addressing growing concerns that radioactive material could spread from Japan's earthquake-damaged nuclear reactors, the NEA highlighted that winds would more likely disperse any radioactive material towards the Pacific Ocean.

On the offchance that the radioactive cloud is carried here as a result of the North-East Monsoon winds, the 5,000 km or so of distance between Singapore and Japan would sharply decrease the radioactive concentration of the plume.

Daily modelling studies are being conducted by the NEA.

The NEA's radiation monitoring stations are also checking radiation levels here and have found no abnormal changes in radiation levels. The level of natural background radiation averages about 0.1 microSivert per hour, which is considered a safe level.

'NEA continues to monitor closely through our radiation monitoring stations and is also in close consultation with international and local experts,' said Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, speaking to the media at the sidelines of the NEA briefing.

There are monitoring stations at Changi Airport, at the Environment Building and at Changi Naval Base, as well as a mobile monitoring vehicle.

'If levels worsen, which is unlikely, we'll put in place the contingency plans that we have,' said NEA CEO Andrew Tan at yesterday's press conference.

The PUB has also been checking water samples and have found no changes in the water quality.

In reference to Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant, Koh Kim Hock, the director of the Centre for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science, highlighted that unlike the Chernobyl disaster, the Fukushima nuclear reactor is a water based one and also has a containment vessel - factors which suggest that a repeat of Chernobyl is unlikely.