Crisis In Japan: Radiation Detection For Food Safety

Crisis in Japan:
Radiation Detection for Food Safety
April 28, 2011

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Enabling Our Customers to Make the World…
Healthier Cleaner Safer

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Speakers
Guest Speaker: Ken Kerns
Consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna,
Austria and Associate Director, Environmental Health and Safety at
Iowa State University.
Mr. Kerns is a safety professional with over 25 years of experience in
radiation safety and emergency response planning. Areas of expertise
include radiological emergency response, emergency planning,
exercise planning and control, safety and technical training, and site
remediation.
Bob MacKenzie
Program Manager for New Technologies at the Radiation Measurement and Security
Instrumentation (RM&SI) business unit of Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Mr. MacKenzie been in the Nuclear instrumentation business for 40 years. In his early career
he was a reactor and neutron physicist. His experience encompasses instrumentation of all
types ranging from instruments deploying simple Geiger-Mueller tubes through to those using
sophisticated High-Purity Germanium based systems.

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Introduction and Current Situation
• Fukushima, Japan - 2011
• Earthquake and tsunami (March 11)
• 14,000 dead, 14,000 still missing
• 500,000 left homeless
• Shortage of food, water and medical support
• Dai-ichi Reactors
• Connection to the electrical grid was broken
• Backup generators failed
• All power for cooling was lost to reactors
• All efforts were focused on cooling reactors
• Controlled pressure releases were required
• Radioactive water leaked into ocean
• Reactor situation still serious but manageable

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Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Unit 4
Unit 3
Unit 2
Units 5, 6
Unit 1
At the time of the earthquake
Reactors 1, 2 and 3 operating
Reactors 4, 5 and 6 shutdown for
maintenance, inspection, refueling

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Radiation Releases from Daiichi Reactors
• Atmospheric
• Over pressurization of reactors
• Controlled released
• Uncontrolled releases
• Winds away from island initially
• Sea and groundwater
• Water pooled around reactors
• Leaks from fuel storage pools
• Leaks from cracked pipe in unit 2
• Waste treatment plant will be used for
temporary storage

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Radioactive Materials Released in Japan
Iodines
Particulates
Noble Gasses
Fissionable
Materials
• I-131, I-129
• High affinity for thyroid gland
• Stable potassium Iodide (KI) used as prophylaxis
• Cs-137, Cs-134, Sr-90
• Internal and external hazards
• Longer half-lives
• Xe-137, Kr-90
• Inert – but decays to other isotopes
• External Hazard only
• U-235, Pu-239
• Internal hazard
• Very long half-lives

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Radiation Basics

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Important Units and Limits
Activity is a measure
of the amount of
radioactive material
Dose is the amount of
energy imparted on
the body
Dose Limits
Annual Background
Dose
• Curies (US) (3.7E10 disintegrations/second)
• Becquerel (SI) (1 disintegration/second)
• Units are Rem (US) and Sievert (SI)
• 1Sv = 100 Rem
• Occupational = 5 Rem (50 mSv)/year
• General Public = 100 mRem (1mSv) /year)
• Emergency worker = 10 Rem (100 mSv)
• 620 mRem (6.2 mSV) / year
• Varies according to location

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US Average Background Radiation Dose

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How Can Food Products Become Radioactive?
Airborne
radioactive
materials
contaminate
food surfaces
or animal feed.
Bioaccumulation
through soil,
water, or food
chain.
Source: World Health Organization
Releases to
water affect
fish, plants,
and irrigation.
The severity is
determined by
radionuclide
mix and levels.

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Radiation Impact on Food
March 20,
2011
April 8,
2011
April 11,
2011
Currently
• Japan placed restrictions on some food produced in two provinces
• High levels of Cs-137 in spinach and I-131 in milk.
• Japan lifted restrictions on milk and spinach and other vegetables.
• Japan will restrict rice planting in areas where radiation levels are higher
than limits set by food regulations.
• US FDA performed 1,017 field tests for radionuclide contamination.
• No contamination found.
• 41 food types including 2 fish.
• No additional contaminated foods identified.
• Seawater within 20 Km of plant with significant levels of contamination

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Global Reactions to Radiation in Food
Many countries have
banned food imports
from Japan.
“FDA does not have
concerns with the safety
of imported food products
that have already reached
the U.S.”
(4/2/11 Radiation Safety Report)
US FDA:
“Based on current
information, there is
no risk to the U.S.
food supply”
The FDA continues to
monitor the situation
and will restrict
imports if necessary.

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Radiological Monitoring Results (Japan)
Food
• 23 food samples were collected on April 8,15, 17 and 18
• I-131, Cs-134 and/or Cs-137 were either not detected or were
below the regulation values set by the Japanese authorities.
Drinking Water
• I-131 and Cs-137 are far below restriction levels
• Recommendations for restrictions for infants based on I-131 in
place in 1 village of Fukushima prefecture as precautionary
measure
(IAEA- 19 April 2011)

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Toxicology
• Potential for increased thyroid nodules and cancers in children due to
ingestion of I-131
• Very low potential due to:
• vigilant monitoring
• food restrictions and
• KI distribution
• I-131 has an 8-day half-life so it will fully decay in less than 3 months
• Potential for increased cancer rate from uptake of other radioisotopes
• Risk (less than 0.1%) is much lower than total cancer risk (40%)
• Leukemia is most likely cancer
• Radiation-induced cancers are not distinguishable from other causes

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Potential for Future Food Contamination
Unlikely Very Low Possible
Milk Rice Fish
Cheese Tubers Kelp
Meat Leafy Vegetables Shellfish
Packaged Foods Produce

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Best Case / Worst Case Scenario
Best Case
No additional
releases of
radioactive material
Some crop and
fishing restrictions
are maintained
Continued
monitoring efforts
Consumer
confidence restored
Worst Case
Loss of cooling and
major release
Widespread
contamination and
global food impact
Countries impose
protection practices

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Contact Information
Ken Kerns, Associate Director
Environmental Health and Safety
Iowa State University
2809 Daley Drive, Ames, IA 50011-3660
515-294-0746 (office)
kckerns@iastate.edu

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Overview of Measurement Tools
Surface Monitoring for
Contamination
What? On lettuce, grass,
swipes
Bulk Monitoring (Gross
Gamma Radiation)
Drinking Water, Milk, Meat,
Fish, Mushrooms, Nuts, etc.
Bulk Monitoring (Simple
Gamma Spectroscopy)
Drinking Water, Milk, Meat,
Fish, Mushrooms, Nuts, etc.
Sensor Used Geiger Mueller Tube Scintillator (e.g. NaI(Tl)) NaI(Tl) Scintillator
Who? Emergency Responder
When?
Where?
Detection
Limits for
I-131 (Typical)
Instrument
Needs
Thermo
Scientific
Solution
Hours, Days after
Accident
Local Agricultural
Environment
Use weather information
Food Distribution Chain
Radiation Safety Technologist
Emergency Responder
Days, Weeks, Months after
Accident
Agricultural Regions
Drinking Water Supply
Fisheries
Milk Production Sites
Laboratory
Technologist
Bulk Monitoring
(Sophisticated Gamma
Spectroscopy)
Drinking Water, Milk, Meat,
Fish, Mushrooms, Nuts, etc.
High-Purity Germanium
Detector
Technologist
Food Safety Scientist
Gamma Spectroscopist
Weeks, Months, Years Months, Years
Monitoring Program with
Frequency and Location
Determined by Analysis
Monitoring Program with
Frequency and Location
Determined by Analysis
~ 4 kBq/l ~300 Bq/l ~60 to 120 Bq/L (w/wo Lead) Very Low
Fast: Go/No Go
Decision
Easy to Use:
Emergency Response
Low Cost: Many
monitoring points
Analysis: Semi-quantitative
Easy to Use: Many users
Low Cost: Many
Measurements
Analysis: Semi-quantitative
Easy to Use: Many users
Moderate Cost: Extensive
Program
RadEye B20 RadEye PRD-S RadEye SX
Analysis: Fully Quantitative
Cost: Not a Driving Factor
HPGe Nuclide
Analysis System

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Methods of Analysis
Sample Sample prep Methods of Analysis
Air
Air Sampler and
Cartridge/Filter
Nuclide Specific
Water Desiccate on filter Low Level Alpha/Beta
Food Cut and weigh Gross Gamma
Grass and vegetation None Scan with Large Area GM Tube
Packages None Scan with Large Area GM Tube
Personnel Protection Products Application
Badges Active and passive dosimetry Total dose
Instrument (pager) RadEye – B20 Surface contamination
Instrument (pager) RadEye – PRD Dose rate and thyroid

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Measurement Considerations
• Food (including milk and drinking water) measurements to
Derived Intervention Level (DIL - USA), does not require
sophisticated sample preparation
• Knowledge of weight and volume necessary to normalize results
• Fruits and vegetables (above ground) - surface contamination
• Swipe or direct measurement
• Measurements to sub-pCi levels require sophisticated sample
preparation and HPGe specific nuclide analysis system
• Air sampling
• Typically soil measurements are not common (remediation task)
DIL Levels Radionuclide Group (Bq/kg)*
Iodine-131 170
Cesium-134 + Cesium-137 1200
*FDA Website

Thermo Scientific RadEye B20
• A modern compact multi-purpose
contamination meter
• Quickly detects existence of radioactivity on
food, soil and swipes (predominantly via beta
radiation, incl. I-131, Cs-137, Sr-90)
• Detects alpha, beta, gamma and X-ray
radiation
• Lightweight, compact and rugged
• Standard AAA-cell batteries for over 500
hours operation time
• Removable Energy Filters Available
• Energy filter for directional dose
• Energy filter for ambient dose
• Alpha-rejection filter for quick estimation of
alpha contamination in emergency response
situations
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Gamma Measurement in Food, Liquids with RadEye PRD
• Highly sensitive Gamma radiation detection
using NaI(Tl) Detector
• Immediate indication on lowest levels of
gamma radiation (> 150 cps / µSv/h Cs-137)
• The RadEye PRD can quickly screen for the
existence of significant radiation levels on
food, soil and wipes within seconds
• The same instrument can perform quantitative
sample measurements
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The RadEye PRD can be used for
quick scans for radioactive Iodine
RadEye PRD in lead shieding kit for
gamma detection in food samples
Typical detection limit (5 min):
120 Bq/l (or Bq/g) for I-131
300 Bq/l (or Bq/g) for Cs-137
RadEye PRD in sample charger kit for
gamma detection in liquid samples
Typical detection limit (5 min):
120 Bq/l (or Bq/g) for I-131 in water
300 Bq/l (or Bq/g) for Cs-137 in water

High Sensitivity Gamma Measurement RadEye SX/SPA3
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• Gamma food monitoring via
highly sensitive
2 adjustable energy windows
are measured simultaneously
• The kit comprises SPA3 2”x2”probe
with connection cable,
desktop stand and Marinelli
beaker set.
• RadEye SX provides scaler
mode with adjustable
measurement time
• Optional Pb-shield for reduced
measurement time
Typical detection limit (5 min):
100 Bq/l (or Bq/g) for I-131 in water
100 Bq/l (or Bq/g) for Cs-137 in water

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RadEye HEC for Alpha-emitters
• Alpha-Beta Sample Counter
• Simultaneous alpha and beta radiation
measurements.
• Approx. 800 hrs operation time (battery)
• Internal data storage (4500 values)
• USB interface to PC
• The system incorporates a 2" dual
scintillation phosphor detector
• One sliding drawer accommo-dating a 2"
diameter sample.

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HPGe Specific Nuclide Analysis System
• High Resolution
• Specific nuclide measurement (nuclide vector)
• Components
• High-Purity Germanium Detector
• Lead Shield
• Electronics
• PC and Software
• Footprint Considerations
• Weight: >1,000 pounds
• Form factor: Floor Standing

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RadEye Quantitative Measurement Instruments
Product B20-ER PRD-S SX/SPA3 HEC
Category Surface Bulk Bulk Surface
Beta radation
Gamma radiation
Alpha/beta radiation
Detection Limit
I-131, 1 min (Bq/l)
~4000 ~300 ~120
(60 w/ Pb shield)
na

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Thank You. For more information…
Radiation Measurement
Headquarters
US
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Franklin, MA 02038 USA
+1 (800) 274-4212
+1 (508) 520-2815 fax
United Kingdom
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Reading, Berkshire
RG7 5PR, UK
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+44 (0) 118 9712835 fax
+011 65 64789505 fax
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Singapore 138662
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Erlangen 91056 Germany
+49 9131 909-226
+49 9131 909-205 fax
India
Plot No. C -327,
T.T.C. Industrial Area,
Pawne
Navi Mumbai 400 705, India
+91 22 41578800
+91 22 41578801 fax
General sales inquires email: info.eid.thermofisher.com
Japan Crisis Response website: www.thermofisher.com/global/en/products/japan/index.html
RadEye products: www.thermoscientific.com/ecomm/servlet/newsdetail?storeId=11152&contentId=52697
Radiation Safety: www.thermoscientific.com/ecomm/servlet/productscatalog_11152_10443_80427_-1_4
Food Safety website: www.thermofisher.com/foodsafety
Japan Distibutor for Radiation Measurement Devices
SEIKO EG&G Co.,Ltd., Tokyo Office, Phone +81-3-5542-3104 www.sii.co.jp/segg/
China
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Plaza
No. 28 Andingem East Street
Beijing, 100007 China
+86 10 8419 3588
+86 10 8419 3581 fax
Japan
SEIKO EG&G Co.,Ltd.
Tokyo Office
+81-3-5542-3104
www.sii.co.jp/segg/