No danger:
Hong Kong Observatory Director Lee Boon-ying says easterly to northeasterly winds are expected to continue to trigger artificial radionuclide iodine-131readings in Hong Kong over the next three days, however, the minute level will not pose health risks.
Low radionuclide level to continue
March 30, 2011
Easterly to northeasterly winds are expected to continue to trigger artificial radionuclide iodine-131 readings in Hong Kong over the next three days, however, the minute level will not pose health risks.
Hong Kong Observatory Director Lee Boon-ying gave this forecast today, saying trace amounts of the radionuclide have been recorded in Hong Kong's atmosphere since the weekend. The observatory has increased the frequency of air sampling to once a day to monitor the situation.
Dr Lee said the sampling process takes 22 hours. As last Saturday was the first time the radionuclide had been recorded, the measurement had to be repeated to re-confirm the results, which were confirmed and announced on Tuesday. From now on, no more repeat measurements will be required, he said, adding the collection and testing process will take one day.
The observatory's Acting Assistant Director Ma Wai-man said the level detected was so low people would have to inhale it for 500 years to experience the equivalent radiation of a single X-ray.
A trace amount of plutonium can be found in local seabed mud from nuclear tests conducted elsewhere from the 1950s to 1970s, but the effect on humans is minimal, Dr Lee said.
