NNR
denies problem with contamination of food
The
NNR has created confusion by sending out a media statement on
7 February 2008 denying that there is a problem with the contamination
of food by radiation in the Wonderfonteinspruit catchment.
It
stated in the media statement that the analysis of food samples
comprising spring onions, oats, asparagus, carp, barber, and meat,
found the radiological levels to be "below the 0.1 Bq/g level.The
internationally determined radiological levels and standard used
to establish whether food contamination is within or outside the
acceptable level is 0.1 Bq/g of radioactivity concentration measured
in the samples.
In line with international standards of radiological protection
in case of intervention which is the case with the WCA situation,
the public dose limit for normal operation of 1 mSv/a does not
apply to determine the whether food contamination is acceptable
or not."
This
statement flies in the face of a report in which the NNR stated
last year that the calculated dose of exposure to radiation in
foods like oats, asparagus onions and fish in the Wonderfonteinspruit
area that a one year old child will be exposed to, is 3106 µSv/a,
although the dose constraint is only 250µSv/a.
The
National Nuclear Regulator stated in its Status Report on the
Actions Arising from the Study of Radiological Contamination of
the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area (WCA) that the projected
doses are of safety concern from a radiological point of view.
The
terms of the 1 year and 17 year old age groups the table below,
indicates these to be the critical age group that will consume
these agricultural products (samples taken) grown in the WCA.
It should be noted that, these are not actual exposures but are
calculated doses based on certain consumption rates and occupancy
factors
| |
Dose in µSv/a |
|
| Samples taken |
1year |
17years |
| Oats |
2300 |
712 |
| Asparagus |
161 |
61 |
| Onions |
630 |
236 |
| Barber |
4.46 |
16.9 |
| Karp |
9.90 |
32.4 |
| Total Dose |
3106 |
1058 |
The
NNR stated that a more detailed and comprehensive analyses of
milk and meat from cows grazing along the WCA will be undertaken
as part of the comprehensive assessment.
On
February 7th the NNR stated in a press release that the study
and report DOES NOT say or suggest that:
-
there
is water (contamination) crisis in South Africa;
-
there
is serious problems with the country's water supply, including
radioactive contamination, unsafe dams and waste spills;
-
acid
mine drainage has occurred in South Africa nor that waste water
from mining operations appears to have seeped into the country's
groundwater system;
-
South
Africa stood on the brink of a water contamination crisis potentially
as bad as the electricity fiasco;
-
The
government is no longer able to effectively monitor and manage
its vast infrastructure of dams, pipes, pumps and treatment
facilities;
-
43%
of dams managed by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
have safety problems and require urgent repair; and
-
An
estimated R180bn is necessary to replace old water service infrastructure
countrywide, including in the major metro areas.
It
is not clear why the NNR has commented on acid mine drainage or
the state of water infrastructure. Both are problems, as can be
seen from other reports on this site.
"
Mrs Mariette Liefferink obtained the status report in terms of
the Access to Information Act as part of her environmental activism
in the WCA. Unfortunately she was asked to leave a meeting of
the Kromdraai Forum by Mr Ben Nell of the Tlokwe local municipality
on February 5th, 2008.
Status
report
Media
statement