Radioactivity testing - Eurofins offers a global network for risk management in the food supply chain
By Dr. Susanne Rathjen and Nadja Flüchter, Eurofins WEJ Contaminants GmbH, Germany
The global food industry faces new challenges regarding risk management due to the ongoing nuclear reactor incident in Japan.
The radioactivity spread into the environment locally, and entered the food chain via water, air and soil. Further distribution via ocean currents and upper air layers has spread the contamination to other regions but at the same time the dilution effect would potentially reduce the contamination to concentrations below levels causing adverse health effects.
Manufacturers, as well as importers, distributors and other parties are faced with the responsibility of putting comprehensive and reasonable monitoring systems in place to assess the risk of radioactivity levels in their foods.
European, US and other governmental authorities have implemented import measures and maximum levels for certain radionuclides in food and feed. The volatile and hence spreadable radionuclides caesium-134, caesium-137 and iodine-131 are of greatest concern to the food supply chain and can be monitored as marker nuclides by means of γ-spectrometry. The analysis of other radionuclides, such as strontium-90 or plutonium-239, require a major sample preparation effort and so comprehensive monitoring of these radionuclides in food is generally unrealistic for routine testing.
Eurofins’ expertise in the field of radioactivity is based on more than 20 years experience. The Competence Centre Eurofins WEJ Contaminants in Hamburg performs the analysis of iodine-131, caesium-134 and caesium-137 using state-of-the-art γ-spectrometry with either high-resolution germanium semiconductor or sodium iodide scintillation detectors. Additional radionuclides can be determined on request. To meet the requirements of its global operating customers, Eurofins has expanded its radioactivity testing capacities to other regions, including Japan, China, the United States, Denmark and Sweden.
As well as the testing of food products and raw materials, Eurofins’ offer encompasses on-site inspections including the analysis and assessment of freight containers, mainly in the ports of Hamburg (Germany), Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and in China.
Contact: NadjaFluechter@eurofins.de
By Dr. Susanne Rathjen and Nadja Flüchter, Eurofins WEJ Contaminants GmbH, Germany