Global Reaction

S. Korea runs radiation checks on marine produce

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-08 16:34

SEOUL- South Korea is conducting radiation checks on seawater and marine life collected off the east coast of the Korean peninsula and waters near Japan, local media reported Friday.

Related readings: ROK's fish market hit by radiation fears  Some S. Korean schools shut amid radiation fears  Seafood not affected by Japan radiation

Vice education and science minister Kim Chang-Kyung reportedly told lawmakers that the state-run Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute is testing seawater and marine life collected from 20 spots and will announce the result later this week.

The agricultural ministry, meanwhile, said it will also carry out radiation checks on farm produce in 40 parts of the country and put products tainted with abnormal levels of radiation, if there is any, off the market.

Following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that crippled nuclear reactors in northeastern Japan, South Korea has regularly run checks on radiation in the atmosphere, rain and Japanese food imports.

Only minuscule levels of radioactive materials have been found so far, which authorities here say pose no human health risk.