No measurable fall-out from Chernobyl melt

Press, 10 July 1987, Page 3

No measurable fall-out from Chernobyl melt

No measurable quantities of radioactive fall-out reached the South Pacific or New Zealand from the Chernobyl reactor accident in April, 1986. In the latest environmental radioactivity annual report, produced by the National Radiation Laboratory, results quoted showed that there were no significant radioactive fluctuations in the air or rain during the year, and

levels before and after Chernobyl were similar. The report said the New Zealand fall-out monitoring programme, with new high-volume air samplers, provided a very sensitive measurement of environmental radioactivity levels. Since the incident the radiation laboratory has been involved in monitoring radioactivity levels in foodstuffs imported from

European countries, and in certifying levels in exported New Zealand produce. During 1986 samples of dried fruit and herbs were tested. No imports were found to be contaminated to levels near the prescribed limit until last month when high levels of radiation were found in 1 tonne of oregano imported from France.