IMPACT OF FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR INCIDENT ON SINGAPORE'S ENVIRONMENT

IMPACT OF FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR INCIDENT ON SINGAPORE'S ENVIRONMENT: 12.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what is the impact of Japan's nuclear crisis on Singapore's environment; (b) what is the possibility of air-borne and water-borne radiation permeating our environment; and (c) what steps are in place to ensure that Singapore remains radiation-free.

The Minister of State, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan) (for the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources): Sir, since the massive earthquake and the subsequent tsunami that struck Japan's north-eastern coast on 11th March this year, the Japanese authorities and the Tokyo Electric Power Company have been attempting to cool down four of the six units at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by spraying and pumping seawater and freshwater. The Japanese authorities and the International Atomic Energy Agency have reported elevated levels of radiation in the air and the sea water within 100 km of the plant, with readings at Fukushima City, located 60 km away, reaching as high as 8.5 micro-sieverts per hour on 18th March this year. Above-normal levels of radiation were also detected beyond 100 km from the plant.

Although the current situation at the nuclear plant in Japan remains very serious, assessments from modelling simulations carried out by NEA and the World Meteorological Organization show that the likelihood of any radioactive plume reaching Singapore is very low. As Singapore is located more than 5,000 km away from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, even in the unlikely event that the radioactive plume reaches Singapore, the impact of the plume is expected to be inconsequential as the concentration of radioactive substances in the plume would be diluted to insignificant levels. Likewise, the possibility of the radioactive seawater around Fukushima affecting the waters and coast of Singapore is also very low because of the distance and dilution.

Notwithstanding this, NEA has been monitoring the radiation levels in our environment and coastal waters. NEA has not detected any abnormal radiation levels beyond the natural background level. The average daily radiation level in Singapore is made available to the public on NEA's website. In addition, NEA is monitoring reports of any significant changes in radiation levels in regional countries. This will provide an early warning should the radioactive plume spread towards Singapore. At home, our inland waters and drinking water supply are not affected by the nuclear fallout in Japan. PUB's daily monitoring of radioactivity levels in our drinking water indicate that the levels are well within the safety levels stipulated by the World Health Organization.

To guard against contamination of our food chain, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) has been working closely with its counterparts in Japan and has stepped up its surveillance on food imports from Japan. To-date, the AVA has detected radioactive contaminants in a few shipments of vegetables from Japan and these have been disposed of properly. AVA has since 23rd March suspended the imports of fresh produce and milk from affected regions in Japan.

I would like to assure the House that contingency plans are in place to deal with any deterioration of the situation in Japan. MICA will continue to keep the public informed of the situation through timely and regular updates.

MICA has also established a micro-site, www.gov.sg/japanquake, on the Government response to the Fukushima situation. It is a one-stop information portal for the public. Regular updates from MICA and NEA are also available to the public via social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo: I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response. Just one question: the public had indeed been expressing reservations about eating seafood and I think we are also seeing Singaporeans shunning Japanese restaurants for fear of contaminated seafood. How safe is seafood imported from elsewhere and in Singapore now? How are we going to educate our public on the safety of seafood imported from Japan and the surrounding countries?

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Sir, in fact, all shipments of fruits and vegetables, seafood, milk, meat and milk products from Japan are subject to, what we call, the "hold and test" policy. That means, samples from each shipment are taken for testing and the shipment is only released when it is found to be safe for consumption. As such, food imported from Japan, including seafood that is available in the market, is safe for consumption.

As regards public education, as I have noted earlier, MICA has established a micro-site, that is, a one-stop information portal that the public can access information relating to the nuclear incident in Japan. MICA as well as the National Environment Agency (NEA) also provides regular updates through social media tools like Twitter and Facebook.