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S'pore unlikely to be affected by nuclear radiation: experts
By Joanne Chan | Posted: 14 March 2011 2316 hrs
Smoke billows from fires raging at the port in Tagajo, Miyagi prefecture, after a massive earthquake and tsunami.
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Smoke billows from fires raging at the port in Tagajo, Miyagi prefecture, after a massive earthquake and tsunami.
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S'pore unlikely to be affected by nuclear radiation: experts
SINGAPORE: It would take conditions like a complete meltdown of Japan's reactors and a continuous fire for a radioactive cloud to reach Singapore, said nuclear experts to ease concerns about Singapore being affected by a radioactive fallout.
Singapore's National Environment Agency had said on Sunday that the country is unlikely to be affected, as the incident is taking place some 5,000 kilometres away.
However, SMSes have been circulating, warning people not to expose themselves to rain as it may carry radioactive particles that can burn or even cause cancer. Other messages caution people to remain indoors and swab iodine on their neck to prevent radiation.
Experts say such messages are causing unnecessary fear, as such a worst case scenario is unlikely because it requires a complete meltdown of Japan's reactors.
Dr Benjamin Sovacool, assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said that out of 66 nuclear accidents that have occured in the past, only the Chernobyl incident resulted in the wide dispersal of radioactive material.
"It burned for more than four days in Chernobyl, which is why elements dispersed so far. In the case of Japan, it's more than likely that if there's a type of explosion, they would contain it relatively quickly. Which means South Korea, or maybe some parts of China will be hit, but not Singapore," said Dr Sovacool.
Even with this worst case scenario, Singapore will likely have advance warnings.
"It would take weeks, at least days, for any radioactive cloud to leave Japan and make it here, unless wind speeds were to get to tsunami-like speeds. Again, we will have lots of advanced warnings. Even if the worse case scenario were to happen, there would be time to talk about taking pills and changing behaviour," said Mr Sovacool.
Separately, The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority have confirmed Japanese food products exported before last Friday are safe.
These include products currently in the market and those which arrived in Singapore over the last few days.
However, as a precautionary measure, samples of fresh produce from Japan after Friday will be tested.
- CNA/cc
