UNIVERSITETET FOR MILJ OG BIOVITENSKAP Norway Fish and

UNIVERSITETET FOR MILJØ- OG BIOVITENSKAP Norway, Fish and Chernobyl Prof Deborah Oughton, Norwegian University of Life Sciences and Oslo University’s Ethics Programme = Fish is Norway’s second biggest export product (after oil) = Exported to 150 countries; in 2011 worth 53 billion NOK (700 mill. $)

Deborah Oughton: ICRP Fukushima dialogues, November 2012 2 UNIVERSITETET FOR MILJØ- OG BIOVITENSKAP Chernobyl: Radioceasium deposition in Norway, 1986 Maximum values ‘ 86/’ 87 =Cow milk: 650 Bq/kg =Goat milk: 1350 Bq/kg =Freshwater fish: 30 000 Bq/kg =Lamb: 40 000 Bq/kg =Reindeer: 150 000 Bq/kg =Mushrooms: 1 -2 MBq/kg Permitted levels 600 Bq/kg general foodstuffs Raised permitted levels to 6000 Bq/kg in reindeer (+mushrooms, game, freshwater fish) Photo: Lavrans Skuterud, NRPA In 1987 more than 90% of all reindeer meat in Norway was above 600 Bq/kg

UNIVERSITETET FOR MILJØ- OG BIOVITENSKAP Other Radiation Related Incidents - Seafood = Tc-99 from Sellafield in lobster (max 100 Bq in 1990 s) • Norwegian producers and industry show more concerns than = Kursk submarine accident in 2000. consumers Nuclear powered submarine; loss of 118 • lives Acceptance comes down to more than Bq and m. Sv (complex influence of social, political and ethical issues) www. bbc. co. uk

UNIVERSITETET FOR MILJØ- OG BIOVITENSKAP Other Contaminants – Farmed Salmon = Due to levels of heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd) and organics (dioxin, PCBs) in salmon, pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised not to eat salmon • than Marketing: Seafood good more twice a week (Hg: is 0. 02 – for you; balance the risks and benefits 0. 06 mg/kg) • Consumer trust is paramount = In 2006, reported consequences high concentrations • Economic can be of Pb and Cd measured in some enormous samples of Norwegian salmon in Russia led to a total import ban (worth millions of dollars) Visual elements www. rsc. org