Open and honest FDA protecting Alaskans?

To the editor:

Two whales have been recently reported to contain radioactive cesium by the Japanese Fisheries Ministry. Radioactive cesium 137’s half-life is 30.7 years, and cesium 134’s half-life is two years. Radioactivity has been leaking into groundwater from under nuclear reactors of Fukushima and from under many old reactors on the West Coast of U.S., which then flows into the Pacific Ocean. Sea creatures eat it, and it gets concentrated more and more as larger and larger sea creatures eat the smaller ones.

Since whales and fish swim from warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean into Alaska waters, it seemed to me that our FDA should be measuring radioactivity in Alaska whales and fish to assure their safety. But they say that there is no need to make any measurements of radioactivity in fresh seafood. I asked the FDA if they are making any radioactivity measurements of Alaska whales and fish, since many Alaska Native people depend on this food for the whole year.

They said, “The FDA has taken precautions on processed seafood, but the FDA has no information on fresh fish.”

They advised me to contact the Alaska Division of Natural Resources. But the Legislature adjourned without passing legislation to continue the Coastal Management Program, so that website is frozen. Since there is fish and whale processing in Alaska, I then asked the FDA if I am to assume that it has been taking radioactivity measurements of “processed” Alaska whales and fish. I asked what readings were found. I asked why we have to wait for Japan’s Fisheries Ministry to report radioactivity in whales and fish to us. I also asked our FDA, “Have you forgotten about Alaskans?”

Jeannine Ertter, FDA consumer affairs specialist, responded: “Dear Mr. Russell, the manufacturer or processor is responsible for the finished product’s safety. For any information that we may have, please file a freedom of information request by following guidance at fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/FOI/default.htm.”

Daniel N. Russell,

physicist

Willow