Caesium

We can provide measurements of radioactive caesium in food, water and solid materials.

Background

Gammadata Mätteknik was founded in 1986 as a result of the radioactive fallout from the reactor explosion at Chernobyl. In the north of Sweden nutrients for reindeer were particular hard hit. A widespread need arose to measure and check radioactive caesium in reindeer meat as well as mushrooms and berries from forests, and also other foodstuffs.

Control measurements

Caesium –137 is the isotope that has caused most problems in the ecological system as a result of Chernobyl. It can easily be absorbed in the nourishment chain because of its chemical characteristics. The caesium – 137 will not disappear in a foreseeable time, as the half-life is 30 years. Therefore, it’s very important to make control measurements of animals and vegetables that form part of the human diet.

Gammadata is a assigned laboratory

Since 1986 Gammadata Mätteknik has been the preferred laboratory of the Swedish National Food Administration and the Swedish National Board of Agriculture to perform caesium analysis in abattoir products.

Efficient measurement system

Gammadata Mätteknik’s measurement system is one of the most efficient in Europe, with a capacity of more than 1000 samples per day. We also run the Swedish National Board of Agriculture’s database, which contains all test results obtained since 1986 (approximately 500 000 samples). The measurement method is approved by the Swedish National Food Administration and the Swedish Radiation Protection Institute and also accredited by the Swedish board of Accreditation and Conformity Assessment.

Limits in Sweden

Radioactive caesium in Reindeer - 1500 Bq/kg (40,5 nCi/kg).
adioactive caesium in game stock - 1500 Bq/kg (40,5 nCi/kg).
adioactive caesium in fish - 1500 Bq/kg (40,5 nCi/kg).
adioactive caesium in berries - 1500 Bq/kg (40,5 nCi/kg).
adioactive caesium in mushrooms - 1500 Bq/kg (40,5 nCi/kg).
adioactive caesium in other foodstuffs - 300 Bq/kg (8,1 nCi/kg).

Concerning dairy products and baby food the Swedish National Food Administration can decide that a lower limit than
300Bq/kg (8,1 nCi/kg) can be applicable.