It was reported that the recent explosion at the Fukushima nuclear plant had caused the radiation level to rise, sparking fears of it spreading to other Asian countries. (Photo: AFP).

Should there be a nuclear meltdown in Japan, the radiation will take years to reach Singapore and the impact should be minimal, said an expert on energy studies.

Dr Hooman Peimani told The New Paper that if the release of radiation is phenomenal and if the natural means of transportation of radiation, such as wind and water, are strong enough to carry the radiation, then it is possible that radiation could reach Singapore in the future.

But he added that “the radiation strength would be insignificant to cause any damage by the time it reaches us.”

Dr Peimani heads the Energy Security Division at the National University of Singapore’s Energy Studies Institute. Last August, he presented a paper on the viability of underground nuclear reactors in Singapore at the Nuclear Power conference.

Will the food imported from Japan be safe for consumption?

“Yes. Today, there is no indication of exposure of any food in Japan to any volume of radiation beyond the acceptable level,” said Dr Peimani.

“However, if there is any food produced in the proximity of the nuclear reactor and if indeed there is a significant amount of radiation released and food is exposed, it is possible that food produced in that region be contaminated.

“And in this case, the food should not be consumed.”

For example, if there is a chance that fish reared in a farm near a leaking nuclear power plant will be contaminated, the contamination will be passed on to the person who eats it, causing health problems like cancer or complications in pregnancy.

But Dr Peimani said Japan’s health authorities would examine any food from the region which could be exposed to determine if it is safe for consumption.

“The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore would also be stopping such products from reaching us. Food should not be much of a concern and I will not hesitate to eat it,” he said.

An AVA spokesman said products from Japan are being tested for radiation and the it would also monitor Japanese produce –- including fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood -– based on its source and potential risk of contamination.

“Samples will be taken for radiation testing and fresh produce will have priority,” said the spokesman.

On April 26, 1986, the No.4 reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine exploded, causing the worst nuclear disaster in history.

The explosion killed 30 people on the spot, released more than eight tons of highly radioactive material, contaminated 60,000 square km of land, and caused more than 3.2 million people to be affected by radiation.

The catastrophe also left a legacy of contamination in the western part of Belarus and Russia and swathes of forest remain affected even two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union.