Fish and Shellfish Testing Results

In 2012, we began testing fish and shellfish for radioactivity. The substances we tested for: cesium-134 (Cs-134), cesium-137 (Cs-137), and strontium-90 (Sr-90). Below are test results. All test results show there is no health risk.

Technical laboratory result (PDF) (for those with a scientific background). Questions, contact RadiationInfo@doh.wa.gov.

Sample Type
and Location

 Date Collected

Substance

Result*

Health
Risk
Albacore Loin - Pacific Coast
 1/1/2009 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.0045
Sr-90 ND**
Albacore Bone - Pacific Coast 1/1/2009 Sr-90 ND** No
Albacore Loin - Pacific Coast
 1/1/2009 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.01
Sr-90 ND**
Albacore Bone - Pacific Coast 1/1/2009 Sr-90 ND** No

Razor Clam Meat - Pacific Beaches (Mocrocks Area)


3/14/2012
Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 ND**

Razor Clam Meat - Pacific Beaches (Copalis Area)

3/14/2012 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 ND**

Salmon Carcass - Snake River

 4/19/2012 Sr-90 ND** No

Salmon Meat - Snake River

 4/19/2012 Cs-137 ND** No
Albacore Bone - Pacific Coast 8/5/2012 Sr-90 ND** No
Albacore Loin - Pacific Coast 8/5/2012 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.0095
Sr-90 ND**
Albacore Loin - Pacific Coast 8/5/2012
Cs-134 0.00581 No
Cs-137 0.0156
Sr-90 ND**

Steelhead Meat - Snake River (Lyons Ferry)

 11/1/2012 Cs-137 ND** No

Salmon Carcass - Snake River

 4/17/2013 Sr-90 ND** No
Salmon Meat - Snake River 4/17/2013 Cs-137 ND** No
Albacore Bone - Pacific Coast 8/22/2013 Cs-137 0.0062 No

Albacore Fins and Skin - Pacific Coast

 8/22/2013 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.0034
Sr-90 ND**

Albacore Loin - Pacific Coast

 8/22/2013 Cs-134 0.0027 No
Cs-137 0.0076
Sr-90 ND**
Halibut Fin and Skin- Pacific Coast 8/22/2013 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.0026
Sr-90 ND**
Halibut Meat - Pacific Coast 8/22/2013 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.0025
Sr-90 ND**

Salmon Meat - Pacific Coast

 8/22/2013 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.0038
Sr-90 ND**

Salmon Fins and Skin - Pacific Coast

 8/22/2013 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.0014
Sr-90 ND**

Razor Clam Meat - Pacific Beaches

9/2/2013 Cs-137 ND** No
Sr-90 ND**
Razor Clam Shells - Pacific Beaches 9/2/2013 Cs-137 ND** No

Mussel Meat - Pacific Beaches

9/10/2013 Cs-137 0.00351 No
Sr-90 ND**
Mussel Shells - Pacific Beaches 9/10/2013 Cs-137 ND** No

Steelhead Meat - Snake River (Lyons Ferry)

 10/24/2013 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.0076
Sr-90 ND**

Steelhead Fins and Skin - Snake River (Lyons Ferry)

 10/24/2013 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.00551
Sr-90 ND**

Steelhead Bone - Snake River (Lyons Ferry)

 10/24/2013 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.0053
Sr-90 ND**
Salmon - Cowlitz Hatchery 7/1/2014 Cs-137
0.005

 No
Salmon - Snake River (Lyons Ferry) 8/25/2014 Cs-134 ND** No
Cs-137 0.0039

It's expected some radiation will be found in fish and shellfish. Baseline radiation was seen in albacore samples collected in 2009, before the events at Fukushima. The Cs-134 detected in the albacore samples dated 8/5/2012 shows the events at Fukushima have added to what is considered baseline radiation. Before the Fukushima event, Cs-137 radiation levels in albacore were about 0.005 pCi/g (See Neville, Environ. Sci. and Technol. 2014, 48, 4739-4743).

*All samples measured in picocuries per gram, (pCi/gm).

**ND=Not Detected. Detection limits vary depending on various factors, all detection limits are below human health risk levels. For more details, view the Technical laboratory result (PDF) page.

Organizations that monitor seafood safety