HC Deb 27 March 2000 vol 347 c63W
Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned on the health implications of very high concentrations of technetium in seafood; and if he will make a statement. [115529]

Yvette Cooper

No specific research is currently carried out into the health effect of technetium-99 in seafood as the effects of ingested radioactivity have been studied for many years. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food carries out a comprehensive monitoring programme around the British Isles, which shows the most exposed seafood consumer received only 2 per cent, of the annual dose limit from exposure to technetium-99.