Radioactivity in milk

The monitoring programme produces information on the radioactivity levels in milk and the radiation exposure caused to humans by milk consumption. The dairies included in the radiation monitoring programme have been selected from areas where the fallout caused by the Chernobyl accident differs.

The majority of foodstuffs in human consumption are farm products. The radioactive substances in nature are migrated into milk through feed. Milk consumption in Finland is high, so monitoring the levels of radioactive substances in milk is vital.

The samples are collected from dairies in Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Oulu, Riihimäki and Seinäjoki. The results are reported locally by combining the samples of each quarter of a year.

The cesium-137 concentrations (Cs-137) in milk have been higher in areas that received the largest levels of Chernobyl fallout. The concentrations of Cs-137 in milk have dropped to almost the same level as before the Chernobyl accident. The detected concentrations are less than one thousandth of the maximum levels for food trade 1,000 becquerels per litre (Bq/l) applicable following a radiological emergency within the European Union (2016/52/Euratom).

2024

The radioactivity levels (Bq/l) of Cs-137 and strontium-90 (Sr-90) in milk in 2024, quarterly and annual averages.

City	1.1.–31.3.		1.4.–30.6.		1.7.–30.9.		1.10.–31.12.		1.1.–31.12
	Cs-137	Sr-90	Cs-137	Sr-90	Cs-137	Sr-90	Cs-137	Sr-90	Cs-137	Sr-90
Joensuu	0,13		0,13
Jyväskylä	0,42		0,45
Oulu	0,18		0,16
Riihimäki	0,10		0,17
Seinäjoki	0,49		0,47

 

2023

The radioactivity levels (Bq/l) of Cs-137 and strontium-90 (Sr-90) in milk in 2023, quarterly and annual averages. 

City	1.1.–31.3.		1.4.–30.6.		1.7.–30.9.		1.10.–31.12.		1.1.–31.12
	Cs-137	Sr-90	Cs-137	Sr-90	Cs-137	Sr-90	Cs-137	Sr-90	Cs-137	Sr-90
Joensuu	0,14	0,022	0,14	0,020	0,12	0,023	0,13	0,020	0,13	0,021
Jyväskylä	0,39	0,024	0,43	0,026	0,44	0,029	0,39	0,024	0,41	0,026
Oulu	0,18	0,020	0,19	0,017	0,19	0,019	0,17	0,019	0,18	0,019
Riihimäki	0,10	0,018	0,14	0,017	0,13	0,018	0,16	0,017	0,13	0,017
Seinäjoki	0,59	0,021	0,53	0,021	0,49	0,023	0,47	0,021	0,52	0,022

 

2022

The radioactivity levels (Bq/l) of Cs-137 and strontium-90 (Sr-90) in milk in 2022, quarterly and annual averages. Exceptionally, milk samples were not collected in 2022 from 1 January to 31 March.

2021

The radioactivity levels of Cs-137 and Sr-90 in milk in 2021, quarterly and annual averages. Exceptionally, milk samples were not collected in 2021 from 1 October to 31 December.