Radioactive Particles Found In Some California Wines: Study

CALIFORNIA -- That glass of red wine may be flavorful for a reason. A group of French scientists submitted a study to the Cornell University Library focusing on the radioactive particles found in some California wines, which may have made its way across the Pacific Ocean following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in March 2011.

The study, conducted by Michael Pravikoff, Christine Marquet and Philippe Hubert of Université de Bordeaux, said "a variation in the cesium-137 level" was found in a series of Cabernet Sauvignon wine bottles found in California. Researchers did not say the names of the wines used for the study.

"Of course, the California authorities have proceeded to countless measures in 2011 of different foods, but not
wines," the study said. "The values obtained always show extremely low Fukushima contamination."

However, researchers noted the level of radioactive particles was too small to cause any harm.

The nuclear disaster happened at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Ōkuma following a tsunami and earthquake. The nuclear meltdown led to the plant releasing radioactive particles.

--Photo via Shutterstock

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