Gyeonggi-do Produced 'Mulkim' Safe from Heavy Metal and Radiation Contamination

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] 'Mulkim' produced in Gyeonggi-do has been found to be safe from heavy metal and radioactive contamination.

The Gyeonggi-do Marine and Fisheries Resources Research Institute announced on the 28th that from January to April this year, it collected 64 samples of mulkim, each weighing more than 1kg, produced in Hwaseong-si and Ansan-si through the Fisheries Cooperative auction market and conducted safety tests, all of which met safety standards.

First, the average cadmium level, a heavy metal, was 0.05 mg/kg, below the standard of 0.3 mg/kg. Radioactivity from iodine (131I) and cesium (134Cs+137Cs) (permissible limit 100 Bq/kg each) was not detected at all.

Looking at the inspection results of mulkim produced in the province over the past five years, 17 cases were conducted in 2018, 19 in 2019, 20 in 2020, 34 in 2021, and 64 in 2022.

The average cadmium levels by year ranged from 0.03 to 0.1 mg/kg, and radioactivity tests were all non-detectable.

Kim Bong-hyun, director of the Gyeonggi-do Marine and Fisheries Resources Research Institute, said, "Gyeonggi-do's mulkim production ranks fifth nationwide, and since it is processed into dried seaweed and distributed nationwide, ensuring safety is important," adding, "We will continue to thoroughly inspect for contamination such as heavy metals and radioactivity in mulkim produced in the province so that residents can consume safe seaweed."