… some have high radiation levelsThe Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is the second government agency to disclose that it will be putting measures in place to detect the presence of high radiation levels in used cars being imported from Japan.GRA Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur, told Kaieteur News yesterday that the agency will not be sounding alarms as yet, since the danger has not been accessed. Sattaur told Kaieteur News that it is seeking the involvement of other agencies to determine the way forward in providing the “appropriate response.”The damage caused following the tsunami in Japan in 2011The GRA Head suggested further that since the agency is now becoming aware of the matter, it is in the investigative stage and will be releasing a statement on the agency’s role in this case and any precautions to importers and consumers.Sattaur refused questions on the possibility of contaminated vehicles already in the country and measures being put in place. He said that he would have to access the information before making any statements.The Commissioner General had however told this newspaper in 2011 that it was in the process of sourcing equipment and protective gear to allow the agency to test vehicles and parts imported into the country from Japan for radiation contamination.He had stated,Samir Nasri Jersey, then, that Japanese automakers had begun to check the level of radiation on cars exported from Japan to ease fears by foreign customers.While other local agencies involved in trade and commerce, car sales and consumer safety has promised to release information after the necessary investigations into the importation of the contaminated automobiles and parts, consumers may need to take extra caution and ask more questions when purchasing their vehicles.In November 2012, a minibus imported from Japan by a used-car dealer in Jamaica was scanned and found to have radiation levels which required it to be moved to a quarantined area. Last December,Charlie Blackmon Rockies Jersey, a shipping container containing used car parts destined for Guyana was also found to have elevated levels of radiation and was also transferred to a quarantined area for protection. Both shipments were returned to Japan.A report from that country stated, “The Jamaica Customs Agency had been on high alert since the earthquake affected Japan,” and that they were working close to the United States Department of Energy to conduct radiation examinations on all vehicles and spare parts coming from Japan.News out of Paramaribo, Suriname, says that the probability that used cars and car parts from Japan with a high dose of radiation entering Suriname is considered very low since self security measures were implemented by two main international shipping companies transporting cars to Suriname.De Ware Tijd report said that car shipments from Japan for Suriname, Guyana and Jamaica are transferred to smaller ships before arriving in Paramaribo and Georgetown. “There are no specific instructions or guidelines given on that.”On January 5, 2013,Ryan Kent Jersey, Russia was reported as denying 165 batches of contaminated goods from entering the country; mainly used cars and spare parts. The country has placed,Matt Leinart College Jersey, “strict control of all cargo,Nick Powell Jersey, arriving from Japan, and will continue in 2014,Adoree Jackson Titans Jersey,” Rospotrebnadzor said on its website. Deliveries of fish coming from Japan and those caught in the Pacific Ocean are also being monitored, the agency said.Japan experienced problems following the 2011 tsunami that caused the leak of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. The plant is still on a fragile makeshift cooling system that produces massive amounts of highly radioactive water coming out of the wrecked reactors.Radiation is a chemical reaction that occurs when unstable nuclei of atoms decay and release particles. These particles touch various organic materials such as tissue. High levels as those in the vehicles can cause cancer and death.