EPA: Radiation From Japan Is Safe
Today the states of Colorado and Oregon joined Washington, Hawaii and California in detecting radioactive particles that have drifted over from Japan. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) trace amounts of radioactive iodine, cesium, and tellurium consistent with the Japanese nuclear incident have been captured by monitors in states along the West coast. However, the doses detected are hundreds of thousands to millions of times below the level of concern. "In a typical day, Americans receive doses of radiation from natural sources like rocks, bricks and the sun that are about 100,000 times higher than what we have detected coming from Japan. For example, the levels we're seeing coming from Japan are 100,000 times lower than what you get from taking a roundtrip international flight," said the EPA. Therefore, there is no need for people to start taking potassium iodide, a medication used for radiation poisoning. [via EPA]
