Health officials said Sunday that one sample of Massachusetts rainwater has registered very low concentrations of radiation, most likely from the Japanese nuclear power plant damaged earlier this month by an earthquake and tsunami.
John Auerbach, the Massachusetts commissioner of public health, said that radioiodine-131 found in the sample — one of more than 100 that have been taken around the country — is short lived. He said the drinking water supply in the state was unaffected and officials do not expect any health concerns.
Nevada and other Western states also have reported minuscule amounts of radiation, but scientists say those presented no health risks.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said the in-state sample was taken in the past week, but they did not say where. The testing is part of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency network that monitors for radioactivity.
State officials said similar testing was done in California, Pennsylvania, Washington and other states, and showed comparable levels of I-131 in rain.
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3 comments:
..and tomorrow the report will be "unlikely from Japan". There is so much reporting of the news that within a few days the report is changed...not only with Japan but with all news
Hey Joe, I just read an article on Comcast's website that said radiation detected in North and South Carolina and it came from Japan. They mentioned at the end of the article that some small amounts were also reported in western states but the main point was that it was in N.C. and S.C. I always thought that Japan was closer to the west coast than the east. So why do you think they are concentrating on the east coast as if it were reaching them first??? It just seems like a weirdly typed article.
The detections were at nuclear plants where they have extremely sensitive equipment.
The radiation will be all over the planet, but barely detectable in most areas.
Radioactive iodine decays very quickly, too-- that's good.
If you have concerns, just be sure the table salt you're using is IODIZED salt. It will give you some potassium iodide that will help protect your thyroid.
Be sure your children get it, too-- they're most susceptible.
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