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Health
effects
Potassium Iodide (KI)
Measuring radiation
Safe radiation levels
Precautions
Travel to or from Japan
Cargo and imports from Japan
(section updated 5/10)
Other sources of information
Health Effects
How much radioactivity is coming to Washington from
Japan’s reactors?
We aren’t seeing significant levels of radioactivity in
our state, and there’s no health risk. Japan is
thousands of miles from our state. Any radioactivity
released from the reactors is thinned-out by the winds
before it reaches us. We have detected a very small
increase in some radiation levels — well below levels
that would be a health concern. We’re working with
federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated
effort to monitor radiation levels in the air and
rainwater.
Would increased radiation levels
cause health effects?
It’s not possible for enough radioactive material to
cross the ocean to cause any health effects to our
residents. There’s no need for people here to take
protective action based on concern about radiation
reaching the air in Washington from Japan.
Some of the fuel in one of the
reactors has plutonium in it. Isn’t that more dangerous?
Not in our situation. When we estimate plumes in
planning for the commercial reactor in Washington, the
larger concern is the lighter elements such as iodine
that turn to a gas or are so light that they escape the
reactors. In planning for nuclear reactor emergencies
here, we don’t project uranium, which is the main
radioactive element in the fuel, or plutonium traveling
very far. Heavier elements such as uranium and plutonium
settle out quickly, and would not reach the upper
atmosphere and travel thousands of miles from Japan to
Washington.
Potassium
Iodide
Does the state stockpile potassium
iodide (KI)?
The events in Japan do not indicate a need for anyone in
Washington to take protective action like using KI. The
state does not stockpile KI; there are federal
stockpiles of medical supplies including KI for
distribution to all states if an emergency made that
necessary. There are no conditions at the plants in
Japan that would require people in the U.S. to take KI.
How can I buy potassium iodide (KI) on my own?
The state doesn’t monitor or track private inventories
of such products, and there’s no indication of a need to
use KI based on the nuclear events in Japan. KI is
available over the counter; some pharmacies carry it in
stock or will order it. KI can also be purchased online.
We do not advise the public to purchase KI. It’s not an
“anti-radiation pill;” it’s only helpful in very
specific conditions, and protects only against
radioactive iodine.
More
information on KI is available online from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Why don’t you think KI will be
necessary in Washington in the wake of Japan’s nuclear
problems?
KI protects the thyroid against high concentrations of
radioactive iodine, which is a type of radioactive
material that is very unlikely to make it to the upper
atmosphere. If it were to get in to the upper
atmosphere, by the time the winds blew it from Japan to
other parts of the world such as Washington, it would be
at such low levels that it would pose no health threat
to people. Levels would be diluted by wind and distance.
Potassium iodide is typically given to people who are
very near the source of high levels of radioactive
iodine, such as nuclear plant workers or residents near
the plant who may not be able to get out of the area
soon enough after a nuclear incident. In Japan, for
example, the evacuation zone is within 20 kilometers, or
about 12 miles, of the plant. We’re thousands of miles
away. The state Department of Health recommends against
KI for people in this state concerned about radiation
from the nuclear event in Japan.
With many pharmacies out of
potassium iodide (KI), Internet sources suggest taking
large doses of iodine water purification tablets. Is
that a good alternative?
NO. In fact, state health officials counsel against
taking anything to prevent against radiation exposure
when there’s no unusual radiation source. There’s no
scenario involving the nuclear plants in Japan that
would lead to a recommendation for people in Washington
to take KI.
Can I use iodized salt as a
substitute for potassium iodide?
People in
Washington should not take potassium iodide (KI) in
response to the nuclear incident in Japan, so there’s no
need for a substitute or alternative. Minuscule amounts
of radioactive iodine have reached Washington from
Japan, but the levels are at least a million times lower
than readings that would pose a health concern. State
health officials continue to urge people in our state
not to take KI or substitutes. And it would be
impossible to eat enough iodized salt to protect against
radioactive iodine — and it would be very dangerous.
Measuring
Radiation
How does the state measure
radiation in the environment (air and rainwater)?
We collect air samples on filter paper (for particles)
and charcoal cartridges (for iodine); we also collect
rainwater. We send the samples to our Public Health
Laboratories or to the federal Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) lab for analysis. Samples from
the RadNet system go to the EPA lab. Samples we
independently collect go to our labs in Shoreline.
How do you know the measurements
are accurate?
The EPA lab is nationally recognized for its expertise
in radiation analysis. The samples we send them include
blind air samples with known concentrations of
radioactive elements so we can be sure we’re getting
accurate results from our tests. Our Public Health
Laboratories undergo the same rigorous testing.
How often are the "real time" air
monitors "read" or checked?
The
real-time air monitors are updated hourly and are being
monitored around the clock.
What other radioactive materials that
could’ve come from Japan’s nuclear reactors have you
detected in air in Washington?
Test
results for
radioactive iodine (I-131) in air are posted on our
website, and our air monitoring detected very low levels
of some other isotopes that could’ve come from Japan:
cesium-134, cesium-137, iodine-132, and Tellurium-132.
Peak levels include 0.00164 picocuries per cubic meter
for C-134 on March 23rd, 0.012 picocuries per cubic
meter for C-137 on March 20th, 0.04 picocuries per cubic
meter for iodine-132 on March 20th, and 0.08 picocuries
per cubic meter for Te-132 on March 20th. Since then,
the levels have consistently dropped to the point
they’re below minimum detection levels for standard test
methods.
I-131 has
also been seen in rainwater. The peak level was 161
picocuries per cubic meter on March 25. Subsequent
rainwater samples also show consistently dropping
levels.
Is there an air monitor I can buy to
track radiation in the air?
While air
samplers are available for general public purchase, we
do not recommend buying them. They’re very expensive,
and untrained users can easily get a radiation reading
from naturally occurring radon gas. Analyzing air
samples is a complex process that requires professional
radiological training. Meanwhile, the state Department
of Health is keeping a close eye on radiation levels in
the air and will advise residents if there’s any change
from the harmless naturally occurring levels we see
every day.
Safe milk
I heard you're testing milk in
Washington for radiation from Japan. Why?
The state
Department of Health routinely tests milk samples from
around the Hanford Nuclear Reservation every month.
State health officials continue that testing and are not
doing additional milk testing in response to the nuclear
plant incident in Japan.
The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests milk for
radioactive material quarterly on both sides of the
state. The next tests had been scheduled to be done in
April, but after the earthquake in Japan, they decided
to run the test in March on the west coast.
Dept.
of Agriculture affirms safety of Washington milk.
(4/5/2011)
What were the sample results?
The
state Department of Health’s April 2011 test results
were below the limit of detection for radioactive
iodine (I-131), confirming there is no radiation
health threat for people who drink Washington milk.
Below detection limits means material may be present
but the level is too low to be reliably measured
with standard testing methods.
The
EPA reports that a barely detectable amount of
Iodine-131 was found in a milk sample taken in March
25 in Spokane. The amount was reported as .8
picocuries per liter, which is 5,000 times lower
than the level at which we would recommend
protective actions such as removing the milk from
the market.
What’s an unsafe level of
Iodine-131 in milk?
The
federal Food and Drug Administration has set the
protective action standard for Iodine-131 in milk at
4,600 picocuries per liter. That level would trigger
the state Department of Health to recommend such
actions as having milk removed from store shelves,
and holding milk that’s in production from being
distributed. The levels detected by EPA in milk
samples from Spokane in March are many thousands of
times lower than that, and I-131 was below the limit
for detection in the April 2011 sample analyzed by
the state health department.
Should we be concerned about the
low levels of radiation found in the milk?
The low levels of radiation found in the milk are
miniscule and far below levels of concern, even for
infants and children.
Safe Radiation
Levels
What is the threshold for radiation
levels in the air to become a health risk?
The small
amount of radiation traveling in the atmosphere from
Japan has not risen above the harmless background levels
we commonly see. Health effects from radiation exposure
start to show when a person receives a dose of 20,000
millirem — equal to getting about 2,000 chest x-rays,
all at the same time.
Has radiation from Japan affected our drinking water in
Washington?
No. And we do not expect contamination to be detectable
in our drinking water supplies.
Why aren't you testing our drinking water supplies for
radioactivity?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been
testing drinking water samples for radioactive iodine
(iodine 131) and sees no levels approaching a public
health concern. The state Department of Health has been
testing rainwater, which is a first indicator of
contamination in water. As rain falls, it cleanses the
atmosphere, bringing any radioactive materials in the
air to the ground. Since iodine detections in rainwater
are well below any level of concern, drinking water
wouldn't be either. Rainwater entering drinking water
systems would be significantly diluted by existing water
supplies. Iodine 131 is quickly decaying away now and
cannot be seen in any of our air samples. EPA sampling
results, including tests on drinking water samples, are
available on the EPA's
website.
How much radiation is naturally
found in Washington’s environment?
The radiation that’s in our environment every day is
referred to as background, and the level varies
around the state. At sea level, the total average annual
radiation dose is about 620 millirem per year from all
sources. That includes natural radiation in soil,
radiation from outer space, the amount found in foods we
eat, medical X-rays, etc. In Spokane, higher levels of
natural radium in the soil raise that average annual
radiation dose to about 1,600 millirem per year.
How dangerous are these radiation
levels?
Radiation is found naturally in the environment, and
while it can be higher in some places than others, it
generally is not a health risk at background (normal)
levels. Exposure to higher levels of radiation can be
harmful to health, though. Elevated radon, for example,
has been shown to cause lung cancer, according to EPA;
however, we do not see elevated cancer rates as a result
of this in Washington.
How does that compare to a dental
X-ray?
A dental X-ray is about 20 to 25 millirem to the tooth.
Dental X-rays are included in the numbers reported
above.
Are radiation levels the same in
all parts of the state?
No. Because of naturally-occurring radon levels, the
east side of our state has higher radiation levels than
the west side. Elevation is also a factor. At sea level
we pick up an average of about 20 millirem per year due
to cosmic radiation. That increases about 1 millirem per
year for every 100 feet above sea level, so someone
living at a 1,000 foot elevation would pick up an
average of 30 millirem per year from cosmic radiation.
What about Hanford: are radiation
levels higher there?
Hanford is a unique site with high radiation levels in
certain places onsite, but there’s little chance of an
impact offsite. Hanford was once a source of potential
offsite radiological problems, but with efforts under
way to clean it up, those problems are becoming less and
less each year.
Precautions
Should cancer patients undergoing
radiation therapy take special precautions?
No.
Are there other sensitive
populations that should take precautions in our state?
No, because concentrated radiation from Japan will not
reach Washington. The miniscule amount of radiation
we’re seeing is not harmful to human health.
How is the radiation from Japan affecting the waters in
Washington? Are beaches and seafood safe?
We do not expect that significant amounts of radiation will reach
Washington by sea. Radioactive material from the nuclear
events entering the Pacific Ocean is dispersed as it
moves farther away from Japan. All Washington waters and
sea life will be unaffected by the failure of the
Japanese nuclear power reactors. Fish and shellfish from
Washington waters and beaches are not affected by the
nuclear reactor damage in Japan and are safe to eat;
they are, however, still subject to
local toxins and beach closures.
The US Food and Drug Administration is
monitoring food and products imported from Japan.
Read more about this at the FDA website.
Travel to or from
Japan
Some people traveling from Japan have been found to be
contaminated by radiation. Should these people be
isolated or quarantined?
No,
there’s no need for that. People who have returned from
Japan and found to be contaminated should shower and put
on clean clothes that were not contaminated in Japan.
Anyone who’d been in the affected area of Japan and has
specific concerns about health risks should see their
health care provider for advice on whether further
evaluation or testing is needed. Health care providers
may contact the Washington State Department of Health
for additional information on assessing a patient’s
exposure or contamination.
Should people who’ve been contaminated be given
potassium iodide (KI)?
No, at the very
low contamination levels detected in Washington there’s
no need to take KI. Remember, KI does not provide
protection from contamination.
Are other people at risk if they come into close contact
with a person who’s been contaminated with radiation?
No, it’s very unlikely the
contamination transferred from a person or item to
another person would be a health concern at the low
levels that have been detected.
What should a person do if they
visited Tokyo between March 11 and today, and are
concerned about exposure to radioactive iodine?
Anyone who’d been in the
affected area of Japan and has specific concerns about
health risks should see their health care provider for advice
on whether further evaluation or testing is needed. Your
health care provider may contact the Washington State
Department of Health for additional information on
assessing your exposure or contamination.
Should you be concerned about
possible iodine exposure if you are planning to travel
to Tokyo now?
Information and advisories
about traveling to Japan are available from the U.S.
Department of State at
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1148.html
Is radioactive iodine harmful to
people?
Any radioactive isotope at
extremely high levels can be harmful. However
radioactive iodine is commonly used in medical
procedures, especially in treating cancer. The levels of
radioactive iodine given to patients are many times
higher than the levels detected in Washington, and these
levels pose no threat to human health.
Cargo and Imports
from Japan
We've already seen a ship come in to
Tacoma with radioactive particles in its air filters.
Was this surprising to state officials?
No. We have been
detecting minuscule amounts of radioactive iodine
through our state air sampling program, so it’s not
surprising that a ship that crossed the Pacific Ocean
would have picked it up in its air filter. (The filter
on a ship’s engine works much like an air sampler,
although it pulls in a much greater amount of air.)
These small amounts pose no danger to public health.
What is being done to protect Washington ports from
ships coming from Asia with radioactive contamination?
Several federal
and state agencies are working to screen cargo and food
supplies. The U.S. Coast Guard screens ships for
radiation before cargo is unloaded. Once that is
complete, U.S. Customs and Border Protection screens
cargo and the federal Food and Drug Administration
screens imported food. The Washington state Department
of Health and the federal Environmental Protection
Agency are working to support these screening efforts.
What is the state Department of Health's role in
ensuring that contaminated cargo is not offloaded into
our ports?
We provide
technical advice to radiation survey teams. In some
instances, we provide onsite support with technical
personnel.
I heard that some cargo containers
arriving at Washington ports are contaminated with
radioactive material. Am I in danger?
The small
amount of radioactive material detected on cargo
containers that came from Fukushima, Japan, have been
well below levels that would cause any health concerns,
even for those who work at the port. Cargo containers
entering Washington ports are screened for radioactive
contamination by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Was the ship that came in to Tacoma
with radioactive particles in its air filters a surprise
to state officials?
Our state
air testing was detecting tiny amounts of radioactive
iodine from Japan at the time, so it’s not surprising
that a ship that crossed the Pacific Ocean would have
picked it up in its air filter. The small amounts found
on the ship pose no danger to the public’s health.
What is being done to protect
Washington ports from ships that have radioactive
contamination?
Federal
and state agencies are screening incoming ships and
their cargo. The U.S. Coast Guard tests ships for
radiation before cargo is unloaded. Then U.S. Customs
and Border Protection screens cargo and the federal Food
and Drug Administration tests imported food. The
Washington State Department of Health and the federal
Environmental Protection Agency are helping with these
screening efforts.
What is the state Department of
Health's role in making sure contaminated cargo is not
brought into our state?
We
provide onsite support and technical advice to radiation
survey teams. If U.S. Customs and Border Protection
teams detect radioactive material, more testing is done.
If radiation levels are higher than our state’s strict
limits, Customs and Border Protection would secure the
container and have it sent back.
Other Sources of
Information
Other sources of information on the
implications of the Japanese reactor accident:
