Politics & Government

Radiation From Nuclear Power Plant Poses No Health Risks in California, Experts Say

Health officials warn against taking potassium iodide to ward off radiation.

Southern California and elsewhere across the state is safe from radiation emanating from a nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan, according to health and environment officials.

"I want to reassure everybody that we do not expect to see harmful levels of radiation in the United States'' or Los Angeles, County Health Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding said.

Fielding also said that any radiation from the power plant damaged by a massive 8.9 earthquake would be “well-diluted” by the time it travels the 5,000 miles to the West Coast.

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According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, there are no heightened radiation levels detected in the area, although they would continue to post daily updates on its website -- www.aqmd.gov -- on radiation levels.

Reports indicated that radiation from the Japanese power plant would reach Southern California by Friday, although health officials have continued to reassure residents that no health risks are involved.

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Some of those reports have come from local news in Japan, where one broadcast news reporter claimed via Twitter that passengers at Los Angeles International Airport were being “wanded for radiation,” a statement denied by passengers speaking to reporters at LAX today.

However, a statement from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that the CBP have been paying close attention to the U.S.-bound flights from Japan since Tuesday.

Even President Barrack Obama joined in to downplay claims of radiation dangers.

"We do not expect harmful levels of radiation to reach the United
States, whether it's the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska or U.S. territories in the
Pacific,'' he said. "... That is the judgment of our Nuclear Regulatory
Commission and many other experts.”

Los Angeles County Health officials also warned residents of ingesting potassium
iodide, which is believed to prevent the body's absorption of radiation, indicating that the supposed remedy is ineffective and can cause side effects.

The Los Angeles County Health Department issued this statement: "We urge Californians to not take potassium iodide as a precautionary measure. It is not necessary given the current circumstances in Japan..."

The release also said that taking the tablets can present a danger to people with "allergies to iodine, shellfish or who have thyroid problems, and taken inappropriately it can have serious side effects including abnormal heart rhythms, nausea, vomiting, electrolyte abnormalities and bleeding."

City News Service contributed to this report.


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