From http://www.doh.wa.gov/
How much radioactivity do you expect to come to Washington from Japan’s reactors?
We don’t expect significant levels of radioactivity in our state, and there’s no health risk. Japan is thousands of miles from our state, and if radioactivity from the reactors there is released to the upper atmosphere it would be thinned-out by the winds before it could reach us. We could see a very small increase in 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 rain water.
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.
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 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 Japanese nuclear event.
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.
Other sources of information on the implications of the Japanese reactor accident:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
International Atomic Energy Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
World Health Organization
American Nuclear Society
International Radiation Protection Association
National Academy of Sciences
Nuclear Energy Agency
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