More FAQ's From the State Dept. of Health

More frequently asked questions from the Washington State Dept. of Health.

How does the state measure radiation in the environment (air and water)?
We collect air samples on filter paper (for particles) and charcoal cartridges (for iodine); we also collect rain water. 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.

Will the radiation from Japan affect our drinking water in Washington?
No. We do not expect contamination to be detectable in our water supplies.

How much radiation is naturally found in Washington’s environment?
It 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 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 excess 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.

Should cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy take special precautions?
No.

Are there other sensitive populations that should take precautions in our state?
No, because we do not expect concentrated radiation from Japan to reach Washington.

Some of the fuel in one of the reactors has plutonium in it. Isn’t that more dangerous?
Not in this situation. When we estimate plumes from our own commercial reactors, it’s the lighter elements such as iodine isotopes that turn to a gas or are such light particles that they escape the reactors. We do not see uranium, which is the predominant radioactive element in the fuel. Nor would we see plutonium, another radioactive element. 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.