Japan radiation poses no threat to US residents

In a bid to quell to the rising fears among people, the U.S. federal health regulators described the risk of nuclear contamination outside of Japan as low, stressing that they did not expect harmful radiation to reach North America.

Based on the type of reactor design and the nature of the accident, we see a very low likelihood -- really a very low probability -- that there's any possibility of harmful radiation levels in the United States, or in Hawaii or in any other U.S. territories," stated Greg Jaczko, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

"The best estimates of whether radiation will reach our shores indicate that if [it does], the amounts will be so small as to basically be equivalent to our normal background radiation sources from air and soil.”-- Dr. Howard Backer, interim director of the California Department of Public Health

Radiation will dissipate over the 5000 mile stretch
Northern Japan, where a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami crippled the cooling systems at three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, is around 5,000 to 6,000 miles away from the West Coast of the United States.

According to Dr. Howard Backer, interim director of the California Department of Public Health, the distance is too great and any threatening levels of radiation will dissipate over the vast stretch between the two countries.

The forecast by the United Nations indicates that the radioactive plume coming from Japan's Fukushima reactors may eventually hit Southern California late Friday, but the particles detected will be in very small harmless amounts.

Backer stated, "The best estimates of whether radiation will reach our shores indicate that if [it does], the amounts will be so small as to basically be equivalent to our normal background radiation sources from air and soil.”

Additional radiation sensors installed
Meanwhile, as a precautionary move, the Environmental Protection Agency is measuring the radiation levels at over 100 sites across the nation.

In addition, they have installed seven additional radiation monitoring units in Guam, Hawaii and the Aleutian Islands off the Alaska coast to detect radiation floating over the Pacific.

Assuring the public that there was no cause for worry about the potential health impact, President Barack Obama stated, "Whether it's the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska or U.S. territories in the Pacific, we do not expect harmful levels of radiation.

"That's the judgment of our Nuclear Regulatory Commission and many other experts."

Rush for potassium iodide pill
Scared by the possible threat of nuclear contamination, many people are rushing to buy potassium iodide pills, which protect against radiation.

Experts caution against the indiscriminate use of the medication as it is known to have has side-effects, especially for people allergic to iodine, shellfish or who have thyroid problems.

Ken August, spokesman of the California Department of Public Health, stated, “Potassium iodide should not be taken unless there is a nuclear emergency.”