By Brendan Cowan
Director, San Juan County Department of Emergency Management
As the situation at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station evolves, it is worth highlighting to islanders that at this time there is widespread agreement by experts that there is no potential hazard to the mainland United States, even in the event of a catastrophic meltdown. The distance between here and Japan is sufficient to ensure that any radiation that makes it this far will be well below thresholds for being a health risk.
That said, there are a number of agencies monitoring the situation and regularly measuring atmospheric conditions. Disasters often surprise with their impacts, and it pays to stay alert and prepared, even when the potential impact seems minimal.
There have been a number of questions received about the use of potassium iodide (KI) to protect against thyroid cancer caused by irradiation.
Taking potassium iodide (KI) is not needed at this point in time, nor is it expected to be needed in the future. The risk of the medication far outweighs any hypothetical benefit related to exposure from the current events in Japan. Federal, State, and Local health authorities are monitoring the situation carefully and if there is a change in this recommendation will immediately notify the public.
Links to useful information sources:
WA State Department of Health: www.doh.wa.gov/Topics/japan2011
International Atomic Energy Agency Updates on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/notes/international-atomic-energy-agency-iaea/japanese-earthquake-update
CDC Information on Potassium Iodide (KI)
www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/ki.asp
World Nuclear News
www.world-nuclear-news.org/
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