Concern in California regarding the earthquake in Japan has been subdued by many affirmations that the coast is safe from the effects of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.
According to Bryant Kinney, spokesperson for the Nuclear Energy Institute, it is not anticipated that the United States will be affected by the nuclear disaster in Japan.
In a conference on the afternoon of March 17, Howard Baker, interim director of the California Department of Public Health, said, “The concern now is whether radiation from the nuclear plants will reach the shores of California and, at this point, that is not the case but we understand people’s concerns. Radiation is scary stuff.”
According to Baker, the best way to protect from radiation is distance, and the 5,000 miles between Japan and Los Angeles would cause major dispersal of radiation that reaches the atmosphere. He also said that potassium iodide will not be necessary for what, if any, radiation reaches California from Japan.
In the same conference, Jonathan Fielding, director of public health and the health officer of Los Angeles County, said that measuring systems are in place to track radiation levels.
“The fact that you’re seeing more severe issues locally in Japan does not translate into greater problems for Los Angeles County or the Southern California coast,” Fielding said.
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