Washington State Department of Health 3/16/2011
Since the failure of the power plants in Japan, radiation levels in Washington have not climbed above normal background levels and we do not expect they will.
Several factors play a role in protecting us from the release of radiation occurring at the damaged reactors in Japan:
• Most of the radioactive material is contained at the damaged plants; even if radioactive material reaches the upper atmosphere, it would not reach Washington in concentrations high enough to cause a health risk.
• The radioactive material that was released did not reach the upper atmosphere where it could be carried toward North America by the jet stream in amounts that would cause public health impact
• The fires and explosions at the Japanese reactors have not been as intense as the Chernobyl accident. Radioactive material ejected into the jet stream from Chernobyl did reach Washington in small amounts. Even after the Chernobyl disaster, protective action was not needed in our state, and the Japan incident is much smaller than Chernobyl.
• Even if radioactive material is released in Japan and reaches the jet stream, it would take several days to get here because the nuclear plants are about 5,000 miles from our state. In the time it would take to cross the Pacific, it would mix with lots of air as it’s blown in the wind (thus diluted); rain would wash some of the material from the air into the ocean.
• Radioactive decay, especially for short half-life radioactive materials such as iodine-131, would substantially reduce the amount of the radioactive material that could reach here.
For these reasons, it’s unlikely that we will see an increase in background levels of radiation in Washington. Even if a small amount of radiation did reach us, it would be well below levels that would pose public health concerns.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
How the nuclear reactor event in Japan affects King County
The information below was created by Public Health Seattle King County and is being provided as an FYI. For Official information from the Washington State Department of Health use this link: Japanese Earthquake 2011 - What does it mean for Washington?
How the nuclear reactor event in Japan affects King County
Updated 3/15/11, 3:00 PM
I’m alarmed by the news about the nuclear reactors in Japan. Do experts here think we’re at risk from radioactivity coming from Japan?
News of the unfolding events at the nuclear reactors shows a very serious radiological situation in northeast Japan. Here in our state, experts at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Washington Department of Health Radiation Protection agency do not expect significant levels of radioactivity or any health risk from the situation in Japan. We could see a very small increase in radiation levels, but they would be well below levels that would be a health concern. As a precaution, federal and state agencies will continue to monitor radiation levels in the air and rain water.
Why would radioactivity from Japan not be dangerous if it arrived here?
Radioactivity can travel, but it thins out as it moves away from the source. Any radioactivity from the reactors would be diluted by the winds and the distance it takes to travel to Washington. Radiation experts at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Washington State Department of Health expect that the concentration of radioactivity would be too low to cause any health effects to people in the Pacific Northwest.
Is there a pill that will protect me?
No, there is no pill that completely protects against radiation. Potassium iodide (KI) pills protect part of the body against very specific kinds of radiation (radioactive iodine), but they only helpful under a very specific set of conditions. Some people could also be harmed by the high concentration of iodine in KI because of allergies or other health issues. We do not recommend purchasing or using KI as the situation. There’s no scenario involving the nuclear plants in Japan that would lead to a recommendation for people in Washington to take KI. More information on KI is available online from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/ki.asp
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.
What if the situation gets worse with the reactors in Japan?
We don’t know what will happen in Japan, but the state Department of Health has determined that even in the event of a significant release from the reactor, radiation should be diluted before reaching our state. In that radiation levels would be so low that no protective action would be necessary. The state health department will continue its monitoring work as the situation in Japan develops and changes.
For more information: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Topics/japan2011.htm
How the nuclear reactor event in Japan affects King County
Updated 3/15/11, 3:00 PM
I’m alarmed by the news about the nuclear reactors in Japan. Do experts here think we’re at risk from radioactivity coming from Japan?
News of the unfolding events at the nuclear reactors shows a very serious radiological situation in northeast Japan. Here in our state, experts at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Washington Department of Health Radiation Protection agency do not expect significant levels of radioactivity or any health risk from the situation in Japan. We could see a very small increase in radiation levels, but they would be well below levels that would be a health concern. As a precaution, federal and state agencies will continue to monitor radiation levels in the air and rain water.
Why would radioactivity from Japan not be dangerous if it arrived here?
Radioactivity can travel, but it thins out as it moves away from the source. Any radioactivity from the reactors would be diluted by the winds and the distance it takes to travel to Washington. Radiation experts at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Washington State Department of Health expect that the concentration of radioactivity would be too low to cause any health effects to people in the Pacific Northwest.
Is there a pill that will protect me?
No, there is no pill that completely protects against radiation. Potassium iodide (KI) pills protect part of the body against very specific kinds of radiation (radioactive iodine), but they only helpful under a very specific set of conditions. Some people could also be harmed by the high concentration of iodine in KI because of allergies or other health issues. We do not recommend purchasing or using KI as the situation. There’s no scenario involving the nuclear plants in Japan that would lead to a recommendation for people in Washington to take KI. More information on KI is available online from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/ki.asp
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.
What if the situation gets worse with the reactors in Japan?
We don’t know what will happen in Japan, but the state Department of Health has determined that even in the event of a significant release from the reactor, radiation should be diluted before reaching our state. In that radiation levels would be so low that no protective action would be necessary. The state health department will continue its monitoring work as the situation in Japan develops and changes.
For more information: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Topics/japan2011.htm
Friday, October 15, 2010
Walmart pulls allegedly lead-tainted products
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Walmart announced Thursday that it would remove from its shelves nationwide children's products that a consumer group said tested for high levels of lead.
The Oakland, Calif.-based Center for Environmental Health said this week that tests it commissioned on children's products sold at Target Corp. and Walmart stores identified products that contained lead above legal limits.
Minneapolis-based Target agreed to remove two toddler chairs that the group cited, while Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. initially said it would pull the items only from its California stores. Both companies pulled the items from their online businesses.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokesman Lorenzo Lopez said Thursday that "out of an abundance of caution" the company has stopped nationwide sales of items that include toy boxing gloves and foam bead jewelry.
"We're concerned with the Center for Environmental Health's findings and are taking this very seriously," Lopez said. "We have passing test results from Consumer Product Safety Commission-accredited labs for these items and will continue to investigate this matter."
The Center for Environmental Health, funded by a grant from the California attorney general's office, tests children's products to see whether they comply with regulations. The California attorney general's office said it had contacted the retailers, based on the center's test results.
The center had criticized Walmart for not immediately stopping sales nationwide. Walmart says it has comprehensive testing standards and that it works with suppliers to ensure products don't violate regulations.
Read more: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/10/14/1209718/walmart-pulls-allegedly-lead-tained.html#ixzz12T0xKqva
By CHUCK BARTELS
The Oakland, Calif.-based Center for Environmental Health said this week that tests it commissioned on children's products sold at Target Corp. and Walmart stores identified products that contained lead above legal limits.
Minneapolis-based Target agreed to remove two toddler chairs that the group cited, while Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. initially said it would pull the items only from its California stores. Both companies pulled the items from their online businesses.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokesman Lorenzo Lopez said Thursday that "out of an abundance of caution" the company has stopped nationwide sales of items that include toy boxing gloves and foam bead jewelry.
"We're concerned with the Center for Environmental Health's findings and are taking this very seriously," Lopez said. "We have passing test results from Consumer Product Safety Commission-accredited labs for these items and will continue to investigate this matter."
The Center for Environmental Health, funded by a grant from the California attorney general's office, tests children's products to see whether they comply with regulations. The California attorney general's office said it had contacted the retailers, based on the center's test results.
The center had criticized Walmart for not immediately stopping sales nationwide. Walmart says it has comprehensive testing standards and that it works with suppliers to ensure products don't violate regulations.
Read more: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/10/14/1209718/walmart-pulls-allegedly-lead-tained.html#ixzz12T0xKqva
By CHUCK BARTELS
West Nile Virus Update 10/15/2010
No new activity to report in Washington. West Nile virus activity remains at 2 birds and 126 mosquito pools found in Benton, Grant, and Yakima counties. No reports of infected people or horses so far this season. Definitely, a different viral transmission pattern than last year, when 34 people, 68 horses, 22 birds, and 341 mosquito pools had been reported by mid-October 2009.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Health officials warn of deadly mushroom spotted in Western Washington
Local health officials are warning people foraging for mushrooms to exercise caution after a case of poisoning from the "death cap" species of mushroom that has now been reported locally.
A Bellevue woman was hospitalized last month after eating the poisonous mushroom; she has since recovered.
The Amanita phalloides species, sometimes called "death cap" mushrooms, are highly toxic, public health officials warned. Those mushrooms cannot be distinguished from safe mushrooms using taste or smell.
"It takes extensive knowledge to know which mushrooms are safe to eat and which are poisonous," Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County, said in a stateent. "Amanita phalloides look very much like some edible types of mushrooms and increasingly can be found in the wild, in local parks, and even in our own backyards. Only people who really know what they're doing should eat mushrooms they've picked themselves."
Symptoms of poisoning by these mushrooms include abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. The first symptoms usually start within six to 24 hours of ingestion. Poisoning may result in damage to the liver and other vital organs, or even death.
Fleming says although cases of poisoning from the "death cap" mushrooms have been reported in Portland and British Columbia, the poisonous mushrooms were thought to be rare in Washington state until recently. There have been increasing numbers of the mushrooms spotted this fall, perhaps due to the wet weather.
If you desire to go picking mushrooms and want to know what to look for, the Puget Sound Mycological Society offers mushroom identification clinics for the public on Mondays from 4-7 p.m. at the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture through the end of October.
You can find more information at www.psms.org or call (206) 522-6031.
If you suspect you may have eaten a poisonous mushroom, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Call Washington Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
KOMO 4
A Bellevue woman was hospitalized last month after eating the poisonous mushroom; she has since recovered.
The Amanita phalloides species, sometimes called "death cap" mushrooms, are highly toxic, public health officials warned. Those mushrooms cannot be distinguished from safe mushrooms using taste or smell.
"It takes extensive knowledge to know which mushrooms are safe to eat and which are poisonous," Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County, said in a stateent. "Amanita phalloides look very much like some edible types of mushrooms and increasingly can be found in the wild, in local parks, and even in our own backyards. Only people who really know what they're doing should eat mushrooms they've picked themselves."
Symptoms of poisoning by these mushrooms include abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. The first symptoms usually start within six to 24 hours of ingestion. Poisoning may result in damage to the liver and other vital organs, or even death.
Fleming says although cases of poisoning from the "death cap" mushrooms have been reported in Portland and British Columbia, the poisonous mushrooms were thought to be rare in Washington state until recently. There have been increasing numbers of the mushrooms spotted this fall, perhaps due to the wet weather.
If you desire to go picking mushrooms and want to know what to look for, the Puget Sound Mycological Society offers mushroom identification clinics for the public on Mondays from 4-7 p.m. at the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture through the end of October.
You can find more information at www.psms.org or call (206) 522-6031.
If you suspect you may have eaten a poisonous mushroom, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Call Washington Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
KOMO 4
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Rabies alert: Don't pet the bats
They're furry and cute, but they're not your friends.
The Washington State Department of Health is warning people to steer clear of bats, the most common source of rabies exposure for people in this region.
So, listen up: Don't feed the bats. Don't chase them or trap them. Just keep your distance, and seek help if you're bitten.
"It's preventable, but rabies annually kills 55,000 people around the world, half of them children under age 15," according to a health department warning released Wednesday.
Rabies is nearly always fatal if it goes untreated, though medication administered soon after a bite can prevent the disease from developing.
That said, rabies is rare in Washington. The state has only identified two cases where humans have been infected by rabies during the past 20 years, though 148 people have already been treated for possible exposure to the disease this year.
State health officials report 74 of those treatments were made necessary by encounters with -- you guessed it -- bats. Most of the others resulted from bites by dogs or other animals.
Between 5 and 10 percent of bats tested every year in Washington have rabies, state officials said Wednesday. Raccoons, skunks and foxes are also often found to be infected.
There are three reasons health officials say people should seek immediate treatment for rabies:
* If you're bitten by or have contact with saliva of a bat or other potentially rabid animal.
* If you wake up to find a bat in the room, tent or area where you're sleeping.
* If there's a bat in a room with a child or adult who isn't capable of describing what happened.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/223866.asp
The Washington State Department of Health is warning people to steer clear of bats, the most common source of rabies exposure for people in this region.
So, listen up: Don't feed the bats. Don't chase them or trap them. Just keep your distance, and seek help if you're bitten.
"It's preventable, but rabies annually kills 55,000 people around the world, half of them children under age 15," according to a health department warning released Wednesday.
Rabies is nearly always fatal if it goes untreated, though medication administered soon after a bite can prevent the disease from developing.
That said, rabies is rare in Washington. The state has only identified two cases where humans have been infected by rabies during the past 20 years, though 148 people have already been treated for possible exposure to the disease this year.
State health officials report 74 of those treatments were made necessary by encounters with -- you guessed it -- bats. Most of the others resulted from bites by dogs or other animals.
Between 5 and 10 percent of bats tested every year in Washington have rabies, state officials said Wednesday. Raccoons, skunks and foxes are also often found to be infected.
There are three reasons health officials say people should seek immediate treatment for rabies:
* If you're bitten by or have contact with saliva of a bat or other potentially rabid animal.
* If you wake up to find a bat in the room, tent or area where you're sleeping.
* If there's a bat in a room with a child or adult who isn't capable of describing what happened.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/223866.asp
Monday, December 28, 2009
BLOG UPDATES WILL BE LIMITED IN 2010
Due to staff reductions in 2010 the Environmental Health blog will be update on a limited basis only. Environmental Health Staff are still available Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, to answer any questions you may have, simply contact us at (360) 249-4413.
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