State Health Authority: No Danger to Oregonians from Japan Radiation

By JAMES PITKIN

Answering a looming question from the ongoing catastrophe in Japan, the Oregon Health Authority announced this afternoon that radiation from potential nuclear meltdowns there poses no threat to Oregonians.

In a news release, state Public Health Director Mel Kohn says the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission gave the all-clear.

"Given the thousands of miles between the two countries, Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. Territories and the U.S. West Coast are not expected to experience any harmful levels of radioactivity," the news release says. "There have been no elevated radiation readings detected in Oregon and air samples remain normal. Given the current size of the release and the distance from Oregon, we do not expect that to change and there is no public health risk to the state."

The announcement comes after waves from the tsunami caused by last week's 8.9-magnitude Pacific quake did damage on the Oregon coast near Brookings.

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