Officials: Japan Radiation Does Not Pose Health Risk
On Thursday, public health officials said radiation from Japan's crippled nuclear power plants does not pose a health risk to the state. Howard Backer, interim director of the California Department of Public Health, said that no increased levels of radiation have been detected and that he questioned some predictions -- based on weather patterns -- that radiation could reach the U.S. by Friday. Mike Dayton, action secretary for the California Emergency Management Agency, said, "There is no threat to public health."
- "State Officials Say No Radiation Detected, FDA To Inspect Imports" (Lavelle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3/17).
- "Radioactive Particles Arriving in Bay Area, but Pose No Risk, Say Scientists and Health Officials" (Krieger, San Jose Mercury News, 3/18).
- "Winds From Japan Won't Endanger State, Experts Say" (Perlman/Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, 3/18).
- "Federal, State Officials Try To Ease West Coast Radiation Fears" (Weiser, Sacramento Bee, 3/18).
- "Obama Urges Review of U.S. Nuclear Plants, Reassures Americans on Radiation From Japan" (Parsons/Muskal, Los Angeles Times, 3/17).