No Radiation Worries in B.C.

By 250 News

Victoria, B.C.- The provincial health officer for  B.C, Dr. Perry Kendall,  is reiterating  there is no health risk to British Columbians from any radiation  from the damaged Japanese nuclear power plants.

"We have been monitoring the situation very closely, and I have been in close, regular contact with our partners at the BC Centre for Disease Control, Health Canada and in the United States since the tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

He says that  as expected, "We have seen extremely small levels of radiation from Japan that have made their way over to the west coast of North America, but the levels are so minute that they pose no risk of health effects. "

Dr. Kendall says  it is expected  there will be measurable evidence of the power plant-associated radioactivity in the air until about a week after the reactor in Japan has stabilized.  He says  the situationwill  continue to be monitored.

He says  the levels noted are  very low,  all have been within the normal range of variability and are below  what a person on a long-distance flight may be exposed to.

"I would also like to remind people that there is no need to take potassium iodide tablets to counter radiation effects - this is unnecessary and can, in fact, cause health problems in some people."

People with concerns should check the  BC Centre for Disease Control website at www.bccdc.ca for regular updates to the radiation status.

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