By The Associated Press
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OLYMPIA — The state Health Department is now posting radiation levels online in response to growing public concern about exposure from Japan’s nuclear plants.
Department spokesman Donn Moyer says so far, nothing other than normal background radiation levels has been detected.
The state agency has been monitoring radiation levels for decades.
Moyer said it was a challenge to figure out how to post the information in a way that would be easy to understand.
Moyer said there is radiation in Washington state’s environment all the time, from the sun, and X-rays and computer monitors, for example.
The levels would have to be hundreds of thousands of times higher than current readings before health officials would recommend any response.
The link to the monitors: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Topics/japan/monitor.htm
In addition, Gov. Chris Gregoire wants people to follow the U.S. Department of Health’s advice: Do not take potassium iodide pills in response to fears of radiation from Japan.
Like Moyer, Gregoire noted that radiation levels in Washington have not changed — and officials don’t immediately expect a surge in those levels.
The governor said potassium iodide pills could pose health risks and encouraged people not to take them.
