Friday, March 18, 2011

Oregon Health Authority Radiation Information

The Oregon Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program and the Radiation Protection Services are closely monitoring information on the radiation release reported in Japan after explosions at a reactor site and subsequent events.

No Health Risk to Oregon According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, given the thousands of miles between Japan and the U.S., there is minimal risk at this time that Oregon and other states will experience any harmful levels of radioactivity.
Since the explosion, there have been no elevated radiation readings detected in Oregon and air sample results remain normal. Oregon Public Health receives hourly reports of atmospheric data and will continue to monitor the situation.

How safety is monitored – air detectors

The Environmental Protection Agency has a network of radiation detectors throughout the country that continuously monitor for the presence of radiation. There are two monitoring stations in Oregon – one in Portland and one in Corvallis. The network is called RadNet. The RADNET program is designed to provide immediate and long‐term information about radiation to protect the public and the environment.

How the monitoring works

The RadNet program monitors atmospheric data as it comes in. Oregon Public Health’s Radiation Protection Services program monitors the air and precipitation coming into Oregon.

The information is updated and recorded hourly. For more information about RADNET visit: http://www.epa.gov/narel/radnet/


For More Information: State Resources

Oregon Health Authority,
Information on Radiation Protection
HOTLINE: 1‐877‐290‐6767

Oregon Public Health Current Hazards:
http://public.health.oregon.gov/Preparedness/CurrentHazards/Pages/index.aspx

Radiation Protection Service:
http://public.health.oregon.gov/PHD/OEPH/RPS

Oregon Poison Center:
1‐800‐222‐1222

Federal Resources
RadNet
www.epa.gov/narel/radnet/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Radiation Event Medical Management:
http://remm.nlm.gov/