State Officials Say Radiation From Japan Detected in Seattle But Poses No Threat

Trace levels of radiation from Japan's crippled nuclear facilities have been detected by a state Department of Health air monitor in Seattle, but officials stressed again Monday that Washington is not at risk.

"The minuscule amounts of radioactive iodine are millions of times lower than levels that would be a health concern. Despite these very small amounts, the state’s overall background radiation levels haven’t risen," state health officials said in a statement.

They added that federal researchers, as well as independent ones and ones in Canada, have come to the same conclusion about the radiation that has reached the West Coast from Japan.

Officials explained that the radiation from Japan is so "diluted" because it has been mixed with air and the distance from Asia is so far.

Following the 9.0 earthquake in Japan on March 11, and then the tsunami and nuclear problems, state officials stated that the radiation was not expected to be a health risk to people in Washington.

They have air monitors in four parts of the state - Seattle, Tumwater, Spokane and Richland - and take hourly readings. Information is updated on a statewebsite each day.

They also have a general website for what the earthquake in Japan means for the state.