Joseph Sciabbarrasi, MD

RADIATION RISK REMAINS LOW BUT CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT POSSIBLE FURTHER RADIATION RELEASE.

No current risk of any significance is present from the radiation thus far released from the Japanese nuclear disaster. U.S. and European citizens, however, have been advised as of late Thursday to leave Tokyo and some are departing Japan altogether. All reliable sources to date discount any risk to the West Coast or the U.S. Please see article links below.

There has been great difficulty containing the radiation at the Daiichi plant and concerns have been raised that a possible secondary and significantly greater radiaion leakage to the atmosphere could occur.

Beacause of this I am now recommending my patients consider having on hand certain provisions should a secondary plume develop. These are listed in the “Radiation Protocol” link above.

I AM NOT RECOMMENDING USE OF IODINE OR OTHER RADIATION PROTECTION AT THIS TIME. ANY INCREASED RISK WOULD ONLY BE PRESENT IF SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION OCCURS IN JAPAN. IT WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY 5 – 7 DAYS AFTER THIS OCCURED TO REACH U.S. SHORES.

Be well. Follow guidelines given in this daily blog. Call the office if questions arise.

With best regards,

Dr. S

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/18/uk-nuclear-usa-westcoast-idUSLNE72H01U20110318 
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/world/asia/18nuclear.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=Japan radiation risk&st=cse&scp=9

UPDATE ON RADIATION RISKS FROM JAPAN

Note that Germany is not recommending iodine for what is considered a “trifling” exposure.

The United States is also carefully monitoring and forecasting the plume’s movements. The agencies include the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Agency and the Department of Energy.

Be well. Stay informed.  We will continue to update.

Best,

Dr. S

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/science/17plume.html?_r=2&ref=asia

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/15/us-japan-quake-health-idUSTRE72E9DL20110315

“Radiation has been detected at very low levels in England and there have not been any recommendations for Brits to take Iodine or avoid being outside.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has also clarified the continued absence of any risks (see below).

from Reuters, March 16, 2011:

“The World Health Organization would like to assure governments and members of the public that there is no evidence at this time of any significant international spread from the nuclear site,” Michael O’Leary, WHO’s representative in China, said in a statement.

The WHO is working with Japan’s government and the International Atomic Energy Agency to assess the situation, and does not think there is significant risk to health for people outside a 30-km (20-mile) exclusion zone around the facility, he added.

“Rumors have been circulating by text messaging and other means of a threatening radiation cloud spreading across Asia and beyond from the damaged nuclear facilities in Japan,” O’Leary said.

“Governments and members of the public are encouraged to take steps to halt these rumors, which are harmful to public morale. The situation is being monitored closely. More information would be shared promptly should the risk become more widespread.”

We do carry Iodine capsules here, but are again NOT recommending anyone take iodine at this time.  We will continue updates from Reuters, England and other reliable sources.

With best regards,

Dr. S

News and Views: Straight Talk

Japan nuclear radiation “not a health risk” in B.C., provincial health officer says

The earthquake-damaged Fukushima power plant is at the centre of Japan’s nuclear crisis.

DigitalGlobe
By Stephen Hui, March 14, 2011
The provincial health officer has said he doesn’t expect the release of radiation at an earthquake-damaged nuclear power plant in Japan to pose a risk to people in British Columbia.

Dr. Perry Kendall issued today (March 14) the following statement:

Based on present information, we do not expect any health risk following the nuclear reactor releases in Japan, nor is the consumption of potassium iodide tablets a necessary precaution. Small amounts of low level radiation released from the nuclear reactors in Japan will have been dispersed in the atmosphere there and are not a health risk to British Columbians. Modelling of possible scenarios suggest that any release into the atmosphere of nuclear particles would take five to six days to reach British Columbia, by which time it would be so dispersed as to be not considered a health risk.

As a result of the terrible tragedy, emergency officials in British Columbia remain in constant contact with Health Canada, the lead department responsible for co-ordinating Canada’s nuclear emergency response. The BC Centre for Disease Control, provincial and federal governments as well as Washington State and international authorities such as the World Health Organization continue to monitor the events, including radiation levels. To date, there have been no reports of nuclear particles from the facility in Japan reaching the west coast of North America.

It is recommended that pharmacies do not dispense or stockpile potassium iodide tablets. Some pharmacies are reporting a run on sales of iodide tablets, which can protect the thyroid gland from the impact of being exposed to high-levels of radioactive iodine 131.

The consumption of iodide tablets is not a necessary precaution as there is no current risk of radiological I131 exposure. Even if radiation from Japan ever made it to British Columbia, our prediction based on current information, is that it would not pose any significant health risk.

Reuters:

U.S. won’t feel radiation from Japan: U.S. nuclear agency

WASHINGTON | Sun Mar 13, 2011 3:34pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is not expected to experience “any harmful levels” of radiation from Japan‘s earthquake-hit nuclear power reactors, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said on Sunday.

“All the available information indicates weather conditions have taken the small releases from the Fukushima reactors out to sea away from the population,” the NRC said in a statement.

“Given the thousands of miles between the two countries, Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. Territories and the U.S. West Coast are not expected to experience any harmful levels of radioactivity.”

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Will Dunham)

Notice to my patients: As of today, March 14, there does not seem to be any risk of radiation exposure from the Japan Nuclear accidents.  If this should change I will notify you on this website along with any recommendations.

PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ANY IODINE/POTASSIUM IODIDE AT THIS TIME.  UNNECESSARY IODINE CAN UNDER OR OVER ACTIVATE THE THYROID.

If any intervention is necessary, specific guidelines will be available to you.

Please contact the office if you have any other concerns about this and rest assured we will be available for any issues which may arise.  At the present time, there does not seem to be any cause for alarm.

Please see the information below.

with best regards,

Dr. S

Joseph Sciabbarrasi, M.D.
Integrative Medicine