County Health Says Radiation No Danger: Iodide Pills May Be

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department has issued an advisory saying there is no danger to local residents from Japan's nuclear emergency and no reason for residents to worry about radiation effects.

The advisory doesn't mention the potassium iodide pills that have disappeared off store shelves ever since radiation from Japan's nuclear plants began dissipating into the environment. But health officials in nearby counties warn that they may cause more harm than good, particularly to people with thyroid disease or allergies to shellfish or seafood.

"Distance is our friend," the department said its latest newsletter. "Given the thousands of miles between us and Japan, we do not expect to find any harmful levels of radioactivity in our state. The Santa Clara County Public Health Department is in contact with the state, and the state will let us know if the situation changes. If that were to happen, the public would be notified immediately about any precautionary measures that should be taken.In the unlikely event of radiation contamination in our community, California has a response plan for radiological emergencies and would have access to the national stockpile of potassium iodide, which would be recommended for those at highest risk of illness."

Residents may call the California Department of Public Health hotline between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. with questions concerning the incident. The number is 916-341-3947.

Information on radiation is also available at cdc.gov.