EARTHQUAKE UPDATE Southwest District Health and the Idaho Health and Welfare are monitoring the earthquake situation with the Region X western coastal states partners, as well as the Bureau of Homeland Security, Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho National Laboratories, and the Centers for Disease Control and will keep us informed as more information becomes available. There have been no elevated radiation readings detected along the U.S. coast and all air samples remain normal. All available information indicates weather conditions have taken the small releases from the Japanese reactors out to sea away from the population. Given the thousands of miles between the two countries, the U.S. does not expect to experience any harmful levels of radioactivity. The coastal states also are reporting interest from the public in Potassium Iodide, commonly referred to as KI (from the periodic elements chart) which can be used to protect the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine if it is ingested through breathing, eating or drinking contaminated substances. At this time there is no threat and there are no recommendations to either stockpile or take it, according to information from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Earthquake Preparedness Information Link! News Release 3/16/2011 Talking Points on Potassium Iodine (KI)

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