Radiation from Japan reaches BC

BURNABY (NEWS1130) – Radiation from the nuclear catastrophe in Japan has shown up in BC, according to researchers from Simon Fraser University.

Nuclear scientist Kris Starosta says they have found increased levels in our rainwater and seaweed.  “We have detected the gamma-rays from iodine-131.  I should stress the levels are very low, not a concern.”

BC’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall spoke live on the News1130 Midday Show.  He was quick to reassure the public there’s no danger.  “It’s extraordinarily diluted.  Iodine-131 has the half-life of eight days, which means whatever is present when it’s released, half of it is gone by eight days.  And half of that is gone in the subsequent eight days, so it has a very rapid decay.”

The rainwater was collected from the SFU campus on Burnaby Mountain, while the seaweed was harvested near the SeaBus Terminal in North Vancouver.

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