The Oregon Public Health Division and the Environmental Protection Agency continue to track levels of radiation linked to the tsunami and nuclear power plant event in Japan. There is no public health risk due to the trace levels of radiation from Japan.
Even before the 2011 Japan Event occurred, the Oregon Public Health Division has had an ongoing environmental sampling program in place. Radiation Protection Services (RPS) evaluates water at a standard environmental sampling frequency. Rain water is collected and analyzed once a month, and drinking water is collected and analyzed once a quarter.
The analysis has continually shown normal background levels of radiation. The radiation levels would have to be hundreds of thousands of times higher before Oregonians need to take any protective actions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In a typical day, Americans receive doses of radiation from natural sources like rocks, bricks and the sun.
Beginning in the Spring of 2012, RPS reinitiated collection and analysis of monthly samples of ocean and drinking water at three locations representing the northern, central and southern Oregon coast. RPS will evaluate the need to increase the frequency of sample collection and analysis based upon the ongoing sample results with the arrival of Japan tsunami marine debris.