Feeding on Fallout

Radiation may persist for years in Japan's food chain and water supply

By Alice Park Monday, Apr. 04, 2011
    • Eugene Oshiko/AP

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    Radiation in food is mostly a local problem. Radiation in the air--which has no regard for borders or even oceans--is another matter. Sales of Geiger counters to detect radiation and potassium iodide pills to counter the effects of radioactive iodine have soared in both Japan and the U.S. But how serious is the danger, really?

    Officials say the majority of Japan's population, including those evacuated from the Fukushima area, is not at serious risk of developing health problems due to exposure. Neither are residents of Hawaii or the West Coast of the U.S., where concerns about possible radiation drift are exaggerated.

    The real victims are likelier to be rescue workers or emergency personnel who have struggled to contain the damage to the broken reactors. While regulations govern how long these people can remain exposed, there are reports that some may have been allowed to remain in the plant beyond their allotted time, raising the risk that their heroism today could be repaid with illness tomorrow.

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