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SPECIAL REPORT-Radiation fears may be greatly exaggerated

by (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Click For Restrictions. http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Friday, 18 March 2011 18:12 GMT

sh government's chief scientific adviser, said in a transcribed conversation with the British Embassy in Tokyo.

"That's not going to be the case here," said Beddington, whose comments were released through the Science Media Centre in London. He said even in a worst case scenario of a meltdown and explosion sending radioactive material up about 500 meters (yards) into the air, the real risk was still only for people in the immediate vicinity of the plant and the people working there.

"Beyond that 20 or 30 kilometers, it's really not an issue for health," he said.

That is why people in the area near the plant have been told to stay inside with the windows closed. This simple barrier can reduce exposure.

"Shielding is critical if there is any risk of radiation," said Dr. John Chute, a cancer biology expert at Duke University. "If there is any doubt, people who live in a radiation fallout area should stay indoors and resist the temptation to get in your car and drive away."

The Japanese government has also distributed potassium iodide pills -- ordinary iodine like the kind found in "iodized" table salt. Taking iodine pills in a nuclear disaster floods the thyroid gland with this harmless form of iodine, allowing harmful iodine to flush out of the body.

Bucklin said some people see these as "magic pills" that will make them immune to the effects of radiation exposure.

While usually harmless, the pills can be risky for people with allergies to iodine or shellfish, those with certain skin disorders, kidney disease, some chronic diseases, or thyroid problems.

And they only protect the thyroid gland against radioactive iodine, not other types of radioactive elements released in a nuclear accident, such as Cesium-137, which can stay in the environment much longer than radioactive iodine.

HOW MUCH IS SAFE?

Most scientists agree that keeping all radiation exposures to a minimum is important. But it is not clear what level, if any, can be considered safe.

"There are different philosophies," said Kemper, who has who has been involved in nuclear physics research for more than 45 years.

"You could talk to someone from the Physicians for Social Responsibility and they would tell you any radiation exposure is horrible," Kemper said.

"We simply don't know what happens at very low levels. If you were in Denver, Colorado, you would be getting twice the radiation exposure than I do in Florida."

"Yet people in Denver tend to live longer. Is it a lifestyle issue? Is it that they smoke less or drink less? At very low levels, it is extremely difficult to untangle that. We really don't know."

But he said the situation in Japan has raised new fears in his own community, sparking worried conversations in the local supermarket and at his favorite barbecue restaurant in Tallahassee.

"To be frank, my biggest concern is individuals will refuse to get chest X-rays -- things like that. People are going to question going through X-ray scanners in the airport.

"There is going to be a huge change in our perception of use of radiation." (Additional reporting by Brendan Borrell of Reuters Health in New York; Editing by Jim Impoco and Claudia Parsons)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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