EPA: Radioactive Iodine Exceeding Maximum Contaminant Levels for Drinking Water Found in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts … But It’s Safe

Washington’s Blog
April 1, 2011

As I noted Tuesday, the government is responding to the Japanese nuclear accident by trying to raise acceptable radiation levels and pretending that radiation is good for us.

Forbes’ blogger Jeff McMahon points out:

The Environmental Protection Agency yesterday reported finding elevated levels of iodine-131, a product of nuclear fission, in rainwater in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The levels exceed the maximum contaminant level (MCL) permitted in drinking water, but EPA continues to assure the public there is no need for alarm:

“It is important to note that the corresponding MCL for iodine-131 was calculated based on long-term chronic exposures over the course of a lifetime – 70 years. The levels seen in rainwater are expected to be relatively short in duration,” the agency states in a FAQ that accompanied yesterday’s brief news release.

“In both cases these are levels above the normal background levels historically reported in these areas.”

EPA said it is receiving “verbal reports” of higher levels of radiation in rainwater samples from other states as well, and that Americans should continue to expect short-term contamination of rainwater as radioactive isotopes spread through the atmosphere from Japan.

“We continue to expect similar reports from state agencies and others across the nation given the nature and duration of the Japanese nuclear incident.”

The EPA also found radioactive iodine in milk in Washington State.

Fortunately. the half life of radioactive iodine is only 8.02 days. That means that the iodine loses half of its radioactivity within 8 days.

If you trust the EPA to tell you if radiation levels are unsafe, then carry on.

But if you do not trust the government to tell you the truth, and if you are afraid of radioactive exposure, you might consider stocking up on a little extra milk and water, and then letting each container of fluids sit for a couple of weeks on a shelf or in your refrigerator before drinking. That will greatly reduce the radioactivity caused by the iodine 131.

Specifically, every 8 days, the amount of radioactivity in the iodine 131 is reduced by half according to the general rule of radioactive half lives:

Stock up with Fresh Food that lasts with eFoodsDirect (AD)

You’ll have to find out current radioactive iodine levels to determine how long your beverages have to sit before the radioactive iodine falls to a level you consider safe.

Obviously, beverages packed before the Japanese earthquake are safe.

(Because radioactive cesium has a much longer half-life, a couple of weeks of storing fluids before drinking them obviously wouldn’t do much for that material).

In addition, if you’re still worried about exposure to radiation, you might want to note that some vitamins and herbs have been shown to be radioprotective.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a health professional, and this should not be taken as medical advice. Nothing contained herein is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. You should consult your doctor before making any decisions about whether or not to take any of the foods, herbs, supplements or substances mentioned herein.

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1. neonexus Says:
   April 1st, 2011 at 5:24 am
   Thumbs up for the link to radioprotective herbs,
   BibleBible Reply:
   April 1st, 2011 at 5:48 am

   Alex Jones says that if you can imagine an evil plan; the globalists are probably already doing it.

   Here is my imagination:

   The Fukushima incident could be used as a perfect cover up to introduce all sort of radioactive material in our air, water and food supply.

   They could chemtrail us with radioactive iodine or add it in the water and say “It’s Fukushima’s fault”

   Remember that they found radioactive material in the water of Texas before the accident in Japan.

   I assume they could identify the real source because every element is different (Like a radioactive DNA fingerprint). But who is making the tests? The same people that want us dead!

   Good luck finding the truth.

   Anyway this will be a good rehearsal for WWIII (coming soon).

   Click on my name “BibleBible” and read “2 Billion will die”.

   Patriotgirl Reply:
   April 1st, 2011 at 7:48 am

   That’s funny you post that BIBLEBIBLE – I was thinking the exact same thing this morning when I first saw this article. There is just no end to the evils in site.

   VanHelsing Reply:
   April 1st, 2011 at 8:10 am

   The hideous agenda of the NWO Illuminati appears to be accelerating.

   wildcat Reply:
   April 1st, 2011 at 11:35 am

   I thought the same thing as well …
2. neonexus Says:
   April 1st, 2011 at 5:25 am
   Does anybody know how things are in Europe? radiation wise
   wildcat Reply:
   April 1st, 2011 at 11:42 am

   A few parts of the UK have reported trace quantities of radioactive iodine and particles in the air.
3. worldtruthorg Says:
   April 1st, 2011 at 5:32 am
   im guessing this is out of control and has been .maybe the chemtrails keep the radiation up north that’s why the rich cowards ran south.now that is a theory
4. lassiter Says:
   April 1st, 2011 at 5:34 am
   For me personally, if the government says it’s OK, it’s probably not.
5. worldtruthorg Says:
   April 1st, 2011 at 5:35 am
   so i should keep my sample and keep watching the river [creek] at night
6. Wrabbit2000 Says:
   April 1st, 2011 at 5:54 am
   I wonder, is there ANY WAY for an average person to test for this in food and water aside from a Geiger counter? Even if I could get one, it’d sure look silly at this stage (may not forever), to be walking through my local grocery store scanning beverage containers before I put them in my cart. There must be other ways to at least get an indication that would be useful for an average person.
   Anyone have any ideas? I’m certainly not in a trusting mood for the Government of any country, at any level, to be honest about everything that may eventually come to be radioactive.
   Hey, am I the only one here that had a near terminal misunderstanding of what Half Life meant?? I’ve been staring at charts since this began trying to understand the real threat and the REAL concern I should have and never once stopped to actually look up the definition of Half Life. I assumed (yeah yeah..I feel like an ass, too) an 8 day Half Life meant it was relatively inert in 16 days, not a full 48 days like the chart up there indicates. Oh this does change everything in terms of concern for cumulative exposure in the United States if this is going to be spewing radiation through all weather and winds for months.
7. lassiter Says:
   April 1st, 2011 at 6:21 am
   Wrabbit, I too misunderstood. I found the following to be helpful.
   It should be noted that the total substance will never actually become zero since half of anything, no matter how small and insignificant a number, is still not ZERO. Therefore, the half life of radioactive and other substances approaches zero, getting closer and closer to zero but never actually reaching it. See the interactive demo just below for a real time example of how half of a number never actually reaches zero.
8. STARMAN Says:
   April 1st, 2011 at 7:15 am
   @ Wrabbit2000 and @ lassiter
   good points … in addition could they report the radiation levels in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts
   for the last 7 days and give an average reading . ?
   @Bible.. ” They could chemtrail us with radioactive iodine or add it in the water and say “It’s Fukushima’s fault”Remember that they found radioactive material in the water of Texas before the accident in Japan.”
   Sometimes I wonder if there is not a leaky plant in t