LAS VEGAS -- Small amounts of radiation from the damaged nuclear plant in Japan has made its way to the Las Vegas valley. Nevada is one of several states that have reported radiation.
The radiation was detected at a monitoring station at the Atomic Testing Museum. Scientists say radioactive iodine and xenon, which are not usually found in Las Vegas, were found. Allan Palmer with the Atomic Testing Museum showed 8 News NOW how the reading of radiation is done at their testing sites.
"This is about a usual reading, it's been averaging about 11.1 for the last six months so that's not a very high elevation but you will see occasionally it runs back up a little bit," said Palmer.
Lynn Karr works at the Desert Research Institute near UNLV and handles some of the testing done on site, which is where the levels of radiation were found.
"You'd be looking at iodine 131, xenon things like that, noble gases, they are very short lived so they are hard to find," said Karr. She shows the filters that are being used to find any traces of radiation. "What I saw from the samples, a little bit of a bump up, and then a consistent downgrade."
Health officials say the amounts are so minuscule they do not pose a health risk.
"I am not really surprised some of these elements have come this far but with the jet stream and small amounts you can expect some of that , I just think it's not going to be anything near harmful to people," said Palmer.
Link to the Community Environmental Monitoring Program
The radiation was released after the Fukushima power plant in Japan was severely damaged by an earthquake and tsunami. It is believed three of the plant's six units have partially melted down.
The Atomic testing Museum will keep testing for radiation but doesn't expect to see an increase. California, Colorado, Hawaii and Washington have also reported tiny amounts of radiation.
Monitoring station.
