Trace amounts of radioactivity from Japan detected in New York

“There are very small amounts of radioactive material from Japan in the air over the US,” spokeswoman Claudia Hutton told CBS 6. “When it rains or snows, the material is washed to the ground and onto surface waters, such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Water quality is being monitored, and the drinking water throughout New York is safe.”

She said the state does not expect the amounts to be near a level that would pose a public health concern and added there was no need for New Yorkers to take potassium iodide. We’re still awaiting the exact numbers from the agency as their results are being verified.

DOH has had a radiological environmental monitoring program in place for years.

Several testing sites are in the Capital Region [see map here].