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Plume Of Radiation Moving Toward California Is Not Dangerous

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — Risks from possible radiation exposure remain greatest for the workers scrambling to cool reactors at a Japanese nuclear power plant.

Those who have been evacuated from the site are considered safe, as are the 39 million people who live in the greater Tokyo region.

A plume of radiation from Japan is expected to arrive in Southern California Friday, but health and nuclear experts say there is absolutely no cause for alarm because it will be diluted during its journey across the Pacific Ocean.

» Projected Path Of Radiation Plume

The South Coast Air Quality Management District is monitoring radiation levels at three sites in Southern California. Concerned residents can now get a daily update about radiation levels by visiting AQMD.

Dr. Jane Orient, president of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness, tells KNX 1070's Tom Haule that low doses of radiation might even be good for you.

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Those assurances, however, haven't stopped some people from making their own radiation fallout meters.

There also continues to be widespread panic in Japan. There were two main threats Thursday from the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant in northeastern Japan: one from the reactor cores and the other from the spent fuel pools beside them. Both have emitted elevated amounts of radiation.

But experts have repeatedly said that those who have moved away from the site are safe.

For questions and/or information about radiation, visit the California Department of Public Health at (916) 341-3917 or the Centers for Disease Control at 1(800) CDC - INFO.

Send Us Your Radiation-Related Questions, Concerns

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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