Radiation, Japan’s Impact on SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Nuclear power plants as close as Darlington and York counties have detected small amounts of Iodine 131, a radioactive byproduct, from a nuclear reactor in Japan that was damaged by an earthquake and tsunami.

But Director of Radiation Safety at the University of South Carolina, Dr. Dan Zurosky, says there’s no cause for concern.

“The amount of radioactivity we’re looking at is extremely low,” said Zurosky.  “It’s picked up by these nuclear power plants because they have very sensitive detecting equipment.”

Zurosky says the amount sensed is a little above background radiation, and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, people are exposed to much more radiation on an international airline flight.

To view the complete story, and to find out the reasons Zurosky says not to worry, click on the video player icon. ABC Columbia’s Monique Williams reports.