EPA Says Low Levels of Radiation Found in U.S. Milk

It seems radiation has been found in everything from drinking water to blades of grass, nowt the U.S. government is saying that traces of radiation have been found in milk in Washington state.

But right after saying things like this, they always say, "there's nothing to worry about because  the amounts are well below levels of public health concern.

The Environmental Protection Agency says that the screening sample taken March 25 from Spokane, Wash., detected 0.8 pCi/L of iodine-131. That would be more than 5,000 times lower than the number they have decided is okay.

The EPA also says it expects more findings of radiation "in the coming days" but added that they are "far below levels of public health concern, including for infants and children."

Iodine-131 has a half life of approximately eight days, and the level detected in milk and milk products is  expected to drop quickly, the agency said.

In order to calm nerves and make people feel better, the EPA said in a written statement:

"Radiation is all around us in our daily lives, and these findings are a minuscule amount compared to what people experience every day.
For example, a person would be exposed to low levels of radiation on a round trip cross country flight, watching television, and even from construction materials."

 Last week the FDA said it was going block imports of Japanese milk products and certain other foods produced in the area around the Fukushima nuclear facility because of radiation contamination.