Safe but Increased Radiation Level Recorded

By Wendy Osher

File image, by Wendy Osher.

The State Health Department today confirmed a “miniscule” increase in radiation levels last night at a RadNet monitor in Honolulu.  In a statement issued by the Hawaii Health Department today, officials said that background levels fluctuate slightly, but are still considered safe.

“Current data from Hawaii RadNet monitors still indicate no risk of harmful radiation exposure,” health officials said.

The sampling filters from the Hawaii monitors were sent to the EPA laboratory in Alabama for further analysis and confirmation of the preliminary findings.

The Hawaii State Department of Health has been monitoring the air quality at designated sites on Oahu and the Big Island following the release of radiation at a nuclear reactor facility in Japan.  The release was reported from reactors that were damaged from the earthquake and tsunami that struck the region earlier this month.