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radiologic health branch (RHB)

Environmental Radiation Monitoring

Pursuant to California Health and Safety Code section 114755, RHB conducts routine monitoring of radioactive materials in the environment, including radioactive materials in media such as air, milk, food, and water.   The results of this monitoring for the years 2011 through 2016 are available by request at environmental.radiation@cdph.ca.gov.   Air sampling occurs at the following locations within California:

RHB has responded to numerous requests surrounding the safety of California residents from past and current incidents at the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan.  Information from Federal agencies, State programs, as well as RHBā€™s own sampling results, conclude there are no health and safety concerns to California residents.  To request a copy of the following,  please contact environmental.radiation@cdph.ca.gov.

  • Preliminary Analysis Reports from March 16, 2011 to 2012.
  • Consolidated Radiation Monitoring reports from March 24, 2011 to 2012.
  • Half Moon Bay Surveys.

In addition to increasing the monitoring frequency, the RHB has joined Alaska, Washington and Oregon in improving monitoring efforts in coordination with the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).   Also, the Kelp Watch project administered by Dr. Steven Manley of California State University Long Beach includes sampling of sea kelp along the Pacific west coast.  Additional monitoring was performed by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Hunters Point Naval Shipyard Parcel A-1 Survey

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