Radiation from Japan comes into Henderson

RENO — Tiny amounts of radiation from Japan’s damaged nuclear plant have shown up in Henderson, but scientists say the readings were far below levels that could pose any health risks.

Ted Hartwell of the Desert Research Institute’s Community Environmental Monitoring Program says radiation levels detected at a monitoring station at the College of Southern Nevada in Henderson were similar to those earlier reported at a station at Las Vegas’ Atomic Testing Museum.

He says minuscule amounts of the radioactive isotopes iodine-131, xenon-133, cesium-137 and tellurium-132 had reached both stations last week.

Hartwell says he’s certain the isotopes came from Japan because they have not been detected around the Nevada National Security Site, formerly the Nevada Test Site, since atomic testing ended in 1992.