DOH: No radiation threat in PHL from Japan power plant

UPDATED 6:00 p.m. - The Department of Health (DOH) assured the public on Monday that the radiation leak from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan poses no immediate threat to the Philippines. DOH Undersecretary Mario Villaverde debunked rumors that radiation from the nuclear plant that exploded in Japan after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake rocked that country on March 11, will affect the Philippines. The Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) also assured that there has been no increase in radiation levels in the country. Japanese authorities are working to prevent a meltdown of its nuclear plant in Fukushima, after its cooling systems failed. "There is no need for any undue alarm for the public on this issue," Villaverde said. He added that even in Japan, the leak is not a huge public health and safety threat except in the immediate vicinity of the plant. Villaverde cited rumors circulating via text message that radiation leak will reach the country at 4 p.m. on Monday and that people exposed to it will experience burns on their skin. A dzBB report on Monday said students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) were sent home by school authorities because of the radiation threat. In a statement issued on Monday, PUP President Dante Guevarra said "classes in all PUP campuses in Luzon and Metro Manila are suspended in order to appease the anxiety of hundreds of parents who were calling and asking for their children who are studying in the said university." "The president made it very clear that the decision to suspend the classes has nothing to do with the public panic and scare on BBC advisory on the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant explosion, but a simple attention and concern to the welfare of the 65,000 students and reduce anxiety of their parents and relatives," the statement said. Guevarra also said the action was meant to eliminate any fear and stress as the university is situated very near the Pandacan Oil Depot which sometimes emits toxic gases. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), appealed to those spreading the text message to refrain from doing so and not treat the situation as a joke. "We are appealing not to make jokes especially at this time because all our fellowmen will be affected…This is a serious matter," said NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos, who is the concurrent administrator of the Office of Civil Defense. Worst case scenario Even though there is very little radiation threat in the Philippines, the DOH said it is still preparing for the worst case scenario. The DOH is prepared to give a prophylactic dose of potassium iodide if there will be radiation exposure in the Philippines. When the exposure to radiation is not direct, Villaverde said an ordinary bath will also wash away exposure to radiation. The health department has also prepared a national radiological preparedness and response plan if there will be a direct threat to the Philippines in the future. Wind direction Villaverde said the only chance that radiation will reach the Philippines is if wind from Japan blows to the country. However, The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) assured that winds from Japan are not headed toward the country and in fact, winds from the Philippines appear to be moving toward Japan. No threat of acid rain Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, PAGASA also denied rumors circulating via text messages that there will be "acid rain" in the Philippines supposedly because of radioactive clouds from quake- and tsunami-stricken Japan. PAGASA said there was no basis for such claims. Also on Monday, DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said Monday a "Chernobyl scenario" of radiation clouds from a failed nuclear power plant in quake- and tsunami-devastated Japan may subside in a few days' time. Montejo said while they are not discounting a leakage from the nuclear plant in Fukushima, the threat is small and there is "very little" threat to the Philippines. Eliminating the radiation leaks In Japan, authorities are currently implementing "containment procedures" to eliminate radiation leaks. Residents have also been evacuated from a 12-mile radius. Hundreds have been screened for radiation exposure and so far no record of any illnesses was reported. Tips on coping with radiation emergencies The four main points of an 11-year-old response plan drawn up by the government for a radiation-related emergency are: (1) Do not panic. (2) Protect yourself from radiation exposure. (3) Stay indoors and close windows. (4) Watch out for emergency information from TV and radio. The National Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (RADPlan) was approved and signed on Nov. 24, 2000, according to a primer posted on the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. While the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Sunday there is no immediate emergency yet from the nuclear plant meltdown threat in Japan, it will implement the RADPlan once there is a threat. “In the event the Philippines will be affected, the NDRRMC will put into action the existing National Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (RADPLAN) that covers nuclear emergencies such as this," the NDRRMC said in a news release on its website on Sunday. "The RADPLAN establishes an organized emergency response capability for timely, coordinated action of Philippine authorities in a peacetime radiological incident or emergency. Participating agencies such as the PNRI and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) are given authority and responsibilities for coordinating activities of other agencies involved," the NDRRMC added. Under the plan, the OCD will coordinate all non-nuclear response activities, while the PNRI will coordinate all nuclear response activities. Radiation emergencies The PNRI lists different types of radiological emergencies:

Emergencies from fixed nuclear or radiation facilities

Emergencies occurring in the transport or loss of radioactive materials

Emergencies from foreign sources having environmental or health impact on Philippine territories, including the possible entry of contaminated food, scrap metals and other materials

Emergencies from nuclear-powered ships

Emergencies from re-entry of satellites with nuclear materials as components Levels of emergencies There are three levels of radiological emergencies:

Level 1: Alert: A radiation-related accident has occurred in a nuclear-related facility but the event has not directly affected the Philippines and the population in particular

Level 2: Site Area Emergency: A radiation-related emergency occurred and has been confirmed to affect a specifically defined area in the Philippines, or area within the site boundaries of a nuclear radiation facility

Level 3: General Emergency: The radiological emergency has been confirmed to affect wide areas outside the boundaries of the affected facility, or its effect has already been felt. Actual or projected radiation doses are beyond the prescribed limits for members of the public. In a national radiological emergency, 12 government departments, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council; the Offices of the President and Press Secretary; and Philippine Red Cross will be involved as members of the National Radiological Emergency Response Organization. – VVP, GMA News