I am sorry to have to report this, but it is clear that the efforts to contain radiation from multiple nuclear power plants melting down in Japan is failing and that the radiation entering our atmosphere is in all likelihood going to arrive in the United States in a matter of days or weeks. When Chernoby had its explosion and meltdown nearly a quarter century ago, the radiation reached the United States after it blew across the Pacific Ocean and came down across North America in the rain. The Nuclear Industry will obfuscate and lie and cover up as it has done for more than a half century, but the reality is that we need to be prepared for the fact that no matter what anyone does now, the nuclear genie is out of the bottle and the price will be high. Yet there are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones if the very worst happens.
First, here is a site which has a comprehensive report on the radiation from Chernobyl which reached the United States which is very informative (if you have any doubts whether the radiation will likely reach the United States, sooner or later, this will hopefully dispel that doubt so that you can do what Japan is doing: "brace yourself"):
Chernobyl Radiation distribution in USA
According to "Chernobyl : Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment" the deadly consequences of the Chernobyl accident are far worse than the nuclear industry and national and international governmentqal bodies have admitted or acknowledged. The authors include Russian biologist Dr. Alexey Yablokov, former environmental advisor to the president of Russia; Dr. Alexey Nesterenko, a biologist in Belarus; and Dr.Vassili Nesterenko, a physicist who was, at the time of the accident, director of the Institute of Nuclear Energy of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The book has been edited by Dr. Janette Sherman, a toxicologist expert in the health impacts of radioactivity.
Radiation from the Chernobyl accident blew across Asia, across the Pacific, and rained down on areas across North America as is well documented in this report.
This report was published in "Volume 1181 of the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences" and presents an analysis of the scientific literature, including more than 1,000 titles and more than 5,000 printed and Internet publications mainly in Slavic languages, on the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.
Several facts remain indisputable at this point. The disaster at Fukuyame at other sites is threatening to worsen as three reactors appear to be in meltdown in Japan at this moment and more are in trouble. The sea water pumped in to the reactor cores has to go somewhere, either released as radioactive steam or in water or groundwater. All of that radiation will get into the environment and as it blows over the Pacific, where the prevailing winds are taking it now causing US Navy ships to flee the area after detecting radiation from the nuclear accidents affecting its crews, it will get into the food chain. It will get into the Pacific and into seafood. If it blows across the ocean in the rain and clouds it will become part of our US food production chain.
Some of the radionuclides being released will last for decades if not hundreds and even thousands of years. Radioiodine will decay for over a month, but if milk is drunk or food eaten derived from radioactive rains blowing across the pacific, as it did with Chernobyl, it can affect your thyroid. If the venting continues for weeks or even months or longer, as has been predicted, then the danger will continue and we will have to watch what we eat and the weather maps and the testing of air and rainwater for months or years to come to be sure our food is not affected.
It is important that people be aware of these potential consequences and take what steps thay can to protect themselves and their loved ones. The three worst dangers are radioiodine, which is absorbed by the thyroid, radioactive cesium, which is analogous to potassium and will be absorbed into soft tissues if ingested or breathed in, and Strontium 90 wqhich is a calcium analogue and is absorbed by the bones and teeth and can get into the bone marrow and blood. I would say eating plenty of iodine rich foods now (sardines, anchovies, jack mackerel, kelp or dulse), calcium rich foods and potassium rich foods from (obviously from uncontaminated safe sources) will protect you somewhat (especially the iodine rich foods as that danger will resolve more quickly due to the relatively short half life of radioiodine). One website recommends betadine swabbed on the body in small patches (3x3 inches) will be absorbed through the skin and protect the body.
Forewarned is forearmed. Protecting yourself and especially your children and infants in utero is critical. Educate yourself and be prepared. Sooner or later serious levels of radiation will reach America despite what the spokespeople and industry shills will try to convince you that you are safe safe safe and Nuclear power is safer than ever before. It is all lies. Dangerous lies.