As the Japanese government is struggling to take back control of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, residents of the East Coast of the United States are now under a standing advisory to take precautionary measures to protect themselves from the harmful health effects of radiation.
Though it comes from far away, radiation of the sort that the United States will experience today have been known to cause serious, painful burns, and even death in some cases. The radiation is expected to first strike Miami, Florida at 7:09 AM. Radiation levels are expected to peak at about noontime, and then diminish throughout the rest of the day.
Government officials have emphasized that short bouts of exposure to the radiation are not likely to cause permanent harm. However, repeated exposure can lead to cancers in the long term, and exposure for periods over one hour may cause burns, the peeling away of skin, and even permanent genetic damage, especially in southern parts of the United States, where the radiation is expected to be the most intense.
Americans can minimize the negative effects of this radiation by wearing protective hats and glasses, and using ointments that shield the skin from radiation. In a worrisome development, however, some Americans are expected to purposefully expose themselves to the radiation in order to alter their appearance – some even describing themselves as radiation “lovers”, soaking up the radiation to bring on a temporary mood enhancement.