Beachcombing

Coming to a beach near you: Debris from the March 2011 tsunami now approaches the shores of North America. “[G]overnment officials and independent experts agree radioactive material is not likely to be a concern,” reports Sandi Doughton for The Seattle Times

Boats, insulation, wood and appliances from houses, containers of all types and factory parts spent months in the Pacific Ocean and are only now washing ashore. “government officials and independent experts agree radioactive material is not likely to be a concern,” Doughton writes.

Washington State officials and others are scanning the debris and sealife with geiger counters to determine radiation levels. So far, nothing unusual has been found. “Albacore tuna off Washington will be tested when the fish return from their migration later this season,” Doughton reports. Albacore tuna do not migrate close to the Japanese coast.

Aerial photo of debris from the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami, courtesy of the US Navy, a helicopter search-and-rescue team from the USS Ronald Reagan, and Wikimedia Commons.

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