Air and Rainwater Monitoring

For some time after the Fukushima nuclear reactors were damaged, we posted daily readings of radiation levels around the state. There were elevated levels briefly, though they remained well below levels approaching a health risk. We stopped posting readings when radiation levels were back to the normal levels that are found in Washington. We monitor air continuously for radioactivity, including the area around the Hanford Site and Columbia Generating Station near Richland.

We check daily results from air monitors in Olympia, Richland, Seattle, and Spokane. We also collect air and rainwater samples weekly for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which are posted on EPA's RadNet website. EPA tests what is collected to look for any radioactivity that would represent a public health risk.

Current air monitoring and rainwater data

Archived data collected in 2011 after the Fukushima nuclear reactors were damaged.