Using a different unit, the county inspector measured the beach to have a radiation level of about 100 micro-REM per hour, or about five times the normal amount. REM stands for “Roentgen equivalent man,” a measurement of the dosage and statistical biological effects presented by radiation.

Although the radiation levels were clearly higher than is typical, Peterson emphasized that it was still not unsafe for humans. A person would need to be exposed to 100 microREMs of radiation for 50,000 hours before it surpassed safety guidelines by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, he explained.

Peterson admitted he was “befuddled” as to why radiation levels were higher than normal, but he was skeptical that the Fukushima meltdown could be the cause. He noted that many innocuous items could spike the radiation levels in an area, including red-painted disposable eating utensils.

“I honestly think the end result of this is that it’s just higher levels of background radiation,” he said.

Peterson forwarded the matter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Public Health, agencies with more expertise on analyzing radioactivity.

A state Public Health spokeswoman said her office was contacted on Thursday and was still looking into the matter. More information would be available by next week, she said.

“We can’t comment on anybody’s media creation. We really have no way of knowing right now whether it’s valid or not,” said spokeswoman Wendy Hopkins.

More links and information below the fold – Here’s a link to an awesome map detailing mass bird, fish and animal die offs since the Fukushima disaster – https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=216535991484693862008.0004d3a768f910cc54f80 Here are several more links you can checkout and follow for updates – Enews updates daily – http://enenews.com Fukushima Update provides news out of Japan from James Corbett and other colleagues – http://fukushimaupdate.com/ Radio interview about the video above (excellent info): http://rense.gsradio.net:8080/rense/s… Massive starfish deaths on West Coast: http://www.naturalnews.com/043271_sta… http://www.news1130.com/2013/12/30/st… All sardines gone from West Coast of BC: http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Su… Bald eagles dying in Western US: http://enenews.com/high-alert-mystery… Unprecedented declines in Alaska and BC salmon: http://enenews.com/newspaper-is-fukus… Real-time radiation monitoring for North America: http://www.radiationnetwork.com If you use other sources please share.