High levels of iodine in Tokyo tap water

Radioactive iodine has been detected in Tokyo tap water in levels above the safe limit for infants. The Tokyo Metropolitan government says 210 becquerels of iodine-131 were detected on Tuesday in one liter of water at one of its purification plants in northern Tokyo. A sampling on Wednesday also showed roughly 190 becquerels per liter. These levels are below the 300-becquerel per liter safe limit for adults, but far above the 100-becquerel limit for infants. Tokyo says infants in the central 23 wards, plus 5 adjacent cities, should refrain from drinking tap water.

It is also urging beverage makers in these areas not to use tap water in infants' drinks.Tokyo says the safety level assumes long-term consumption, and that there is no risk to health if tap water is consumed over a short period. Wednesday, March 23, 2011 15:13 +0900 (JST)

Health ministry comments on water radiation

The health ministry adds that the radiation levels measured in the tap water do not pose an immediate health risk to babies younger than one year old even if they drink it. However the ministry has urged consumers not to use the water to prepare baby formulas as a precaution.

Above normal radiation figures

Radiation levels in many areas of eastern and northern Japan continue to be higher than normal. Municipalities and other institutions are measuring their radiation levels. According to measurements taken by 9 AM Wednesday, 6.09 microsieverts per hour were observed in the city of Fukushima, 65 kilometers northwest of the quake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant. In the town of Onagawa, about 160 kilometers northeast of the plant, the figure was 1.3 microsieverts. In Kitaibaraki City, located south of the Fukushima plant, the radiation level was 1.45 microsieverts. In Mito City, further south, the figure was 0.33 microsieverts. Radiation levels were also higher than usual in other cities, including the prefectural capitals of Yamagata, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, and Tokyo.Health authorities say one hour of exposure to the radiation at Fukushima city, which showed the highest reading, would equal one-100th of the amount of radiation received in a single stomach X-ray.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 12:58 +0900 (JST)