Japan: Radiation Above Safe Limit For Infants In Tokyo Tap Water
By KUNA
The Tokyo metropolitan government on Wednesday advised residents against giving tap water to infants as it has detected radioactive iodine above the safety standard for infants in city tap water, amid continuing concern over radiation leak from a disaster-hit nuclear power plant.
According to Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, 210 becquerels of iodine-131 per kiloliter of water was found in water at a purification plant in downtown Tokyo.
The level exceeded the government legal limit of 100 becquerels per kiloliter for babies.
“The water does not pose an immediate risk to infants,” Ishihara told a press conference, but urged Tokyo residents not to let infants drink it or add it to powdered milk.
The detection follows the March 11 devastating earthquake and tsunami that the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, 230 km north of Tokyo. Radioactive iodine beyond Japan’s regulated standard for infants was also detected in some areas of Fukushima Prefecture on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Naoto Kan urged consumers to refrain from eating leaf vegetables produced in the prefecture after it became clear that radiation levels much higher than legal limits were detected in 11 types of vegetable, including spinach, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.
