Parents have been warned that infants should not drink tap water, even as far away as Tokyo, after the radioactive iodine levels were found to be above the legal limit for their age. Everyone else is fine to drink the tap water in Tokyo reportedly, though everyone living in the Fukushima prefecture have been told not to.
Meanwhile, milk and other dairy products, along with fresh vegetables and fruit have been banned by the US Food and Drug Administration over “radionuclide contamination” fears. While less than 4 per cent of the US’ food imports originate from Japan, they’re playing it safe with products from the Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures.
Above-normal levels of radiation have been found in spinach and milk in particular, though officials claim the amounts are perfectly safe. On the other hand, seawater from the Fukushima prefecture was found to be anywhere up to 1600 times higher than normal, which could affect the fishery industries. [Kyodo News and Financial Times]
Image credit: Sarah Ruth