Radiation Spreads in Japan

After a 9.0 earthquake hit Japan, nuclear reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant were damaged, leading to leakage of radioactivity. Now, a week later, experts have discovered that the current levels of radioactive iodine in tap water are unsuitable for infants. As of today, authorities have advised the public against giving tap water to young children or pregnant women. As a  N.Y. Times article explains,

“It’s unfortunate, but the radiation is clearly being carried on the air from the Fukushima plant,” said Yukio Edano, the chief cabinet secretary. “Because it’s raining, it’s possible that a lot of places will be affected. Even if people consume the water a few times, there should be no long-term ill effects.”
There has been frequent rain in recent days, and the watershed for Tokyo’s water lies almost entirely north and northeast of the city. The nuclear plant is about 140 miles to the north.

This warning has led to a run on stores to buy bottled water. The city government said it would begin distributing 240,000 bottles of water on Thursday to families with children younger than 1 year. Nobody is sure when the radiation levels will go back to normal but hopefully the tragedy will end sooner rather than later.