• Research
  • Diwan
  • About
  • Experts
Carnegie Middle East logoCarnegie lettermark logo
LebanonIran
{
  "authors": [
    "James M. Acton"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "NPP",
  "programs": [
    "Nuclear Policy"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "East Asia",
    "Japan"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Nuclear Policy",
    "Nuclear Energy"
  ]
}

Source: Getty

In The Media

Higher Levels of Radiation in Tokyo Tap Water

As the crisis progresses at Japan's Daiichi nuclear reactors in Fukushima, authorities are struggling to determine the extent of radiation released and its health effects and to decide if and when the reactors should be entombed.

Link Copied
By James M. Acton
Published on Mar 23, 2011

Source: Fox News

After Japan’s recent earthquake and subsequent tsunami triggered a crisis at Fukushima’s Daiichi nuclear reactors, Tokyo tap water has been declared sufficiently radioactive that the it should not be gievn to infants. Carnegie’s James Acton, speaking on Fox News’ Happening Now, explained that, barring further considerable releases of radiation from the Fukushima reactors, the radiation levels will decay steadily. One half of the remaining material decays every eight days, Acton said. At very low levels, exposure to radiation is not a problem and Acton added that the current levels of radiation in the Tokyo tap water are probably not dangerous to adults.

Acton also discussed the pressing question facing Japanese authorities of when and whether to entomb the reactors. He explained that the preferable scenario is for Japanese engineers to get the reactors under control and then encase them in concrete to prevent further radiation leakage.

 

About the Author

James M. Acton

Jessica T. Mathews Chair, Co-director, Nuclear Policy Program

Acton holds the Jessica T. Mathews Chair and is co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

    Recent Work

  • Other
    Unpacking Trump’s National Security Strategy
      • Cecily Brewer
      • +18

      James M. Acton, Saskia Brechenmacher, Cecily Brewer, …

  • Commentary
    Trump Has an Out on Nuclear Testing. He Should Take It.

      James M. Acton

James M. Acton
Jessica T. Mathews Chair, Co-director, Nuclear Policy Program
James M. Acton
Nuclear PolicyNuclear EnergyEast AsiaJapan

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

  • Commentary
    China’s Evolving Economic and Security Role in the Middle East

    The advantage that China has over other global powers, especially America, is that its foreign policy is closely aligned with those of many of the Middle Eastern countries.

      Jin Liangxiang, Maha Yahya, Hesham Alghannam

  • Article
    The Geopolitics of Economic Development in the Middle East

    To create an environment more conducive to cooperation and development, U.S. and Chinese efforts should seek the endorsement of neighboring countries and regional organizations. Otherwise, regional and geopolitical rivalries will remain barriers.

      Abdullah Baabood

  • Commentary
    The Gaza War and the Rest of the World

    Scholars from Carnegie’s global network comment on how the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is affecting their areas of interest, and what the implications of this may be.

      • +11

      Maha Yahya, Rosa Balfour, Judy Dempsey, …

  • Commentary
    Diwan
    China’s Middle Eastern Moment

    In an interview, Abdullah Baabood discusses Beijing’s evolving role in the Gulf region, where its priority is stability.

      Michael Young

  • Article
    Why China Is Emerging as a Main Promoter of Stability in the Strait of Hormuz

    Because of its reliance on the Gulf region for much of its oil and gas, China has a strong interest in preserving security in the region, an early example of which was its mediation of the recent Saudi Arabia-Iran reconciliation.

      Abdullah Baabood

Get more news and analysis from
Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
Carnegie Middle East logo, white
  • Research
  • Diwan
  • About
  • Experts
  • Projects
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
Get more news and analysis from
Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.