Paper
James M. Acton, Ankit Panda
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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.
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.
- Nuclear Weapons and the Future of American Power
- The Latest Iran Deal Ignores the Lessons of the PastCommentary
James M. Acton
Recent Work
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.
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