Low levels of radiation found in Mass. rainwater

BRIGHTON, Mass. -- Massachusetts health officials say that trace amounts of radiation have been detected in rainwater in the Bay State and they believe that radiation came from Japan.

It's half a world away, but the quake and tsunami in Japan is having an impact, however small, right here in Boston.

"It just shows how we're all connected," said one man.

"I think it's definitely something to be worried about to be honest with you," said another man.

The amount of radiation detected is not harmful, according to officials.

Health officials said there was a slight elevation in radiation detected in rainwater in the last week, but that the water supply is safe.

"The sampling results indicate no risks to the state drinking water supplies," said John Auerbach, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said.

So far no drinking water has been contaminated, but they are keeping an eye on the situation.

7XTRA: 7's Jeremy Reiner explains how the radiation moved from Japan to Mass.

"The sampling was taken and was analyzed at the labs here and the levels of radiation are below detection," Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Ken Kimmell said.

The radiation is likely coming from Japan, where a nuclear power plant was crippled by an earthquake and ensuing tsunami earlier this month.

Officials said the rainwater tested positive for radioiodine, or I-131.

"Health officials do not expect health concerns associated with the radiation detection in this single day's radiation sample," Auerbach said.

The MWRA is served by the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoir. Water samples taken there show no detectable levels of I-131, radioiodine.

Samples are also being taken from a dozen of other spots across the state, like the Notown Reservoir  in Leominster and the Holden Reservoir, which serves Worcester.

"We don't believe there is a problem, none of the data we've seen indicates there is, but to be extra careful and to be sure we have a wide geographically-diverse sample, we're doing this additional sampling," Kimmell said.

Those results may be available later in the week.

7NEWS asked independent experts what they thought.

"I'm not in the least concerned for me or for my family," said Prof. David Ozonoff, BU School of Public Health.

Ozonoff says we really have to watch what we eat.

"That's how it's most likely to get to us is through the food chain," said Ozonoff. "Primarily fish, and possibly some agricultural products, but those products are being monitored quite closely and they're not being allowed into the country."

"It is a very good thing that the radiation levels are within acceptable ranges, well below points which anybody should be concerned, but we obviously are watching it very closely," said Governor Deval Patrick.

Similar tests in Pennsylvania, California and Washington revealed comparable levels of radioiodine in precipitation, according to health officials.

The Department of Public Health will continue to test samples from water supplies around Massachusetts this week, but said the two main reservoirs that provide water for 2.5 million people in the state - including Boston - are clean.

I-131 has relatively short half-life - about eight days. Officials said within a few weeks, it will be undetectable.

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