Philippine officials in Japan issued precautionary measures for Filipinos in two areas in the country hit hard by a quake and tsunami last March 11, amid the Japanese government's assurance there is no health risk from such rains. In an advisory, the Philippine Embasssy said the Japanese government's advisory assured people in Tohoku and Kanto regions there is "no risk to human health even if it rains." "Higher-than-normal levels of radiation could be detected in rain, but it would contain only a small amount of radioactive substances which do not affect health at all. The levels wouldn’t go beyond the average of natural radiation dose," the embassy said. But it said those who are still concerned about their health may follow these instructions:
Wait inside until the rain stops unless it is an emergency. Make sure of covering up hair and skin as much as possible. There is no problem even if your clothes or skin is exposed to rain. If you are still concerned, wash it carefully with running water. "These are precautionary measures. Even if you don’t take these measures, it does not impose any threat on your health," the embassy said. On the other hand, the embassy also cited the Japanese government's advisory that there is no risk to human health. "To people living in Tohoku and Kanto regions — There is no risk to human health, even if it rains. Please rest assure," it quoted the Japanese government's advisory as saying. Low levels of iodine Earlier, the International Atomic Energy Agency cited information from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare regarding the presence of Iodine-131 in three milk samples tested in the town of Kawamata. "The concentration is reported to be above allowed levels. Cesium-137 was detected in one sample, though in concentration below allowed levels," it said. In Ibaraki prefecture, Iodine-131 and Cesium-137 have been detected in leaf vegetables such as spring onions and spinach. Some of the samples have been reported to be above the levels allowed by the Japanese food hygiene law for emergency monitoring criteria for intake of vegetables. The IAEA also cited information from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)'s Nuclear Safety Division that iodine-131 was found in tap water from six of 46 locations. "Only six out of 46 exhibited any iodine-131, though the concentration was reported to be below levels allowed by the Japanese food hygiene law for emergency monitoring criteria for drinking water," the IAEA said. — RSJ, GMA News 
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