Health officials in the US said rainwater tested in Massachusetts registered low levels of radiation, most likely from the Japanese nuclear power plant damaged by the earthquake and tsunami.
According to Massachusetts commissioner of public health John Auerbach radioiodine-131 was found in a sample of rainwater. He noted the water supply in the state remained unaffected at present and expressed health officials do not anticipate any health concerns.
Massachusetts is not the only state to have detected increased radiation levels in rainwater. A number of western states reported small spikes earlier.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been performing tests statewide in conjunction with state health officials. Thus far Nevada, California, Pennsylvania, Washington and other states have shown similar levels of radioiodine-131.
Most states have now ordered additional testing to measure the spread and track any increases in radiation levels.