Panic grips Tokyo as radiation levels rise - World news - Asia-Pacific

"Radioactive material will reach Tokyo but it is not harmful to human bodies because it will be dissipated by the time it gets to Tokyo," said Koji Yamazaki, professor at Hokkaido University graduate school of environmental science.

"If the wind gets stronger, it means the material flies faster but it will be even more dispersed in the air."

Some wanted the government to expand the 18 mile evacuation zone surrounding the nuclear plant. "The evacuation zone may not be enough," said a Hiroshima-based Japanese scientist who treats nuclear radiation victims.

Story: Japan radioactivity could enter food chain, kids at risk

"The main lasting effect will probably be in milk produce and the radiation in milk because the cows go around like vacuum cleaners and absorb the radiation spread over a wide range and those particles are easily transferred into the milk, which is in turn easily absorbed by babies and children."

As for the potential of radiation reaching the U.S. mainland, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Sunday said no harmful levels were likely.

"Given the thousands of miles between the two countries, Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. territories and the U.S. West Coast are not expected to experience any harmful levels of radioactivity," it said in a statement.

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Japan's nuclear crisis was triggered by twin disasters on Friday, when the most powerful earthquake in the country's recorded history was followed by a tsunami that savaged its northeastern coast with breathtaking speed and power.

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The Fukushima Dai-ichi complex was due to be decommissioned in February but was given a new 10-year lease on life.

Its reactors were designed by General Electric. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture between NBC Universal and Microsoft. GE is a part owner of NBC Universal.)

GE-designed reactors in Fukushima have 23 sisters in U.S.

Japan has a total of 55 reactors spread across 17 complexes nationwide.

The worst nuclear accident since the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine in 1986 has drawn criticism that authorities were ill-prepared and revived debate about the safety of atomic power.

In other developments Tuesday:

• Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany will take seven of its 17 reactors offline for three months while the country reconsiders plans to extend the life of its nuclear power plants. Merkel said the country will temporarily shut down reactors that went into operation before the end of 1980.
• Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ordered officials to check Russian nuclear facilities and to review the country's ambitious plans to develop atomic energy.

Reuters, The Associated Press, msnbc.com staff and NBC News' Andy Eckardt and Robert Bazell contributed to this report.

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