Fukushima radiation a “major threat” to survival of baby birds — “Immediate and worrisome” impacts on marine wildlife discussed — More damage to come as radioactive material biomagnifies in food chain
ENENews.com
September 18th, 2014
Ecological Indicators, Volume 43, August 2014 (emphasis added): Excerpts from Reduced vitamin A levels indicate radionuclide exposure in Streaked Shearwaters following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident
Exposure to radiation reduces levels of antioxidants [that] can cause teratogenic or mutagenetic effects… distributions of Streaked Shearwaters from Mikura Island (MKR) during the post egg-laying period coincide with the Fukushima nuclear plume while the breeding colony on Birou Island (BRU) [approx. 600 miles from Fukushima Daiichi] lies outside the affected zone… fledglings from MKR [approx. 100 miles south of Tokyo and 250 miles from Fukushima Daiichi] displayed significantly reduced vitamin A levels… these depletions most likely result from radiation exposure due to the Fukushima nuclear accident, implying that the risk of radionuclide contamination is considerably elevated for Streaked Shearwaters on MKR, where more than 60% of the world’s population breeds. While additional negative impacts are expected due to delayed effects of radionuclide transport via biomagnification in the food chain, this study highlights the potential immediate and worrisome consequences of the Fukushima nuclear accident for marine wildlife.
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