is this just the beginning?
Mutant butterflies appear in Japan
Tags: Society, World, radiation, Fukushima-1, Japan, Opinion & Analysis
Natalya Kovalenko
Aug 14, 2012 16:56 Moscow Time
Photo: EPA
The appearance of mutant butterflies in Japan is caused by the genetic changes among the insects that were triggered by the Fukushima nuclear accident which occurred in the country in March 2011.
The fact that the pygmy blue butterflies widely spread in Japan have undergone mutation was established by the researchers of Rikkyo University (Japan). 2 months after the Fukushima nuclear disaster scientists collected 150 adult butterflies on the Japanese territory, aiming to assess their health condition. Soon after they understood that the butterflies had undergone mutation. The death rate among the butterflies’ offspring has exceeded the norm by 18 per cent, and one-third of female-butterflies have refused to lay eggs. Six months after the Fukushima nuclear accident - in autumn of 2011 – the scientists repeated their experiment. As a result, the number of mutant butterflies doubled compared to the May observations.
Thus, the researches came to the conclusion that the radiation effects from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, as well as the emissions into the atmosphere had caused both physiological and genetic changes among the insects, including the butterflies. Besides, all these changes have once again confirmed that the effects of radiation were fatal for the local flora and fauna, a biologist, Vladimir Kartsev, says.
"It is well-known that a heightened radiation background increases mutation changes. It is also known that everyone is subjected to mutation. Numerous deformities in human beings are related to the radioactive fallout from the Fukushima meltdowns. It is believed that insects are more resistant to radiation than human beings and vertebrates."
By studying the health condition of the local butterflies, the Japanese scientists plan to forecast the situation concerning the health of the people living near the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Taking into account the Chernobyl experience, medics say that several generations will be subjected to various deformities. The Co-Chairman of the International Social and Ecological Union Svyatoslav Zabelin says:
"As is known, small doses of radiation are the most dangerous because the human organism simply ignores them and body defenses do not react to the evident danger. Small doses of radiation affect even an adult organism, and such bad influence is irreversible. If a territory is infected, this is once and for all. Although the half-decay period of the majority of isotopes lasts for dozens of years, the consequences of their fatal influence on the environment will be felt for ages," scientists say.
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_08_14/Mutant-butterflies-appear-in-Japan/
Mutant butterflies appear in Japan
Tags: Society, World, radiation, Fukushima-1, Japan, Opinion & Analysis
Natalya Kovalenko
Aug 14, 2012 16:56 Moscow Time
Photo: EPA
The appearance of mutant butterflies in Japan is caused by the genetic changes among the insects that were triggered by the Fukushima nuclear accident which occurred in the country in March 2011.
The fact that the pygmy blue butterflies widely spread in Japan have undergone mutation was established by the researchers of Rikkyo University (Japan). 2 months after the Fukushima nuclear disaster scientists collected 150 adult butterflies on the Japanese territory, aiming to assess their health condition. Soon after they understood that the butterflies had undergone mutation. The death rate among the butterflies’ offspring has exceeded the norm by 18 per cent, and one-third of female-butterflies have refused to lay eggs. Six months after the Fukushima nuclear accident - in autumn of 2011 – the scientists repeated their experiment. As a result, the number of mutant butterflies doubled compared to the May observations.
Thus, the researches came to the conclusion that the radiation effects from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, as well as the emissions into the atmosphere had caused both physiological and genetic changes among the insects, including the butterflies. Besides, all these changes have once again confirmed that the effects of radiation were fatal for the local flora and fauna, a biologist, Vladimir Kartsev, says.
"It is well-known that a heightened radiation background increases mutation changes. It is also known that everyone is subjected to mutation. Numerous deformities in human beings are related to the radioactive fallout from the Fukushima meltdowns. It is believed that insects are more resistant to radiation than human beings and vertebrates."
By studying the health condition of the local butterflies, the Japanese scientists plan to forecast the situation concerning the health of the people living near the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Taking into account the Chernobyl experience, medics say that several generations will be subjected to various deformities. The Co-Chairman of the International Social and Ecological Union Svyatoslav Zabelin says:
"As is known, small doses of radiation are the most dangerous because the human organism simply ignores them and body defenses do not react to the evident danger. Small doses of radiation affect even an adult organism, and such bad influence is irreversible. If a territory is infected, this is once and for all. Although the half-decay period of the majority of isotopes lasts for dozens of years, the consequences of their fatal influence on the environment will be felt for ages," scientists say.
http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_08_14/Mutant-butterflies-appear-in-Japan/
