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Joji Otaki / EPA
This handout photo, released Tuesday, shows a healthy adult pale grass blue butterfly (top) and a mutated variety (bottom). Severe mutations were found in butterflies collected near Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
TOKYO -- Researchers in Japan have found signs of mutation in butterflies, signaling one of the first indications of change to the local ecosystem as a result of last year's nuclear accident in Fukushima, according to one of the first studies on the genetic effects of the incident.
Joji Otaki from the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, who led the research, collected 144 commonly-found pale grass blue butterflies two months after the March 2011 accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.
Initial results indicated that roughly 12 percent of the butterflies showed signs of abnormalities, such as disfigurement in their antennas, smaller-sized wings, change in color patterns and indented eyes, Otaki said.
Even more alarming, when he collected another 238 samples six months later he found that those abnormalities had increased to 28 percent and the mutations had doubled to 52 percent in their offspring.
To see the effects of internal exposure to radiation, unaffected clean butterflies were also fed cesium-coated leaves collected from Fukushima. The result was a reduction in the size of those butterflies, as well as a lower survival rate.
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The Fukushima disaster occurred after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake knocked out a power line at the plant and generated a tsunami that flooded the facility's emergency generators, destroying the plant's cooling system. Catastrophic meltdowns occurred in three reactors, releasing radiation that has tainted the surrounding environment.
Five nuclear plants in total suffered some level of damage from the earthquake and tsunami; all but Fukushima Dai-ichi were shut down safely.
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'Something has gone wrong'
Otaki, who has been studying these butterflies for 10 years to analyze the effects of global warming, said that butterflies are the best environmental indicators because they are widely found in almost any environment.
"But since we've seen these effects on butterflies, it’s easy to imagine that it would also have affected other species as well. It’s pretty clear that something has gone wrong with the ecosystem,” he said.
AP
View side-by-side the progress that Japan has made since the tsunami and earthquake in March 2011.
However, at the same time, he also warns that because each species’ sensitivity to radiation varies, it was too early to immediately apply these finding to humans.
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But what is clear, said Otaki, is that the genetic changes found in these butterflies indicate a disruption in Fukushima's ecosystem and that more study is needed to learn the full scope of the effects of the radiation released into the environment.
At Hiroshima memorial, Japan leaders vow to listen to citizens in revamp of nuke policy
"Effects of low level radiation is genetically transferred through generation, which suggests genetic damage. I think it’s clear that we see the effects passed on through generations," Otaki added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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I think people have been blinded to the fact that there is nucleur waste everywhere. Look at the test sites for the bombs here in America, Russia, china etc.... The fact that everyone is in an uproar over this is idiotcy. What do you think is going to happen when a butterfly lands in waste. Why aren't we having a fit over our own nucleur waste here in America. Oh I know it's because God forbid we make ourselves look bad in the world media. They have more people then we do and they did the best they could to clean up their mess. It's not their fault what was they spose to do stand in front of the tsunami and tell it stop. Why don't we worry more on helping them then something that we can't do anything about. It's a butterfly not a person. THeir are billions and billions of them in the world. This is just the media making something big out of so they can boost their ratings. How bout we focus more on the people who are still in need of help. How bout Haiti or the fact that Louisiana is still in disrepair in many places. The starving kids in Africa. Wow theres a mutated butterfly somewhere! Of course there is it landed in nucleur waste. Worry bout the poeple there not the butterflt. My God!!!!!!
You need to read the article again........ But this time slooooowwwwww down so you can comprehend what you have read...
I understood what i was reading. I was refering to the pics they put up. I understand that they are concerned with human life. I understand it's in the ocean and effecting sea life. Also, my comment was to other people who were commenting on the butterfly.
Do you think that maybe there will be any mutant super heros showing up!? ew or super villans, we'll see huh
You best hope not. What if they decide ordinary humans are too annoying to have around, except as slaves? Or worse, pets.
John Doe must work for Nuc energy, let them build in his back yard.
The US has had researchers in Japan (working with Japanese researchers) since the end of world war II studying the impact of nuclear radiation on the population as the result of the bombs the US dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is from these studies that most of the current knowledge is based. The organization is Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), you can google it for more REAL information. At their site you can find the effects of different exposures to radiation based on their research.
See the wikipedia page for a nice summary of current estimates on the impact to human health ranging from 24 to 1800 from cancers (number indicate lower and upper bounds).
There will be an impact, we just will not know for some time what the final result will be, nor will we likely ever...as in a way John Doe is right in that in so far as the news is concerned, it is a localized event...
And John Doe, there is no such thing as clean coal either....
Shandril, I lived in Japan for several years and I can assure you that they are no more superior than Americans. We simply have excelled in different areas. The Japanese push their children harder to excell in school. In many ways, their children really don't have happy childhoods. There should be middle ground for all our kids. Of course, kids in the war torn middle eastern countries don't have happy childhoods either, do they? It seems to me and a lot of other people that we ALL are systematically destroying our entire planet. I only wish there was an answer before it's too late.
........OMG.....Mothra is COMING!!
Sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie. If it's doing this to the insects what is it doing to the humans living there? What will it do to the rest of the people in the world? It's not as if the air is stationary. Very sad situation.
For all you people who do not think this is a big deal just shut up. Your blind support for nuclear power is a problem. Let other people worry about it.
john doe - I don't think you'll ever get it. no need to inform you - we'll just let natural selection take care of it for us.
I'm over 60, thank God. I'm gay and don't have children. So I'm not in the least bit worried about the future of YOUR children. I keep wondering how the likes of the GOP can cry and whine about "future debt" not thinking or caring about whether there will be clean water, air and food to eat. The next time Boehner gets up in front of Congess to wipe away his crocodile tears remember that there's more to giving our children a brighter and hopeful future than just the debt, that's nothing more than campaign rhetoric.
Rich people figure they'll have the money to survive anything but where will they get the slaves to do their bidding.
To be honest, the whole concept of wanting to make the world a better place for our children is a sack of c rap. Most parents don't give a rat's butt what their kids want or need.
Oh my God. What have we done? These results are startling to say the least. Who would have imagined the effects would be so significant so quickly? I remember when this incident occured last year that there were some bloggers who understood just what was going on, some were ridiculed to scorn. But alas, here it is upon us. What about the fishing waters around the Island? Is this apart of the issue Japan has with S Korea and the fish rich waters around those Islets in dispute? So many questions, less answers. Great article and timely.
Until they find mutations in people, I don't see the cause for this article. Yes it's alarming but doing research on butterflies isn't concerning to me. I'm more apt to worry about the human race. This is just a cause to scare people.
Wake up Sherry. Ever heard of the canary in the coal mine? The slippery slope? Imagine a world without bees. No, don't imagine it....google it.
Lol wow. Do you realize how many nucleur disasters have happened before. America has bombed itself with nucleur bombs. Google the test sites. I bet you believe in New world Order and Illuminati too. Maybe Illuminati caused this spill. Give me a break. Even if this does become disasterous, Can you not live on? Are we all so reliant on other people that we can't survive. A world without bees or life is highly unlikely. I am wide awake and I seriously doubt the world is going to come to an end over this. I think you're over reacting a bit. As for my comment, If the people of the world die the yes we will die out, I believe it's more logical to worry about the people. By the way, i almost forget. The world is going to end in december. So, why even concern yourself with it. Right? Too many fanatics in this world over reacting to things. I'll rely on my faith and my God. The rest can go to the extreme of freaking out.
sherry: Humans have a far longer reproductive cycle than butterflies. By the time the defects start showing up in your progeny, you will probably already be dead.
What? You think mankind don't have the common sense to do tests on pregnant women? Doctors aren't aware of what's going on? If you nucleur waste in your system it's not going to show up or make you sick? Really? I guess mankind is ignorant!
I hope doctors don't do radiation testing on pregnant women. Well, maybe Hitler's medical crew did but that's a different story. And no, I don't believe in the new world whatever or any kind of fantasy cult. My mother, yes....she can see a conspiracy in the wallpaper pattern, but that's a different story, too although we do find her highly entertaining. No, I'm an evolutionary biologist (and the earth is older than 5,000 years) so I tend to look at the big, long-term picture that incorporates all of the tiny little happenings that impact it, such as this one.
Yes, we have massively exposed ourselves to all kinds of radiation and chemicals. And we have all kinds of cancers and funky brain developments (Autism Spectrum). So no, the world is not going to end over this event.....far from it. We've had much worse happen and more to come before we even begin to suffer. Personally, me and mine can rely on ourselves and our farm. But the summer drought has made water an issue yada yada yada. I hear dominoes falling in my sleep. And as a scientist, I cannot help but see the implications. And if you're a Christian, I'm surprised you're not more concerned for your fellow man. Or I guess you don't care because y'all get the express elevator up when this place implodes. But if you don't care for your fellow man now, you don't get to get on the elevator. Why I'm I wasting my time on this? I've got tomatoes to pick. Jeez.
knitwit -
That is the second time you've brrought up "autism spectrum." You either need to be aware of, or you are purposely ignoring, the fact that they changed the definitons. A lot of current "autism" cases were pigeon-holed as "metal retardation" until a few years ago. So we have way more autism, far less mental retardation. They did a similar "reset" about 1970 or so when they changed the bar for "retarded" - they "cured" many by dropping the IQ measurement in the definition.
And let's not forget ADHD - big increase in the numbers as more drugs to treat the "disease" become available. Being a scientist, you should be aware, and honest, about how the data are driven.
Oh yeah....they are definitely just a few steps away from actually having Mothra.
After that, you know Godzilla is coming next.
In Austin Texas, supposedly We voted down the nuke. Next thing we knew Brown was dinged for sloppy work on the nuke out of houston, which is the 1 we voted down. So we all have the threat around us, and the best bid gets the job!
Godzillllla !
OK, turtles & moths I get. But what was Godzilla a mutation of? (Pardon my grammar.) There's nothing like it at the local zoo or any of the pet stores.
And if I eat some radioactive waste, will I get that big? Can I apply the radiation to selected areas of my body?
I wouldn't recommend eating nuclear waste, but if you have cancer, one of the treatments will probably be radiation therapy. Didn't do much for my Dad, though.
Seriously though, did you know cancer is an environmental disease? Don't take my word for it, ask a physician.
Funny how the Japanese can clean up so much in just three months, yet the lazy butt people of New Orleans just sits around and waits for the government to hand out food, housing and etc. to them and New Orleans is still a mess. Daaa.. get off your lazy, greedy butts in New Orleans and clean up the place!
Tired, you have got to be kidding me. What makes you assume that the people of New Orleans are all getting welfare? Do you have any idea how much the people have done toward reclaiming their city? Are they really lazy and greedy in your mind? All of them? Posts like yours really disturb me, because you seem to have no understanding of the situation, no real knowledge, and because you seem mean- spirited. You spent time here posting your "lazy butt" remarks...yet the people the people of New Orleans are greedy and lazy?
Tired, been to NOLA lately?
This is one case where I don't want life imitating art.
It just so happens there are quiet a few lizard species that live on the Japanese Islands, and in that area of the pacific. As far fetched and improbable as it may seem, there is a remote chance that a local animal or bug of some kind, could Mutate into a proverbial Monster. Or at the very least, grow to gigantic size. Now its highly unlikely, and the chance of something dangerous developing is extremely remote. But anything is possible. The radiation is probably far more dangerous, then any "thing" we might have to worry about. But you never know.
The theory behind the whole "radiation mutates something into a monster" is not pure fiction. There is some truth to it, as we can see here. Radiation does cause Mutations. For all we know, Dinosaurs may have been Mutations. Generally Mutated animals are sickly and die, or are born dead. But theres always that 1 in a million chance something scary could hatch..
Heres to no Godzilla hatchlings growing in the rocks around Fukashima. If the local Cows go missing, and you find big 3 toed foot prints, its time to worry.
Here comes Mothra!
That part of Japan is done.
One day they will have tourist looking at the surrounding area as a rude reminder of what happened there.
As for the soil, or any kind of life in that area.......it will be deeply affected for years.
These old power plants are going to become a future nightmare depending on where they are located.
Keep the lights on, and keep the mutations coming as well.
JMPO later
The waste they put in barrels and toss into the ocean, wouldn't you think after millions of years that erosion would eventually cause leaks in the barrels? I'm not sure what material is used to make the barrels, but nothing is indestructible, we always find a way to destroy anything.. How do they know what millions of years worth of salt water erosion will do?When they do leak, if humans are still around, that will be the end of us. No way they will be able to clean up the trillions of barrels they will have dumped by then. If not erosion, what if something else punctured these barrels. Submarines have bombs, violent hurricanes could toss them around. I imagine the dumped them somewhere very deep but currents will eventually move them. For our own good we need to start implementing population control, It isn't communist, it's self preservation for us and our children. They keep coming up /w medical advances that allow us to live longer and longer. Eventually supply will not be able to keep up with demand. I would rather have 1 or 2 children that are well fed, then 6 kids that are eating bugs b/c there is no other food. But of course you can never count on people having common sense. Will you so called "rights" really matter if w become extinct? If you can have 2 children, people cant even say it's not fair I wanted a girl but got 2 boys, b/c we have the medical advances now to even pick gender of our children.Which I don't understand why China doesn't do that instead of aborting millions of babies. And with gender prediction it would help us keep the sexes even unlike China where men are kidnapping women to produce /w b/c families abort female babies. B/c boys can carry on the family name, which is silly considering how many Chinese ppl have the last name Chen, I don't think that name will die out anytime soon, lol.
Making jokes about this tells how ignorant you truly are as to the situation in Japan and the rest of the world. I hope that you do a little research on the web and read up on how much poison was released. We won't know the true effects for 10 or 20 years when cancer rates spike.
And how is nuclear power good, if this is the result after an earthquake? Why would anyone in their right or left mind ever want to put lives at risk for Nuclear power? What a fricken joke. Light a stupid candle, problem sovled lives saved. I see the wicked nimrods of this world want to control everything, even God, not gonna happen. I can't wait until God starts to clean the earth from all the filth these so-called "civil" people, if you would, claim they are, when in reality all they do is consume and destroy, they do not replenish, the do not fix what they've destroyed, because they made their money, now it's time to move onto the next part of civilazation they want to destroy. If there is a "big bang" theory then I wish the "bang" would take place so these consumers and abusers would get exactly what they deserve. Nothing wrong with surviving, just fix what you destroy. Oh but you can't because it would cost money which was made from the destrcution produced by consumption.
Im not sure what I said to deserve the wraith of God. I was just saying that most people here have no idea how dangerous this accident is. I am not a proponent for nuclear contamination.
Sorry, this was not intended towards you directly, it is intended towards those who have destroyed this beautiful planet which God gave us and which the diabolicial spirit of some men are destroying it because these b a s t a r d s can't and won't except what God has created and are out to destroy it. God will repay those who hurt the earth and I don't give a crap who they say it helps, they lie all for the sake and love of money. "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evils". God makes it very clear in His word, God will punish those who hurt the earth, He is not joking and He will bring it to pass, it's only right and fair. God gave us this beautiful planet, and what have they done with it? DESTROY it for their "love of money." God knows, God sees, and God will repay.
But what of the God-fearing/loving people who say it's ok to take what they want from this earth regardless of the damage because the real paradise is in the everlasting/heaven. That it doesn't matter what they do here. Those people scare me.
6448092 -
Please throw the main breaker to your electric supply and light a candle. Thank you.
At least they aren't 5 stories tall . . . . .
Whoever invented the A-bomb, nuclear crap should be removed from the list of humanity. I hope and pray God holds that @!$%# responsible for imagining such demonic things, it serves no good, nor will it ever, I don't give a crap how much man thinks it can handle it, cause it can't and Japan is just one example, there are more to come. God is not done judging the nations for their "imagination"; and He will, don't blame Him, blame the so-called imagination which men let dictate their very own destruction with. This so-called "civilization" is so uncivil and so full of debauchery and lacviousness that God is going to close up the heavens like a scroll because wicked men and women go about destroying a good thing, all along tryrannically trying to show everyone they're in charge, but the only thing they're in charge of is their wicked "imagination" which only leads them to selfdestruction. Now I understand God totally, mankind is incapable of self governing. Get ready because here comes the forth reich out of the EU. This butterfly, sadly, being used as a distraction while the proponents of debauchery continue with there deciet and tyrannical agenda. God knows, God sees all things, He will deal the them accordingly, matter of fact, we know exactly what God is going to do, those diabolical forces know this and go about like a roaring lion seeing who they can devour before God sends the "stone".
Seriously? You understand God totally? Could you ask Him to give me a call? I have a few questions for Him.
?????????
And that's just the butterflies. Wonder what's it done to the two legged creatures now or later.
77 observer - They die. That's what happened to the children who got leukemia from radioactive fall out after the testing in the Nevada desert in the 1950s. And also to the military who were in trenches who were issued sunglasses and told to duck and cover when the blasts went off. Read about the Downwinders.