Plutonium releases from Fukushima plant highlighted in final sentence of butterfly mutation study

Plutonium releases from Fukushima plant highlighted in final sentence of butterfly mutation study (ENENews, Aug 15, 2012)

Title: The biological impacts of the Fukushima nuclear accident on the pale grass blue butterfly
Source: Scientific Reports (via Nature)
Authors: Atsuki Hiyama, Chiyo Nohara, Seira Kinjo, Wataru Taira, Shinichi Gima, Akira Tanahara
& Joji M. Otaki
Published: August 9, 2012

[…]

Discussion

We demonstrated that the Z. maha population in the Fukushima area is deteriorating physiologically and genetically.

[…]

[We] conclude that the present outbreak of abnormal individuals in the Fukushima area was caused by random genetic mutations in addition to physiological effects due to the artificial radionuclides from the Fukushima Dai-ich NPP.

Our demonstration of heritable germ-line genetic damage caused by low-dose exposure due to radioactive contamination in a species of butterfly has invaluable implications for the possible future effects of radiation on animals. In view of the detection of plutonium released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP44, the possible risk of internal exposure from ingestion should be investigated more accurately in the near future.

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