The biological impacts of the Fukushima nuclear accident on the pale grass blue butterfly

Hiyama, Atsuki; Nohara, Chiyo; Kinjo, Seira; Taira, Wataru; Gima, Shinichi; Tanahara, Akira; Otaki, Joji M.

doi:10.1038/srep00570

Cited by 180 publications

(264 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Although the IAEA generally assumes limited impacts to organisms from dose rates B50 lGy h -1 , there is considerable discussion of these arbitrary thresholds given the lack of sufficient information concerning unknown individual and species variation in sensitivity, the role of multigeneration exposures, and the importance of complex community interactions in determining individual-, population-, and ecosystem-level responses to radiation sources. Recent analyses of organisms inhabiting Chernobyl, Fukushima, and other naturally radioactive regions around the world point to measurable, biologically significant impacts at what are much lower dose rates than those recommended by IAEA (e.g., Mousseau 2009, 2015;Hiyama et al 2012Hiyama et al , 2013Yamashiro et al 2013;Møller et al 2014). Clearly, further research is needed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radioecological impacts of tin mining

Aliyu

Mousseau

Ramli

et al. 2015

Ambio

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The tin mining activities in the suburbs of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, have resulted in technical enhancement of the natural background radiation as well as higher activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides in the topsoil of mining sites and their environs. Several studies have considered the radiological human health risks of the mining activity; however, to our knowledge no documented study has investigated the radiological impacts on biota. Hence, an attempt is made to assess potential hazards using published data from the literature and the ERICA Tool. This paper considers the effects of mining and milling on terrestrial organisms like shrubs, large mammals, small burrowing mammals, birds (duck), arthropods (earth worm), grasses, and herbs. The dose rates and risk quotients to these organisms are computed using conservative values for activity concentrations of natural radionuclides reported in Bitsichi and Bukuru mining areas. The results suggest that grasses, herbs, lichens, bryophytes and shrubs receive total dose rates that are of potential concern. The effects of dose rates to specific indicator species of interest are highlighted and discussed. We conclude that further investigation and proper regulations should be set in place in order to reduce the risk posed by the tin mining activity on biota. This paper also presents a brief overview of the impact of mineral mining on biota based on documented literature for other countries.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radioecological impacts of tin mining

Aliyu

Mousseau

Ramli

et al. 2015

Ambio

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“…Also, the pale grass blue butterfly Zizeeria maha (Kollar, 1848) suffered physiological and genetic damage [4]. However, the impact of the accident on vertebrates remains under investigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Reproductive Biology of the Freshwater Teleost Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus

2014

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Soon after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, we studied the reproductive biology of freshwater teleost bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) in a pond in the city of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, about 50 km south of the nuclear power plant. The breeding period of the bluegill was abbreviated and the frequency of spawning decreased. The radiation air dose rate and level of radioactivity in the fish were less than would be expected to trigger behavioural alterations or to suppress reproduction. The occurrence of aftershocks and two episodes of torrential rain is the likely reason for changes in the reproductive behaviour of bluegill in the pond. These results suggest that our observations can be explained by a combination of natural disasters, rather than the effects of nuclear radiation.

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“…Japanese people were concerned about contaminated food, wood, resources, and goods due to air and water pollution in terms of radioactive substance. According to the nature blog news on December 21 in 2012, one of the most interesting articles on social media is an academic article concerning the biological effect of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant [1]. Worldwide attention on this article means that the crippled nuclear power plant and diffusion of radioactive substance from the plant is a major concern and threat against our environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On a Field Investigation and Open Data Analysis to Identify Diffusion Sources of Radioactive Substance

Ishida¹

2013

IJESD

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Abstract-After the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant disaster due to the huge earthquake, spreading contamination is a serious fear for Japanese society. In this paper, a field investigation is described to understand the contamination in the west part of Japan, which is in a region approximately a thousand km from the east power plant. Based on the contamination origin found in the investigation, open data is analyzed to identify important factors for spreading radioactive substance in terms of relationship between air dose rate and weather conditions. Based on the analysis, a detection rule or algorithm for the contamination origin is summarized to develop a detection system for radiation warning. Air dose rate is observed on each public monitoring point. The nearest weather observation station for each public monitoring point concerning air dose rate is also identified to analyze the relationship between air dose rate and weather conditions.According to the analysis, rainfall is an effective trigger to drop radioactive substance, such as contaminated airborne particles, to the ground. However, long-term rainfall, e.g., over half of a day, also has an effect to clean the air and ground. The most serious factor is wind direction from spreading origins of the particles in terms of air dose rate. In addition, consistent wind from a spreading origin can bring the particles without rainfall. On the other hand, wind speed seems not to be a big factor of increase of air dose rate, although the speed could multiply the effect of wind consistency on a spike of the dose rate.

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The biological impacts of the Fukushima nuclear accident on the pale grass blue butterfly

Cited by 180 publications

References 45 publications

Radioecological impacts of tin mining

Radioecological impacts of tin mining

Impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Reproductive Biology of the Freshwater Teleost Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus

On a Field Investigation and Open Data Analysis to Identify Diffusion Sources of Radioactive Substance

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