Published: August 14th, 2012 at 5:52 pm ET
|
Title: Fukushima’s First Mutants Are Malformed Butterflies
Source: The Atlantic Wire
Author: Adam Martin
Date: August 14, 2012
Source: International Science Times
[...]
One of the researchers on the study, Joji Otaki, told The Japan Times that “humans are totally different from butterflies and they should be far more resistant,” and the study itself includes a line explaining that “the effects of low-dose radiation exposure on animals, including humans, are still a matter of debate.” But as Gizmodo’s Mario Aguilar points out, the much more alarming language comes just prior to that pacifying sentence, as scientists make connections to other radioactive disasters and their links between animal and human mutations:
In the case of the Chernobyl accident, changes in species composition and phenotypic aberration in animal sand an increase in the incidence of thyroid and lymph cancers in humans have been reported. Similarly, an increase in the incidence of cancers has been reported for atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.
So, yeah, radioactive mutations are in play in the Fukushima fallout, and while they’re affecting butterflies now, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll stay relegated to the insect world. Scary.
See also:
- Japan Times: Study finds 'abnormalities' in 52% of second generation offspring from butterflies collected May 2011 -- Unusually small wings, premature death
- Biologist on Mutated Butterflies: Study is overwhelming in its implications for humans -- Japan Researcher: Insects were believed to be very resistant to radiation -- Irregularly developed eyes, malformed antennae, much smaller wings (PHOTO)
- The Australian: The devastating physical & genetic effects of Japan's nuclear disaster are revealed -- All mutant butterflies were caught far outside Fukushima evacuation zone
Published: August 14th, 2012 at 5:52 pm ET
|
sending...
"…that humans could also be affected…"
Could?
Will!
h.
Report Comment
Why wouldn't they???
No doubt about it….
Report Comment
Could? Will? Try "are being." Humans are being affcted. Hey scientists! What are you doing to our DNA—! No ?mark needed. Stop it now, if it isn't too late already. Stop it anyway, even if it is too late.
Report Comment
speciesism is handy to divide (humanimals) from the genetic pool for profit..
Report Comment
https://www.google.pl/search?q=birth+defects+chernobyl&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=pl&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=r4MpUKK9H4_Rsgb0woHwCg&biw=1119&bih=636&sei=sYMpUKLCD4r0sgbE-oH4Ag
Report Comment
@blackbuddha…This is what the hearts, souls, minds of the perpetrators already look like.
Report Comment
The word "Duh!" comes to mind. How long until the people wake up and arrest those responsible and place them and their families at Fukushima Daiichi forever?
Report Comment
Scientists ignore facts for monitary reasons…
… Exchanging lives for dollars, criminals.
Report Comment
Joni Otaki speaks fluent TECODE: "Everything is within limits."
Report Comment
Sorry, smart phone not so smart with foreign names…
Report Comment
Being forced to coexist with the never ending nuclear disasters is not right.
Report Comment
Not to worry. That coexistence can't last much longer.
Report Comment
if they're finding fifty-two percent of these samples showing signs of radiation-induced genetic damage, it doesn't take much (intelligence) to extrapolate (from these same numbers) what the long-term impact will be on humans. With respect to this concern for humans, would it not be fitting justice that they be so impacted, given their blatant disregard for all-other species on this planet?
Report Comment
Aftershock,
My Karma wisdom says that it is not wise to wish ill will even upon those that bring ill will for doing so justifies their ill will they bring. What goes around…
… I prefer to be part of a movement that seeks to STOP the delivery of such ill will.
Be the change you seek from this world…
… Just saying'.
Report Comment
No lectures please. We all know what you say, and we all fall into despair sometimes. I agree with your sentiment, but not the judgment of Aftershock. He's a good one!
Report Comment
@Max1: what we desire and what we wake-up to are more-often-than-not, two different realities.
For five-thousand-plus years, humans have reveled in their wholesale destruction of all about them. They even-now worship having this ability above all other means of survival. Was it not fitting how the very sword wielded, ultimately becomes their collective undoing?
We have mutilated the pixies of childhood dreams. Whether it inconveniences us or not, the balance will be met…
Report Comment
Why are they acting like this is a surprise. Scientists have seen the mutations caused by radioactivity for decades????
"Oh my look at that mutated butterflies, why we never expected to see that after a nuclear accident…do you suppoes this could jump to other species????"
c'mon!
Report Comment
Oh.. and look how SUPRISED the so called Experts were to find out how much more Radiated the Tuna has become! "OH..we didn't know that the Tuna would become radioactive". SARC!! Total F'n Lying Idiots!
Report Comment
There seems to be alot of so called experts over yonder. Paid actors with a Masters degree in BS.
Report Comment
Deleterious mutations.
Report Comment
The United States knew about this radiation side effect since 1957. Hollywood took it from there..
The 50 foot woman
Attach of the giant spiders
Attack of the killer ants
It came from beneath the sea
etc. etc. etc.
Report Comment
Godzilla may become a true happening in the future…
Report Comment
Gigantism due to acute radiation exposure affects adolescents the most.
Godzilla ..is a fictional character,
The actual affect..is heart breaking.
I find the use of the term Godzilla..rude.
Report Comment
Wikipedia:
Godzilla,A Japanese movie monster,first appearing in Ishiro Honda's 1954 film.Conceived as a monster created by nuclear detonations and a metaphor for nuclear weapons in general.
So whats rude about that Heart Of The Rose ?
Report Comment
Just feels rude..
Report Comment
PS..I just went into town and had a discussion with an old friend..the only one I basically forced to pay attention..
Fuku..nothing..sinkhole…nothing..
What are we supposed to do?.
Why should we care?..etc.etc.etc.
What concern is it of yours..Heart..?
I'm done..I'm not going to spend one more breathe on..the people around me.
They don't believe me ..they don't believe in me..
Done..
Report Comment
But we do.
I do.
Chin up, Heart
Report Comment
Many humans don't give a damn about whats going on around them. Plenty of smokes,beer in the fridge, four televisions going at once on the latest sports broadcasts.
Ignorance is bliss…..
Report Comment
I can deal with disbelief..from strangers, collegues..etc..but neighbors and friends.
No..something has to change.
It is too emotionally draining..I have work to do.
Report Comment
I have had similar experiences, Heart of the Rose. Some of the worst push-back has been from mothers of young kids, maybe because of guilt? I stop mentioning it for a while, but then inevitably start up again. I think of Iori Mochizuki at Fukushima Diary, his parents told him he was a traitor, basically, I guess we are, to some degree, traitors to the dominant nuclear-media culture. Sometimes I wonder why the handful of us who are focused on Fukushima react so differently than the majority of the population.
Report Comment
Rambojim just as I told Heart I do care and I do try to understand, but I am busy helping those around me with free clothing and other things they need such as free counseling. I have a degree in psych and my concern is to help those I come in contact with. I don't know what I could do to help people far away (except I do support a child and her family in Nicaragua) when I don't even understand half of what is going on regarding Fuku or sinkholes. I am not ignorant, just have no training in energy problems so I spend my time helping others with what I do know about. That's got to count for something. It takes all kinds of people to make up this world and I understand Heart's concerns but I'm busy trying to do my part to help society in other ways. Sorry, but I think I am doing my part.
Report Comment
It makes sense that Heart of the Rose would want to inform such a generous and trained person, sinsan1. Radiation not only causes heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc., but also all kinds of mental illness, including schizophrenia. A friend of mine suddenly developed schizophrenic symptoms out of the blue, after spending much of 2011-2012 in an airplane. I am the only one in her circle of friends and family who knows about the connection between schizophrenia and radiation, and the only one who knows about Fukushima. I think that your training in psych (and now Fukushima) is going to be very important to many people in times to come. Thanks for all that you do.
Report Comment
sinsan1,
Regarding my last post. I stated MANY humans,not all humans..
Report Comment
Sorry Heart, you are my best friend and I do believe you, but as I told you before I don't know what to do about it. I keep asking you what can I do and you tell me "nothing." Am I concerned? Of course. I don't understand much of what you are trying to tell me, but I do believe what you tell me, but, once again, I don't know what I can do. If I were to talk on a blog I still don't know anything about it or even begin to understand what is going on, so who would even care if I talked about it. I do tell my family and friends, but what does that do? Sorry but I am perplexed about what to do.
Report Comment
I think all of us here ..those concerned.. from time to time look for validity for our concerns in our real lives.
I chose only one..you..to help me here..
Thank you for coming.
We here are for the long haul..
Just need you to know.
Report Comment
@sinsan1…My dear friend..you missed the "song of the day".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN-U5aE6Rog&feature=related
Report Comment
I've seen the youtube before and I love it and I think we should all stand by each other. I do stand by you, just am only able to listen and digest what I can understand. Believe me I do stand by you but other than that I don't have a clue of how to make it better. I'll leave that to you and your immense knowledge of the subject. Love u.
Report Comment
Love you back… my friend.
Report Comment
hot off the wire from japan today.. seems to be bringing it home to people what is actually happening in slow motion, as well as the initial big hit.. this is a good attempt at reporting the facts by this media outlet
i am surprised!? but they had to tow the line a bit.. but still.. overall? not bad!
Fukushima caused mutant butterflies, say scientists
NATIONAL AUG. 15, 2012
"..No one is officially recorded as having died as a direct result of the Fukushima disaster, but many who fled the area and those who remain, including workers decommissioning the crippled plant, worry about the long-term effects.
Scientists have warned it could be decades before it is safe for some people to return to their homes.
“Even if there is no impact now, we have to live with fear,” said Sachiko Sato, a mother of two, who temporarily fled from Fukushima. “And concerns will be handed down to my children and grandchildren.”…"
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/fukushima-caused-mutant-butterflies-say-scientists?utm_campaign=jt_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=jt_newsletter_2012-08-15_AM
Report Comment
this one from the daily mail uk, in depth piece..
Butterfly studies demonstrate how radiation effects are passed on to later generations
"..It said that ‘artificial radionuclides from the Fukushima (No 1)
nuclear power plant caused physiological and genetic damage’ to pale
grass blue butterflies, a common species in Japan.
‘Sensitivity (to irradiation) varies between species, so research
should be conducted on other animals,’ said Joji Otaki, a team member
and associate professor at the University of the Ryukyus in
Okinawa….. Abnormalities such as unusually small wings were found in
12 per cent of the total. But the rate rose to 18 per cent in a second
generation produced through mating among the butterflies collected and
some even died before reaching adulthood…….."
http://nuclear-news.net/2012/08/14/butterfly-studies-demonstrate-how-radiation-effects-are-passed-on-to-later-generations/
Report Comment
"…rate rose to 18 per cent in a second generation…" Yes, it is additive, or maybe even cumulative exponentially. But at least additive, for sure.
Report Comment
I think we should be applauding the fact that the research is being done.
I understand that many in this community are frustrated with the academic silence and, in some cases, complicity.
I've been frustrated also.
However, the people who did this research on butterflies flew half way around the world (I know for a fact that one of them did) and endangered their lives to prove that there are EFFECTS from the radiation.
This is brave scholarship and it will open the eyes of others who are still sleeping.
It is my belief that we need this research to win the war against nuclear generally, and to help the Japanese people.
Dr. Mousseau conducted research on insects impacted by Chernobyl as well.
A broad movement is going to require "hard" evidence to persuade the sleepers….
Butterflies are not people, but others who understand that we share DNA with butterflies are going to wake up…
Report Comment
Thx Majia. for your reasonable voice of proportion once again. Indeed give thanks to the brave scholars.
Report Comment
Agreed!!
Report Comment
Tragic if we are talking about birth defects. There are always some, with medical care we see more in humans, animals with severe defects often do not survive long. Mutations, have the potential of being much more severe since we are talking about potential for them being reproduced in many more generations. Hopefully many of the mutations will be recessive traits, only passed on when mated with another recessive gene. Not a scientist sow I don't know or understand the full extent of the problem or process. But as a laymen I am very concerned. There will be birth defects/mutations from the effects of the continued radiation exposure for hundreds of years… this plus the effects of passing on these traits may have long term consequences not only in Japan, USA, Canada… where the exposure is greatest but slowly working its way throughout the whole population.
Report Comment
dodge…Excellent. No need to be a scientist to use common sense and understanding.
Report Comment
"the effects of low-dose radiation exposure on animals, including humans, are still a matter of debate."
Not for much longer, I fear.
Report Comment
…and NZ isn't untouched.
The owner has been keeping the Monarch Butterfly for 10 years and not seen this happened. He didn't even touch the larva.
5 of them have managed to born but can't fly. One butterfly has no body but wings, others dead.
http://lovenaturenz.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/monarch-butterfly/
From yesterday's paper (don't know which one though)
http://twitter.com/gnmp12/status/235514843921272834/photo/1
Report Comment
Scientits are so clever!(we are the labrats now)!
Mutations caused by radiations!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLrMS_zs1kE
Report Comment
The distraction is: mention radiation in radiation doses! forget the difference in radionuclides! all boil it down to radio activity without mentioning for plutonium and uranium! or iodine 129… lets only mention the ones with the shortest half lives! And hope your genes(kids) are ok…
Report Comment
When that reporter said " Scary that mutations could affect humans too", He should have said " Scary that mutations WILL affect humans too". God help us all.
Report Comment