By ETHAN Markoff
JAPAN NEWS - Japan nuclear disaster not only affects on human lives but slowly permeating to its rich marine life. In a recent announcement by Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy that says high levels of radioactive cesium have been discovered in seawater. The report raises the possibility of radioactive infiltration into the food chain and could be fatal for living organisms.
The radioactive substance cesium was found near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and 20 times higher than the normal level. Although the in comparison to other radioactive isotopes spilled from the plant, cesium leaking is less, still scientists have warned cesium 137 poses the greater long-term danger to the marine food chain.
Other prevalent radioactive element like iodine 131 degrades relatively fast, becoming half as potent every eight days. So, the lethal effects can be countered by banning fishing and consumption of sea food for a specific span of time. Cesium 137, on the other hand, has a half-life of 30 years and the bad news is, marine plants readily absorb it, which then cycling in food chain.
“It’s worrisome in that CS 137 is leaking, although the levels are still low,” said Paul G. Falkowski, a professor at Rutgers University’s Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences.
Mr. Falkowski said that the deposited water finally reaches sea and if the water would be heavily contaminated with cesium 137 over an extended period then it surely would question of serious concern.
The source of cesium 137 is still not found, although it is believed that the seawater dumped on the overheating reactors to cool them carried radiation and then poured out to sea. The natural process of dilution of radioactive effluents by the ocean is extraordinary. Many radioactive effluents have been dumped into the marine environment, including nuclear weapons.
Only the good part is the remarkable capacity of ocean to dilute radioactive substance because of it volume and depth. Therefore, oceanographers have not put any panic button right now and said to take appropriation precaution to happen any serious consequences.
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