Japanese radiation detection off the west coast of the United States

Radioactive iodine is found in kelp off the west coast of the United States, more than a year after the Japanese earthquake / tsunami, causing the worst nuclear crisis in history after the Chernobyl disaster. .

>>>Discovering radiation 650km from the Japanese coast

Radioactive iodine 131, carried in the air, has spread throughout the Pacific Ocean within a few days after the March 11, 2011 tsunami, although in small quantities.

But marine biologists at California State University, Loang Beach (CSULB) have discovered radioactive isotopes in the kelp. Sea kelp is 'one of the most powerful iodine storage plants' within a month after the disaster.

Radiation testing in Koriyama city, a nuclear plant
60km to the west, a few days after the earthquake / tsunami / nuclear disaster.

'We have measured quite a large amount of radioactive iodine in the tissue of kelp Macrocystis, although most are not at a health risk,' said Steven L. Manley, one of the study authors. know.

'Although the amount of radiation may not affect people, because of the low content. But it may affect some algae-eating fish because fish have an iodine-absorbing thyroid system.

Research on the effect of radioactive iodine 131 from Japanese nuclear power plant on kelp Macrocystis has been published in the online publication of the American Journal of Environmental Science and Technology.

After the tsunami / earthquake disaster killed more than 19,000 people, the Fukushima I nuclear power plant, 220km northeast of Tokyo, suffered many explosions and fuel rods in molten reactors. . Radiation has spread to a large area and found its way to the sea, mixed in air and food for weeks and months afterwards.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from the area around the factory and the area is still heavily polluted. Cleanup and cleanup are happening at a slow pace, while some cities may be abandoned for three decades.