Monkeys near the Fukushima plant may be contaminated

Monkeys that live in the wild environment of Japan's Fukushima area show abnormalities in the blood, believed to be related to radiation after the 2011 nuclear accident .

Monkeys living in areas affected by radiation from the Fukushima Daichii nuclear power plant have a number of red blood cells and leukocytes and low hemoglobin levels.

Japanese monkeys are monkey family primates originating from Japan.They have gray fur, red face and short tail.(Photo: Reuters)

In the study, experts examined 61 monkeys living about 70km away from the area of ​​radioactive disaster, and 31 monkeys living about 400km away, on the Shimokita Peninsula. According to the analysis, monkeys in the first place were positive for radioactive cesium, related to the concentration of cesium in the soil in their habitats.

Japanese monkeys have a habit of bathing in hot springs. They feed on shoots and bark where cesium can accumulate in high concentrations in the winter. Abnormalities in the blood can make them more susceptible to infectious diseases.

According to RT, this study was done on monkeys, but its results could put pressure on Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). Previously, TEPCO was criticized for its slow response to handling measures to prevent nuclear disaster, especially the risk to factory workers and affecting neighboring provinces. About 50,000 households have to be relocated after the nuclear disaster, radioactive treatment measures and the prevention of radioactive water are still underway.

However, some experts argue that research for primates cannot be conclusive, and that cesium levels may not be the cause of abnormalities in the blood of monkeys.