Not too worried about radioactive seafood

The release of nuclear radioactive water in Japan's Fukushima I power plant into the sea does not endanger marine animals as well as those who eat them, the scientists claim.

Yesterday the workers in the Fukushima I power plant began pumping about 11,500 tons of water containing radioactive material into the Pacific to get a reservoir of water with a higher radioactive concentration released from a crack in the digital reactor. 2.

This decision, coupled with radioactive water in the factory, has flowed into the sea many days ago, causing many people to worry that radioactive material will adversely affect the marine ecosystem, and at the same time pose a threat to those. people eat seafood. But some scientists say public opinion should not be too worrying.

William Burnett, a scientist at the University of Florida in the US, told AP that the ocean is so large that when radioactive material enters the seawater, its concentration drops to a level where radioactive detectors hardly notice. .

An expert works in the waters near the Fukushima I nuclear power plant on April 2.Photo: CTV News.

In waters that are about 1,000 meters away from the plant, marine animals are at risk of genetic modification if exposed to radiation for a long time. However, marine animals living outside that range do not face any serious risk.

Ken Buesseler, an expert at Woods Hole Marine Institute in the US, said that radioactive iodine and cesium indicators showed that the concentration of two radioactive substances in the area 30 km from the shore was about 1,000 times lower than the close position. edge.

The concentration of radioactivity in marine animals can reach the level that machines detect, but does not pose a health hazard to humans. Eating radioactive seafood is not dangerous by drinking water or eating vegetables and fruits contaminated with radiation.

In addition, Japanese officials banned fishing in the area near the Fukushima I. nuclear power plant.

Igor Linkov, a Carnegie Mellon University professor of mechanical and public policy, also said that radioactive water flowing into the ocean has no major impact on marine ecosystems and seafood consumers .

The professor agrees that animals near the plant may be affected by radioactivity. However, no one can point out what those effects are, because we don't know the radioactive concentrations in seawater. In all situations, most marine animals still have the opportunity to escape the effects of radioactivity because they move so they are not exposed continuously.The risk of continuous exposure only occurs with non-moving animals like clams and oysters .