Fukushima Pollutes Pacific With 400 Ton Contamination Each Dayff

It is feared that tuna caught in the Pacific Ocean could contain levels of radioactivity following water contamination from the destruction of the Japanese Fukushima nuclear plant. Around 400 tons of contaminated water is being leaked into the Pacific Ocean from Japan each day. Some scientists say there is no cause for concern yet, others are more critical.

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

The Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest tuna fishing ground and accounts for more than 50 percent of the global catch of the major commercial tunas.

Studies have revealed that continued consumption of the fish from this region may have the potential to cause future health problems including cancer; but the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe said: “Let me assure you, the situation is under control. There are no health-related problems until now, nor will there be in the future.”

Tuna and other fish from the region, however, have been found to contain levels of radiation that are being related to the 2011 tsunami destroying the Fukushima plant. In particular, radioactivity in bluefin tuna caught off the coast of California is increasing.

Isotopes that are considered to be dangerous for human consumption were released in the disaster and it is thought by Daniel Hirsh, a University of California nuclear-policy lecturer, that they are not being sufficiently monitored. He outlined that strontium 90 and plutonium 239 could be present in tuna caught in the Pacific Ocean and points to research that shows their potential in causing cancers.

Thomas Hinton, a US based radiation ecologist, explained that he sees no value in publishing such information that various studies have concluded. He said: “It would only cause an unwarranted increase in angst.” He  assured that radiation in tuna caught near California was “below levels that should cause concern.”

Sebastian Pflugbeil, a physicist in Germany who studied the health impacts of Fukushima, however, argued that radiation from Fukushima can still cause concerns even if it is lower than natural radiation and government ceilings.