Study finds changes in blood of monkeys 70 km from Fukushima plant — ‘Epidemic infectious disease’ could occur — “We cannot find other reasons except radiation” — Effects on neurological development discovered in other mammals — “Potential direct relevance to the human population”

– Study finds changes in blood of monkeys 70 km from Fukushima plant — ‘Epidemic infectious disease’ could occur — “We cannot find other reasons except radiation” — Effects on neurological development discovered in other mammals — “Potential direct relevance to the human population” (ENENews, July 27, 2014):

Scientific Reports (Nature.com), July 24, 2014: In April 2012 we carried out a 1-year hematological study on a population of wild Japanese monkeys inhabiting the forest area of Fukushima City. This area is located 70 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant […] Total muscle cesium concentration in Fukushima monkeys was in the range of 78-1778 Bq/kg, whereas the level of cesium was below the detection limit in all [monkeys from 400 km away.] Fukushima monkeys had significantly low white and red blood cell counts, hemoglobin, and hematocrit […] These results suggest that the exposure to some form of radioactive material contributed to hematological changes in Fukushima monkeys. […] low hematological values in Fukushima monkeys could have […] been due to the effect of other radioactive materials. […] The hematological changes in the Fukushima monkeys might likely be the result of exposure to some form of radioactive material, but only radiocesium concentration was measured in this study. […] We therefore plan to investigate in a future study the underlying mechanism in detail with the aim of detecting other radioactive materials, such as 90Sr. […]

Shin-ichi Hayama1, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, July 24, 2014: “The low haematological values in the Fukushima monkeys could have therefore been due to the effect of any radioactive materials… We did not conclude the low-blood cell counts are caused by caesium but so far we cannot find other reasons except radiation.”

The Australian, Higher Education Reporter John Ross, July 25, 2014: Reality apes movie for Fukushima monkeys — In the latest Planet of the Apes movie, a virus created in a lab pushes primate evolution into overdrive while morphing into a simian flu that wipes out most of the human race. Scientists monitoring the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown may be witnessing something similar in real life. Japanese researchers have discovered that wild monkeys in nearby mountains have lower blood cell counts [and] particularly low white blood cell levels in juvenile Fukushima monkeys […] “Low blood cell count … may suggest that the immune system has been compromised, potentially making the entire troop susceptible to, for ­example, epidemic infectious disease.” The study suggests strongly that the blood changes are the result of nuclear contamination… corresponding to contamination levels in the soil.

Fox News, July 25, 2014: “The findings are consistent with what our group had found with red blood cells and hemoglobin content for children living around Chernobyl,” said Tim Mousseau, a biologist at University of South Carolina, who wasn’t involved with the study. […] “The fact that they are seeing a signal in monkeys living in Fukushima city means that there’s some potential direct relevance to the human population,” Mousseau told Live Science. […] In Fukushima, researchers have so far seen significant abnormalities in butterflies and strong effects on bird populations following the leaked radioactive material.

Dr. Timothy Mousseau, Professor of Biological Sciences at the Univ. of South Carolina, July 10, 2014: Fukushima released enormous quantities of radioactive elements […] with approximately […] 15,000 km2 land area significantly contaminated […] Key results published in 2013-14 include […] impacts on biodiversity in Fukushima […] we have recently discovered effects on neurological development in small mammals […] birds, butterflies, and cicadas showed significant declines [in abundance] during the first summer following the accident. […] In Fukushima, the first signs of developmental abnormalities have been observed in birds in 2013 […] these findings clearly demonstrate landscape-scale individual, population and ecosystem consequences […] with many examples of developmental abnormalities and deformities that likely contribute to the depressed abundances and biodiversity seen in radioactive parts of the Chernobyl and Fukushima regions.

See also: SNL mocks Fukushima — Shows radioactive monkeys replacing Godzilla (VIDEO)