Biologist on Mutated Butterflies: Study is overwhelming in its implications for humans

Biologist on Mutated Butterflies: Study is overwhelming in its implications for humans — Japan Researcher: Insects were believed to be very resistant to radiation — Irregularly developed eyes, malformed antennae, much smaller wings (PHOTO)

Published: August 13th, 2012 at 3:46 pm ET By ENENews  Email Article

Title: ‘Severe abnormalities’ found in Fukushima butterflies Source:  BBC News Author: Nick Crumpton Date: August 13, 2012 Exposure to radioactive material released into the environment have caused mutations in butterflies found in Japan, a study suggests.  Scientists found an increase in leg, antennae and wing shape mutations among butterflies collected following the 2011 Fukushima accident. The link between the mutations and the radioactive material was shown by laboratory experiments, they report. [...] the team found that areas with greater amounts of radiation in the environment were home to butterflies with much smaller wings and irregularly developed eyes. [...] Six months later, they again collected adults from the 10 sites and found that butterflies from the Fukushima area showed a mutation rate more than double that of those found sooner after the accident. [...] the findings from their new research show that the radionuclides released from the accident were still affecting the development of the animals, even after the residual radiation in the environment had decayed. [...] Lead researcher Joji Otaki from the University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa “It has been believed that insects are very resistant to radiation” “In that sense, our results were unexpected” “[Because] this butterfly is found in artificial environments – such as gardens and public parks – this butterfly can monitor human environments” University of South Carolina biologist Tim Mousseau, who studies the impacts of radiation on animals and plants in Chernobyl and Fukushima, but was not involved in this research “This study is important and overwhelming in its implications for both the human and biological communities living in Fukushima” “These observations of mutations and morphological abnormalities can only be explained as having resulted from exposure to radioactive contaminants” See also: Comparison image shows severe mutation of Japan butterfly's stump-like wings (PHOTO) -- Reporter: "Scary" that humans could be affected by mutations too Published: August 13th, 2012 at 3:46 pm ET By ENENews  Email Article 26 comments Like ENENews on Facebook Follow ENENews on Twitter Subscribe to the ENENews RSS Feed Sign up for daily email updates Related Posts Japan Times: Study finds ‘abnormalities’ in 52% of second generation offspring from butterflies collected May 2011 — Unusually small wings, premature death August 12, 2012 Comparison image shows severe mutation of Japan butterfly’s stump-like wings (PHOTO) — Reporter: “Scary” that humans could be affected by mutations too August 14, 2012 Study: Significant decrease in abundance of Fukushima birds and butterflies as radiation levels increase -NYT July 12, 2012 Time: A positive way to spin mutant butterflies found near Fukushima August 18, 2012 More images of deformed butterflies after Fukushima — Wings folded over, rumpled, much different sizes (PHOTOS) September 21, 2012