THE EFFECTS OF
NUCLEAR FALLOUT
ON DIVERSE GROUPS OF BIOTA
DELTA FORCE
India Williams-Valle
Jorge Reyes
UNIV 112
April 3, 2015

INTRODUCTION
In today’s day and age of media, it is easy for society to become desensitized to serious
issues. Especially in cases of science fiction, so much fictional imagery makes it difficult to filter
out the truth. With so many media portrayals of disasters such as nuclear explosions, atomic
bombings, and genetic mutations, how can we be aware of the realities of these incidents?
Especially with most of these mass media portrayals coming out of Hollywood, and being
consumed by Americans, our own distance from where the real incidents have taken place only
contributes further to our skewed perception. Prompted by our in-class reading of Radioactive by
Lauren Redniss, our group, Delta Force, has chosen to investigate and report the actual effects of
genetic mutation resulting from radioactive disasters on humans, plants, and animals.
The effect of radioactivity is directly to the experiences of Marie Curie documented in
Radioactive. In one section, there is an anecdote about a girl named Sadae Kasaoka, a survivor of
the atomic bombings on Hiroshima. She documented her experience, which included witnessing
her father’s burning black and bloodied skin. The final part of this anecdote made a statement
about how both Marie Curie’s actions, and the existence of radium itself, highly impacted – and
ended – so many lives. Obviously, Marie had not, and never would have met Sadae or any of the
other victims of the bombing; it happened in a different part in the world than she was located
Regardless, an incident like this opens one’s eyes to so many people are being affected by
incidents we may have no idea of at all. In addition, it also highlights the responsibility we have
to be aware of the impact of dangerous materials, and also to not allow ourselves to become
desensitized to the effects the things we do have on the world around us.
Expanding on this, each member of Delta Force explored the effects of genetic mutation
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resulting from radioactivity on general subgroups, and will report their findings below.
First, we
will explore the effects of radioactivity on various plant life within contaminated ecosystems.
Next, we will discuss the effects of genetic mutation of animals, debunking incorrect media
portrayals, and bringing light to the real negative impacts radioactive contamination has on
animal ecosystems. Finally, we will explore the effects of radioactive incidents on the human
population, discussing both physical and psychological effects that both nuclear incidents and the
following mutations have had on human populations.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF RADIOACTIVTY ON PLANT LIFE? [Jorge Reyes]
Ever since the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster of 1986 the usage of nuclear energy and the effects of
radiation have been a topic of great public discussion. It is important to note though that
radiation is something that’s relatively new to the fields of biochemistry and an abundance of
information is unfortunately not at our disposal. The radioactive fallout that occurred in
Fukushima in 2011 however is becoming the focus of all researchers interested in the matter.
Since rarely do accidents of this grandeur happen we do not yet know how much these
radioactive chemicals can affect our environment, our ecosystem, and our health. Before
exploring this it’s imperative to understand what radioactivity is and how radiation
works. Radioactivity refers to when then the nucleus of an unstable atom spontaneously emits
ionizing radiation. The radiation is composed of particles that have been ejected from the nucleus
and energy, this release of radiation is known as radioactive decay.
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When Cesium-137, a common highly radioactive isotope, decays it emits gamma rays,
which is a type of radiation, this gamma radiation can break bonds in DNA which alters the
DNA structure to prevent regular cell functioning, leading to various genetic problems and
diseases such as cancer. In the Daily Yomiuri article regarding the effects of radioactive cesium
isotopes, the author states that “Cs-137 is an international indicator for radioactive
contamination” which is due to it’s abundant levels in nuclear reactor fallout, and how readily
biota and other radioactive indicators absorb it (From Square One). The abundance of this
radioactive isotope has only increased in the past years, the levels of it in the coasts of Japan
were 10,000 times higher in 2011 than in 2010, due to the fallout that occurred the same year.
(Buesseler 9931) The release of radioactive substances into the ocean is a relatively concerning
occurrence since researches still don’t know to what extent the fallout will affect marine life and
the well-being of the environment long term. Because of underwater currents the Cesium and
other radioactive substances that were released in the incident have been able to flow into other
coasts of the world. On March 27, a few days after the fallout it was reported that Iodine-131, a
radioactive isotope that is hazardous if consumed by humans, was found in the rainwater
samples of Massachusetts, and are thought to have originated from Fukushima due to
atmospheric fallout. If ingested by humans it increases the likelihood of thyroid complications
and in some cases radiogenic thyroid cancer. The increased amount of Iodine-131 in the waters
of Fukushima is a serious issue because it has been noted that the brown seaweed that is caught
and consumed abundantly in the Japanese diet is also highly absorbent of Iodine-131. (Buesseler
9934) Although it has a half life of 8 days this is still an issue because seaweed is eaten raw and
fresh and may cause an incline in thyroid cancer in Fukushima if they regularly eat contaminated
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seaweed. Contaminated soil also affects the specimen that interact with it. “It is possible
that the boar consumed radioactive materials directly through soil and food. The earthworms
were also highly contaminated with radioactivity...” (Ishida, 128). This affects not only the
animals but also us, besides the risk of eating contaminated produce or game it may also cause
some animals to no longer be hunted because of their radiation, this would increase the
population of these animals and cause an overpopulation of said animal, drastically affecting the
ecosystem and the economy.
Scientist studying the effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986 grew flax seeds in
contaminated and controlled soil to see how the radiation affected their growth. Scientist were
astounded to see that the flax growing in the contaminated area actually grew. When analyzing
their DNA they found that there had been an alteration in the DNA structure. They recorded the
growth of the the seeds and when compared to the control they found that there was a decline in
the germination percentage of the seeds. (Klubicová, 6942) Its relevant to note how this change
in structure because we it’s an example on how radiation affects the way that your RNA
transcribes the DNA, this interference can cause there to be gaps in the structure, this can lead to
various health complications on animals and humans, in some cases it may lead to cancer.
Researchers also found that there were two glycolytic, relating to glucose and metabolism,
enzymes that were much more abundant in seeds that were exposed to radiation. This imbalance
in their glycolytic flux, or the amount of sugar means that they have a large likelihood to have an
irregular metabolism which would affect their capability to get all the nutrients necessary for
sustainability and are more likely to die out. (Klubicová, 6942)
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We are only starting to understand how nuclear fallout affects not only humans but also
ecosystems, although most evidence is not sufficient to explain exactly how nuclear exposure
can affect biota. As time passes hopefully Fukushima will become like Chernobyl a great source
of information and discovery but the event only happened four years ago and some of the
isotopes have half lives that are a lot longer than that, Cesium for instance has a half life of 30
years, so the largest effects of radioactive isotopes have probably yet to be seen. Also since it’s
such a diverse coastal environment we can explore it’s effects on marine biology, something we
couldn’t really do with Chernobyl.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF RADIOACTIVITY ON ANIMALS?
[India Williams-Valle]
Movies in recent media such as Chernobyl Diaries, released in 2012, portray the
aftermath of radioactive disasters as being a wasteland for violently mutated creatures to reside.
Even dating back to Godzilla in 1954, the media has always portrayed these genetically mutated
“monsters” as threats to human existence. Often the story starts with humans going about their
daily life, then suddenly, some sort of beast that survived a nuclear disaster emerges and causes
havoc among the human race. Unsurprisingly, this Hollywood portrayal of these antagonistic
animals deeply subverts the reality of these nuclear disasters. It is in fact, the animals themselves
that become some of the largest victims of incidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, the area became a virtual dead zone, brimming
with radioactive waste. As time passed, however, the areas cooled down and was able to be
investigated. Humans could no longer safely inhabit the area. Animals, however, are more
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adaptive, and, coupled with the fact that they had no other place to go, the species native
to that area returned. Of course, all was not without its negative outcome. According to Anders
Pape Møller and Timothy A. Mousseau, two Chernobyl researchers, animals can be exposed to
radiation in several ways. Animals can become exposed simply from even breathing radioactive
dust present in the air, where radionuclides can enter the respiratory system (Biological
Consequences 202). On that same note, exposure by ingestion is the other major pathway for
exposure for animals (202). Swallowing radionuclides puts “internal organs and tissues” at risk,
as well as the “bones, teeth [and] liver” (202). The tragedy of these facts is that this exposure is
unavoidable. With nowhere else to go, these animals, still willing to attempt survival, suffer
through the conditions present in areas such as Chernobyl and Fukushima.
Exposure is the only the first part though. The physical effects that this exposure has on
these species is even more alarming. In this chart published in the scientific journal, Biological
consequences of Chernobyl: 20 years on by Anders Pape Møller and Timothy A. Mousseau, the
different physical effects found in species residing around Chernobyl are documented:
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From this data, it is evident that most mutations actually occur in small animals such as mice,
fish, birds, and insects (Biological Consequences 200). This contrasts most popular thought on
mutated animals, which include ravenous bears, wolves, and other amalgamations of creatures.
However, despite how small these animals seem, the impact of their health problems on the
ecosystem of the area is huge. Radioactive contamination is said to affect the abundance
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of animals in certain areas (Differences 78). According to Møller, radioactive
contamination may have direct “chemical toxic effects on animals produce consequences or
survival and reproduction” (80). Male species living in contaminated areas have shown “a failure
to produce sperm,” while females have shown reproductive failure as well (80). This disparity
among the reproductive rate is a concern amongst scientists, as they are hypothesizing the
eradication of several species of animals. Of course, with the eradication of one species comes
the overabundance of another. However, it doesn’t end there. Species who remain in the
contaminated zone for a long time are just as much at risk. Moller states that long-lasting
exposure could lead to “the accumulation of mutations across generations” (77).
Despite just how active these mutations are happening to animal populations, large
influential outlets are still downplaying the effects of genetic mutations on wild life. In April
2014, the UN submitted a report stating that life inside the Fukushima Dead Zone had not been
seriously affected by genetic mutation (Lloyd). This enraged scientists who have studied the
area. According to Professor Mousseau, who, as previously mentioned, has extensively studied
the animal and plant life of Chernobyl and Fukushima, the animal populations in Fukushima are
far from alright. He and his colleagues have discovered findings such as “mysterious white
patches on barn swallows and domestic cows,” similar to the cases of albinism found in birds
near Chernobyl (Lloyd).
This disregard from such a high authority for the health effects of disasters shows how
easy it is for the media to skew information. In the example of the UN, releasing information
about the welfare of contaminated animals could have an effect on their reputation. On the other
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hand, media portrayals of inaccurately mutated animals only downplay the suffering of the actual
affected animals. It is this unawareness of the public that only turns these potentially short-term
problems into long term ones.
CONCLUSION
To reiterate, humans, plants, and animals have all been adversely affected by nuclear
disasters, resulting in horrible genetic results. Plants contaminated by radioactivity can contain
cancer-causing cells that can be consumed by both humans and animals. Animals as well have
been affected by radioactivity, resulting in disrupted ecosystems that rewrite food chains.
Humans are the most complex of all, being both physically and psychologically affected by the
incidents themselves, and the following health effects. This topic is relevant because there is a
large population in contemporary society that is unaware of these facts. These unnatural
disruptions need to be brought to light if there are going to be changes made. The only way
society will be able to learn from mistakes such as Chernobyl and Fukushima, or prevent
occurrences such as the Atomic Bombing on Japan is to be fully aware of how much of an
impact these events have on all walks of life, whether they are close to home or not .
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ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Buesseler, Ken, Michio Aoyama, and Masao Fukasawa. “Impacts of the Fukushima Nuclear
Power Plants on Marine Radioactivity.” Environmental Science & Technology 45.23
(2011): 9931–9935. CrossRef. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.
The source was found using the Google search engine using the search terms
“fukushima” and “radiocesium”. [Jorge Reyes Faberllé]
Gralla, Fabienne et al. “The Impact of Nuclear Accidents on Provisioning Ecosystem Services.”
Ecological Indicators 41 (2014): 1–14. CrossRef. Web. 30 Mar. 2015.
The source was found using the VCU Libraries (Journal Search) using the search terms
“nuclear” and “ecosystem”. [Jorge Reyes Faberllé]
Gralla, Fabienne, David Abson, Anders Møller and Daniel Lang. “The Impact of Nuclear
Accidents on Provisioning Ecosystem Services.” Ecological Indicators 41 (2014): 1–14.
CrossRef. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.
This journal article was found using a VCU Libraries (Journal Search), using the search
terms “Fukushima” and “ecosystem” and limiting results to peer-reviewed journals.
[Jorge Reyes Faberllé]
Ishida, Ken. “Contamination of Wild Animals: Effects on Wildlife in High Radioactivity Areas
of the Agricultural and Forest Landscape.” Agricultural Implications of the Fukushima
Nuclear Accident. (2013): 119-129. Print.
The source was found using VCU Libraries (Journal Search) using the search terms
“radioactivity” and “ecosystem” and limiting results to books. [Jorge Reyes Faberllé]
Johnson, Rebecca L. Chernobyl's Wild Kingdom: Life in the Dead Zone. Connecticut: TwentyFirst Century, 2014. Print.
This published book was fouding using VCU Libraries (Book Search), using the search
terms “Chernobyl animals.” [India Williams-Valle]
Klubicová, Katarina. “Proteomics Analysis of Flax Grown in Chernobyl Area Suggests Limited
Effect of Contaminated Environment of Seed Proteome” Enviorn. Sci. Technol. (2010)
44, 6940-6946. Web. 23 Mar. 2015
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The source was found using the Google search engine using the search terms “chernobyl”
and “ecosystem”. [Jorge Reyes Faberllé]
Møller, Anders Pape et al. “Biological consequences of Chernobyl: 20 years on” Trends in
Ecology & Evolution, Volume 21, Issue 4, April 2006, Pages 200-207. Google Scholar.
Web. 3 March 2015
This journal was found using the Google Scholar database using the search terms
Chernobyl animal mutation.” [India Williams-Valle]
Møller, Anders Pape, Isao Nishiumi, Hiroyoshi Suzuki, Keisuke Ueda, and Timothy A.
Mousseau. "Differences in Effects of Radiation on Abundance of Animals in Fukushima
and Chernobyl." Ecological Indicators 24 (2013): 75-81. Web. 10 March 2015
This journal article was found using VCU Libraries (Journal Search), using the search
terms “radioactive mutation animals.” [India Williams-Valle]
"UN 'wilfully ignoring' Fukushima wildlife mutations." The Times (London). (August 23, 2014
Saturday ): 461 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2015/04/03.
This article was found using the LexisNexis Academic database, using the search terns
“radioactive animal mutations”
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