Mutated Butterflies Affected by Fukushima Nuclear Plant Raises Concern about Ecosystem

The effects of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which was damaged during the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, might have been found with the discovery of mutated butterflies.

Scientists announced Tuesday that genetic mutation has been found in three generations of butterflies near the nuclear plant. They stated about 12 percent of 144 pale grass blue butterflies were immediately exposed to the nuclear fallout.

Some of the abnormalities of the butterflies include smaller wings and damaged eyes.

Ryukyu University's Associate Professor Joji Otaki stated an experiment was made in breeding the butterflies outside of the nuclear plant's fallout zone and up to 18 percent of the butterflies displayed similar abnormalities.

Last September, the scientists conducted the study again collecting another 240 butterflies within Fukushima, six months after the earthquake-tsunami disaster occurred. According to Otaki, 52 percent of the butterflies had abnormalities.

"We have reached the firm conclusion that radiation released from the Fukushima Daiichi plant damaged the genes of the butterflies," Otaki said. "Since we've seen these effects on butterflies, it's easy to imagine that it would also have affected other species as well."

The findings have caused fears that other species around Fukushima may have been affected following March 2011, but Otaki notes that he doesn't want such conclusions to start until similar tests are run on other animals but admits that it is "pretty clear" there's been an impact with the ecosystem.

According to RedOrbit, the University of South Carolina's biologist Tim Mousseau said the findings are both an important yet overwhelming for both biological and human communities.

"These observations of mutations and morphological abnormalities can only be explained as having resulted from exposure to radioactive contaminants, "said Mousseau, who previously studied the impacts of radiation on animals and plants in Fukushima and Chernobyl, Ukraine.

Results of the study were published in online research journal Scientific Reports.