Scientists unaware of effect of radiation on marine organisms

Chennai:

Scientists are unaware of the effect of radiation on marine organisms and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research  (IGCAR) is currently studying the effects of nuclear reactors in Kalpakkam on the nutrient dynamics in seawater, according to a nuclear expert.

L V Krishnan, former director of safety research and health physics at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research at Kalpakkam said that while there is nothing substantial that radioactive isotopes released will affect the fish but it is understood that the isotopes do get deposited at the sediments and can pose a threat to the organisms living in the sediment.

He was reacting to a query on what effect the elevated levels of radioactive isotopes, including cesium 137 and Iodine131, will have on the marine organisms in Japan after Iodine131 concentrations near the Fukushima nuclear plant fluctuated to 3,355 times the legal limit for seawater recently.

While the half-life of Iodine131 is only eight days, cesium takes about 30 years to decay, he added.

He also said the use of marine water to cool the Fukushima reactor in Japan was unwarranted but then the nuclear scientists there did not have any other alternative. “Sea water should not be used as a coolant but since they did not have fresh water after the tsunami, they were left with few alternatives. However, this is quite dangerous as salt from the sea water gets deposited besides it will cause cracks in the stainless steel chamber of the reactor,” Krishnan added.

He said Manavalakurichi near Kanyakumari has the highest radiation according to data reported from select locations in India. It has recorded 448 nanogray per hour of natural radiation while the Indian average dose rate is 88 ngy/hour and the world’ average dose rate is 97ngy/hour, he added. The cord blood cells of the people were studied and it was found out that it did not make much difference.

He also said the Indian scientists are learning from the experiences of other nations and improving the safety mechanism to protect the reactors from natural disasters