Environment

Fukushima radiation in Canada—but not Alaska

The Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power plant after a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 14, 2011 in Futaba, Japan.
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Although scientists recently discovered radioactive water off the coast of Canada, Alaska has apparently so far been spared any radiation from the Fukushima disaster.

Contaminated fish and water samples from the 2011 nuclear disaster have previously been recorded 100 miles off the coast of California, but a recent study found that radioactive elements had also washed across the Pacific to Canada's shores. Still, Alaskan officials told KTVA that they had not detected any similar issues in their own waters.

"It is important for us to monitor it, but at this point, with these levels that are so low, there is no threat to public health, or the fish or the marine mammals or the animals," State veterinarian Dr. Bob Gerlach said, according to KTVA.

Scientists are worried about the potential dangers of radioactive cesium-137 and cesium-134 from the nuclear meltdown. Some have predicted that the contaminates would peak in North American waters in 2016 before then receding back to today's levels.

Fukushima leak threat may be worse than expected
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Fukushima leak threat may be worse than expected

Read the full report from KTVA here.