New Delhi: When the US dropped the two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the end of World War II, it changed the dimension of wars on this planet forever. It was the first time nuclear weapons were used in the battle of human history and simply gave us a hint of what was going to come in subsequent years. While nuclear powers have several positive benefits, the testing of weapons has increased in the world, impacting the environment. But as is the way of nature, it always adapts itself according to the needs of the time.
Animals which are radioactive
Due to the constant nuclear testing by human beings, there are certain creatures on Earth which have become radioactive. Here, we take a look at those animals.
Sea turtles, Enewetak Atoll
The United States used the Enewetak Atoll, a large coral atoll of 40 islands in the Pacific Ocean, to test nuclear weapons. From 1948 to 1958, the US tested nuclear weapons there and began to clean the place of radioactive waste in 1977. According to the researchers, it disturbed contaminated sediments that had settled in the lagoon there which the turtles swallowed while swimming. Or it would have affected the seaweed and algae that they eat. As a result, the turtles became radioactive.
Wild Boars, Germany
Researchers believed that the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant that took place on April 26, 1986, spread contamination into the upper atmosphere which made some wild boars radioactive in Bavaria’s forests in Germany. Later, it was found that global nuclear testing resulted in most of the contamination and Chernobyl was ruled out as the source. The truffles absorbed radiation from nuclear fallout and the boars became contaminated by eating them.
Reindeer, Norway
During the Chernobyl disaster, it sent fallout across Europe and Norway got much of it through rain. Lichens and mushrooms absorbed them and they were eaten in turn by reindeer. After the accident, some reindeer’s meat had radiation levels of more than 100,000 becquerels per kilogram but since then, it has come down below the European safety standard.
Macaques, Japan
In Japan, after the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, the Japanese macaques had a concentration of caesium at a maximum of 13,500 becquerels per kilogram. The bark and buds on local trees, the bamboo shoots and mushrooms absorbed the caesium, which the macaques ate.
These animals are not likely to be threats to humans. While Fukushima macaques are not consumed and sea turtles contain very little radiation, Norwegian reindeer and Bavarian boars are monitored to ensure that people do not eat unsafe meat.
Due to the constant nuclear testing by human beings, there are certain creatures on Earth which have become radioactive. Like the Sea turtles at Enewetak Atoll and Wild Boars in Germany. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
