Scientist Testing Sick Alaskan Seals for Radiation
FYI -
Here is the link to an article about scientists testing sick Alaskan seals for radiation from the Fukushima accident. Results from the testing will not be available for several weeks:
news.yahoo.com/scientists-test-sick-alaska-seals-radiation-003224466.html
T.O. Mom
> All, > > We have just
> All,
>
> We have just posted an update on our website with preliminary results of radiation testing, which indicates radiation is likely NOT a factor in this disease.
>
> Website for more information: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seals/ice/diseased/de...
>
> Radiation testing results: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seals/ice/diseased/um...
>
> Thank you for your continued interest.
>
> --
> Julie Speegle
> Public Affairs Officer
> NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service
> Alaska Region
> P.O. Box 21668
> 709 West 9th Street
> Juneau, AK 99802-1668
Hello, Julie: Good to get an
Hello, Julie:
Good to get an update, thanks very much, as I have been wondering about the results. However, I cannot find the actual radiation testing results via those links. Are they publicly available? I would be interested in what typical "background" radiation in Alaska is, and how that relates to the animal tests?
As we know, internal radiation exposure is different from external exposure. If these mammals ate radioactively contaminated fish, they would bio-accummulate radiation. What animal parts were tested--muscle tissue, organs?
Thanks again for keeping us updated. At the west coast of Canada (Vancouver Island), deceased sea mammals were also found, and I'm not aware of any Canadian testing. So it's good to know Alaska does the research. Hopefully, you will have the means and support to reach conclusive results.
no test results have been made public For radiation/
? Does govt testing take an extremely long time?private testing for radiation takes one to two weeks . Brawm team have you heard anything on this situation?
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/feb12/120215d.asp
The investigation into a fatal disease among ringed seals in the Arctic and Bering Strait regions of Alaska has intensified following a federal agency's determination the outbreak constitutes an "unusual mortality event."
The decision by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this past December means additional resources will be dedicated to identifying what's behind the illnesses and deaths of more than 100 seals since the summer (see JAVMA, Dec. 15, 2011, page 1524). As of press time in January, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service had not determined whether it would declare the outbreak an unusual event.
More than 60 dead and 75 diseased seals, mostly ringed seals, have been reported in Alaska since July 2011, with reports continuing to come in. USFWS scientists have also identified diseased and dead walruses along Point Lay in northwest Alaska.
Federal law authorizes the allocation of additional personnel, finances, and other resources in response to incidents involving unusually high mortality rates among marine mammals. Fifty-five unusual mortality events have been formally recognized in U.S. waters since the program was started in 1991.
Seals and walruses suffering from the mystery disease develop skin sores, usually on the hind flippers or face, and patchy hair loss. Some of the diseased mammals have labored breathing and appear lethargic.
Scientists have not yet identified a single cause for this disease, although tests indicate a virus is not the cause.
At necropsy, most of the affected animals have had skin lesions as well as fluid in the lungs, white spots on the liver, and abnormal growths in the brain. Some seals and walruses have undersized lymph nodes, which may indicate compromised immune systems.
Testing continues for a wide range of possible factors that may be responsible for the animals' condition, including immune system–related diseases, fungi, man-made toxins and biotoxins, radiation exposure, contaminants, and stressors related to sea ice change.
Similar signs have been reported in walruses in Russia and ringed seals in Russia and Canada. Although it is not clear whether these other disease events are related to those in Alaska, the timing and location of the disease incidents suggest the possibility of transmission between the populations, or shared exposure to an environmental cause.
Numerous government agencies and other organizations are involved in the investigation, which, according to NOAA, may require months or even years of data collection and analyses.
Seals and others mystery illness makes top ten stories of 2011
http://www.thearcticsounder.com/article/1152bakers_win_leads_top_10_stor...
9. Seal deaths stump scientists
Scientists are still stumped as to what is causing ringed seals and walruses in Northwest Alaska to be afflicted with lesions, become lethargic, and in many cases, die. On Tuesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced it had declared the die-off an "unusual mortality event," opening the door to more study and investigation into the cause.
"Alaska coastal communities depend on ringed seals for food," said Julie Speegle, a NOAA public affairs officer. "There has been a great deal of concern about this event."
Samples taken from the seals were sent off for testing to numerous laboratories last fall, but screening for 18 known pathogens has come back negative, scientists reported during a teleconference on the topic. While no reports of the affliction passing to humans or pets have been reported, hunters are being advised to use traditional and customary safe handling practices and fully cook all meat as well as wash hands and bleach equipment that may have come in contact with a diseased animal.
According to a release, testing is continuing on the animals looking at numerous factors that may be responsible for the seal affliction. Everything from stressors relating to sea ice changes to radiation exposure and immune-system diseases are being considered, the report said.
Since mid-July, some 60 dead and 75 diseased seals have been reported in Alaska. Reports continue to come in from the Bering Straight region as harvesting continues in that area. In addition, skin lesions have been seen on walruses near Point Lay, where a haul-out of some 20,000 animals was studied this fall. Scientists studying the walruses, however, reported relatively low mortality rates, despite observing many animals with the lesions.
Necropsies and lab tests have found lesions, fluid in the lungs white spots on the liver and abnormal brain growths, the release said. Some animals were found with smaller-than-usual lymph nodes, which could indicate that the animal's immune system was compromised.
The abnormal lesions do not appear to be isolated to Alaska. Seals and walruses in Canada and Russia have also been noted with similar symptoms.
"While it is not clear if the disease events are related, the timing and location of the disease suggests the possibility of transmission between the populations, or shared exposure to an environmental cause," the release said.
A working group has been formed to study the event, and last week recommend- ed to NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Service that the agencies declare an unusual mortality event. The Fish and Wildlife Service had not immediately made such a declaration, though one was expected, Speegle said.
Your mileage may vary...
Here is the link to an article about scientists testing sick Alaskan seals for radiation from the Fukushima accident. Results from the testing will not be available for several weeks:
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Since the results won't be ready for several weeks, I guess it's time to get some "anti-nuclear mileage" now instead of waiting for the actual results..
NEI shill spindoctor
Since the results won't be ready for several weeks, I guess it's time to get some "anti-nuclear mileage" now instead of waiting for the actual results..
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http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2011/12/note-to-reporters-be-sure-to...
"While we haven't seen the article as of yet and can't comment on it, our readers should know that reliable third parties have reviewed the work of all three authors in the past and found it to be fatally flawed."
Here's a good example of "His
Here's a good example of "His Shillness" right here....
You have to jump into every stinkin' thread to throw that "anti nuke" thing around, don't you? Even an interesting posting about the testing of Alaskan seals. The OP merely posted a link... no pro or anti commentary.
Why don't you stop harassing this forum?
Or, if you must continue, man up, will ya? Stop hiding behind "anonymous" since you are so obviously an industry man.
So be honest about who you are.
His Shillness -
Thanks for trying to call him out.
Unfortunately, sock puppets never expose their true identity. It would be nice if he'd stuff his rhetoric back from whence it originates, or if, just once, he had something productive to offer.
Dave
Thanks Dave. I know you are
Thanks Dave. I know you are correct, and I'm tilting at windmills, but the guy is a forum bully.
Perhaps BRAWM should require people who post over XX amount (to be determined) to provide identity, and it becomes an auto signature. There are lots of good forums that have that feature.
This guy spends an inordinate amount of time refuting - usually with standard propaganda - even months old posts, and then he often follows up his post by dysfunctionally pretending to be other people, applauding his comments. It's very weird.
He's either a psych case or paid to do this.
Or he works at / for Berkeley?
Down on their knees...
There are few who enjoy bashing the nuclear power industry more than me ... but you're right ... let's see how these tests turn out.
Bet there are some people involved in that Alaskan seafood industry who are down on their knees right now praying to their maker that those results come back negative for radiation...