Japanese inhabitants afraid of the radiation effects

A fishmonger working at Tsukiji market in Tokyo was interviewed by a NBC News reporter and the latter related that business has drastically decreased. The main reason was due to the tsunami and earthquake which thumped the northern Japan on the 11 of March.

Tsukiji is the biggest market in the world.  There are more than 400 different kind of seafood available daily at affordable price.  Yamamoto narrated that the market place was build after the destructive earthquake that hit Japan in 1923. It was the deadliest earthquake ever had since the latest one struck. This natural calamity 88 years ago caused 150,000 people dead and many homeless or missing.

Yamamoto is not anxious only about his business but mostly about the latest news.  The inhabitants are more concerned about the radiation leak from the nuclear power plant and sea water contamination.  This make people doubt about consumption of fish.  The government does not give specific information which makes the population more stressed.

On Tuesday 29 March the Japanese government finally admitted that security which has been placed to protect the nuclear plant were insufficient against this type of natural disaster.Besides, the latest news says that the seawater contains high level of radiations and its intensity keep on rising.  The population will not be at peace until the government finds a concrete solution to this matter.

 www.seawork.com.na

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/29/6369933-tokyo-fish-monger-fears-more-radiation-leaks-

http://www.indiablooms.com/VideoDetails/videoDetails310311j.php

A 60 years old bird in the U.S survives the tsunami.

In the north of America, a bird called Lysan albatross also known as the oldest bird has surprised scientists by surviving a destructive tsunami.  It was seen with its new baby at a refuge in the Pacific Islands a week after the tragedy.  

The massive tsunami killed about 2000 albatrosses and 110,000 baby birds in the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.  The totality population of the Laysan Albatross birds is estimated to be of 1 million.  Barry Stieglitz, a project leader said that the bird survival was by luck as such natural disaster is dangerous and fatale to many species.

As the bird is considered to be the oldest one, it provides the scientist useful information that no other albatrosses can.  It is estimated that the bird is of 60 years of age and have 35 kids.  The Laysan Albatross is among one of the 21 species of the largest aquatic birds on the Hawaiian Islands and of the North American coast.  

http://www.seawork.com.na

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42220011/ns/world_news-world_environment/

Analysis: Mercury from fish safe for cardiovascular patients.

On Wednesday 23th of March a new analysis revealed that the level of mercury from fish sources is not associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke or with a high risk of heart problems.  Scientists from different institutions such as (Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston) gathered information from 2 separate studies about men and women lifestyles, diseases incidences, medical histories and more than 173,000 responds were collected.

Researchers examine toenail clipping of 3500 cardiovascular patients and 3500 other people without the disease, both men and women. Afterward, they measured mercury and selenium concentrations in the toenail samples of the heart patients. The selenium shows to protect against the mercury poisoning. 

The conclusion was released in the New England Journal of Medicine that no proof were found in the study that mercury exposure can affect coronary heart disease patients. Fishes such as swordfish, tilefish and mackerel tend to stock up more methyl mercury. Thus the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recommended pregnant women, toddles, and nursing mothers to limit their consumption of these fishes and other seafood.  Fish is good for health as it contains omega-3 fatty acids and needs to be included in a meal twice a week for a balance diet.

http://www.seawork.com.na

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/651154.html

A Seafood Processor was fined $1.9 million for violation of laws and water pollution.

The UniSea incorporation in Seattle will pay a penalty fee of $1.9million for polluting the Dutch Harbor with toxic waste products.  “UniSea Incorporation agreed to pay the fine to clear up all allegations against the company”, said the U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler.

“This penalty fee is an important result with great effect for the Alaska State, as it will certainly pass a significant message for environment abuse.” said Kevin Feldis, the criminal division chief for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Anchorage.

“The company violated the law in of 2005 and in 2007 by polluting the clean surrounding water with its wastes products.  The UniSea discharges were not reported till mid-January 2008, approximately 13 months later”, said the government. Over a period of 3 years, the company released numerous polluted wastes such as dirty remains of fish solutions, tainted oil, propylene glycol and crabs leftovers.

To conclude the fine, UniSea needs to review the sea floor to determine the effects of the waste and ammonia discharges.  The Environmental Protection Agency will test and supervise before coming to a conclusion on how much cleaning will be necessary.

http://www.seawork.com.na

http://www.adn.com/2011/03/09/1745868/alaska-operated-seafood-plant.html