Wild monkeys living near Fukushima exhibit a dangerous level of radioactive caesium in their muscles, according to a report from a Japanese research team.

The monkeys also have lower blood cell counts than monkeys living farther from the radioactive area, indicating a possible link to radiation exposure.

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In a study published by Nature Scientific Report, a Japanese research team compared 61 Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) inhabiting the forests of Fukushima City with 31 macaques from Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture, 400 kilometers from Fukushima.

The team noticed extremely high doses of radioactivity in the muscles of Fukushima monkeys while Shimokita monkeys had levels below detection limits.

Test results showed the Fukushima monkeys had a total muscle caesium concentration ranging from 78 to 1,778 Bequerals per kilogram.

These monkeys were living 70 kilometers from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant where three nuclear reactors released a massive amount of radiation after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit Japan in March 2011.

Humans living in Fukushima, however, have shown no signs of the radiation effects. They are eating food sourced from different locations while the monkeys live on plants and insects from the area itself.

A Caesium isotope, Caesium 137, is one of the most dangerous isotopes emitted by nuclear accidents. The isotope can cause cancer.

The levels of caesium detected on the monkeys are not enough to cause radiation sickness and traces of cancer could be due to other factors, researchers said.

In addition, the irradiated monkeys also had low white and red blood cell counts. No signs of sickness were observed, but fewer blood cell counts could cause the monkeys to become more prone to infections and diseases.

The research studied the effects of long-term radiation exposure on the health of wild Japanese macaques. Data from the research could be used to further knowledge about the health effects of radiation on humans.

TagsFukushima monkeys, nature, Nature scientific report, Fukushima radiation