Fukushima Radiation: Is It Still Safe To Eat Fish?

Since the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami crippled Japan?s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011, concerns about the flow of radioactive material into the ocean continue to raise questions. While some experts believe the radiation levels reaching the U.S. coast and Hawaii are too low to threaten human health or marine life, no U.S. government or international agency is actively monitoring radiation in these places.? In response, marine chemist Ken Buesseler, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts launched a new citizen science project to measure levels of radioactive cesium in water washing up along the West Coast. A recent study suggests the radioactive plume from Fukushima will reach U.S. coastal waters this year, peaking in 2016. While the oceans already contain naturally occurring radioactive chemical elements, the question remains whether or not Fukushima has increased radioactive particles in seafood beyond safe levels. Fears of highly radioactive seafood remain a concern for many. Recently, fish with levels of radiation deemed unsafe for food consumption were caught near the ravaged Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. The government-affiliated Fisheries Research Agency captured black sea bream fish that had 12,400 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium, a drastic leap from the maximum of 100 allowed in food, The Asahi Shimbun reports. The fish surrounding Japan are not the only examples of high radiation levels among marine life. ?Five months after the Fukushima disaster, a team from of Stony Brook University decided to test Pacific bluefin that were caught off the coast of San Diego. To their surprise, tissue samples from all 15 tuna captured contained levels of two radioactive substances ? ceisum-134 and cesium-137 ? that were higher than in previous catches. But even so, levels were still below safe-to-eat limits set by the U.S. and Japanese governments. Although, radiation on any level poses health risks. Ultimately, it is better to avoid eating large quantities of pacific caught fish and to stick to locally sourced, sustainable fish in moderation.

Wal-Mart Pays Penny-per-Pound More for Florida Tomatoes

Wal-Mart will soon be paying Florida tomato pickers a penny more for each pound harvested ? and plans to expand that to include other fresh produce sold by the chain.?The retailer signed an agreement on January 16th with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to pay the premium when Florida-based growers in the program switch tomato harvest to other states, sign longer-term purchase commitments with some Florida growers; fold the extra penny directly into Wal-Mart?s costs for Florida tomatoes; and eventually expand the program to other crops.?Through the initiative, growers pass the bonuses to workers as part of a traceable payment system the Fair Food Standards Council monitors. Although a penny a pound may not sound like much, it means that workers who are now paid 50 cents for a 32-pound basket will get 82 cents, and their wages can go from $50 to $90 dollars a day. As a result of this agreement, pressure will be placed on competing grocery giants to follow Walmart?s lead, which could very well lead to better wages for more workers.

Previously Undisclosed Documents Show Antibiotic Feed Additives Don?t Meet FDA’s Own Safety Standards

According to newly released documents, the Food and Drug Administration concluded years ago that several of the antibiotics farmers use on food animals were declared high risk for human health. The Natural Resources Defense Council acquired the documents through the Freedom of Information Act and published the findings on Monday. From 2001 to 2010, FDA scientists studied 30 different antibiotics that were approved decades ago, and called 18 of the drugs “high risk” because they could expose humans to antibiotic-resistant bacteria through the food supply. Since that time the FDA has ignored these findings, and continues to allow the use of drugs in animal feed that likely pose a ‘high risk’ to human health. The public health risks found by the FDA?s review of antibiotic feed additives are an indicator of a larger threat. The use of penicillins and tetracyclines on livestock poses a risk of breeding resistant bacteria and contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance. The FDA should therefore take the necessary steps to eliminate all non therapeutic uses of ?antibiotics.The FDA should also require improved reporting on livestock antibiotics. If the FDA fails to take action, Congress should step in to ensure that these essential medicines continue to be effective for humans for as long as possible.

N.Y. Communities Use Fracking Waste to De-Ice Roads

Despite the current moratorium on fracking in New York State, more than a dozen municipalities have received state approval to spread fracking water waste on their roads for de-icing purposes. Riverkeeper, an environmental group that focuses on the health of the Hudson River, warns that the liquid can move into watersheds, which has led nine other counties in the state to ban the practice.? The chemical makeup of the fluid remains a closely held industrial secret, leaving no one outside the industry to truly know what exactly is being sprayed on the roadways – but we can assure you, it is not good! The brine can pollute rivers, streams and aquifers if not controlled properly, and it contains high levels of chloride, benzene and toluene, all of which can cause health problems in humans. It can also contain naturally-occurring radioactive materials. And while chloride is contained in the road salt commonly used across the country, it is far more concentrated in fracking waste.