May 29, 2012 – It's not quite Godzilla, but it's still a little unsettling. Pacific bluefin tuna caught off the coast of California have shown an increase in radioactive contamination picked up from the Fukushima nuclear disaster after migrating through Japanese waters.
A study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported the tuna showed elevated levels of radioactive cesium. As a control, scientists examined yellowfin tuna, which reside in the eastern pacific, and found no difference in their pre- or post-Fukushima concentrations.
Cesium-134 has a two-year half-life, which means its presence can be directly attributed to Fukushima. The measured concentrations, 10 times higher than pre-accident specimens, is still reportedly safe to eat. But scientists are encouraging other migratory species be studied to learn more about the contamination's transport.