Changes in confirmed plus borderline cases of congenital hypothyroidism in California as a function of environmental fallout from the Fukushima nuclear meltdown
"The findings support research that the fetal thyroid gland is particularly vulnerable to adverse health effects from radiation exposure. The fetal thyroid, the first glandular structure to appear in the human embryo [20] begins to concentrate iodine and produce thyroid hormones by the 70th day of gestation. Proper brain development is dependent upon adequate thyroid function [21].End of excerpt
This report addressed doses to California fetuses from the meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant. While official US government data includes a limited number of measurements of radioactive iodine concentrations in air, water, or other environmental media, most of the highest levels were found in the western US. Our use of gross beta concentrations in air is less specific, as gross beta includes multiple beta-emitting radioactive chemicals, not just iodine, but also Cesium-137 and other radioisotopes. Our finding that the actual vs. expected ratio in California airborne beta in the month after Fukushima fallout arrived were over four times greater than in non-western sites (10.53 vs. 2.55 times above the expected) supports the understanding that the western and Pacific US received the greatest exposures, raising risk of subsequent adverse health effects. Measuring deciduous teeth for concentrations of Strontium-90, taken up late in pregnancy and after birth, is used to measure exposure. Studies of Sr-90 from atom bomb test fallout, the Chernobyl meltdown, and near reactors in the US and UK have provided valuable data on actual doses to humans [22-28].
More studies on potential adverse health effects to the thyroid gland, in areas proximate to and far from the Fukushima plant, are urgently needed. Japan’s Fukushima Medical College is tracking local children under age 18. The project has already documented the presence of a thyroid nodule or cyst in 43.6% of 94,426 of these children [29]. It has also diagnosed 44 thyroid cancer cases since March 2011 out of 178,000 children 0 - 18 tested an annual rate of over 12 cases per 100,000 persons vs. an expected annual rate based on the analysis of the Japan Cancer Surveillance Group of 0.15 per 100,000 in 2005 [30]. This is a remarkably high Standardised Incidence Ratio of 80. More suspected child cancers have not yet been confirmed [31].
Studies should not be limited to the Fukushima area because doses in distant locations may be lower. Fallout from the meltdown crossed the Pacific Ocean and reached the US west coast in five [5] days, eventually circling the entire northern hemisphere. Thus, many were exposed to relatively low doses of Fukushima radioactivity—which nonetheless pose a risk to human health. In its last two reports on the topic, the Committee on Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR) concluded a linear no-threshold dose response exists between radiation and health risk, and upheld the heightened sensitiveity of the fetus and infant [32,33]. Stewart and others demonstrated a near-doubling of childhood cancer mortality risk after exposure to in utero pelvic X-rays during pregnancy [34-36]. The US Institute of Medicine and National Research Council estimated as many as 212,000 Americans developed thyroid cancer after fetal/infant/ childhood exposure to relatively low-dose radioactive I-131 from atmospheric nuclear weapons tests over the Nevada desert [37,38].
5. CONCLUSION Although less than three years have elapsed since the meltdown, health effects of low-dose exposures from fallout should be analyzed, especially for those in the earliest stages of life. Health status measures after March 2011 such as infant deaths, neonatal deaths, birth defects, stillbirths, low-weight births, premature births, and cancers in the first year of life can be analyzed. Short-term findings of the young can serve as a warning about potential long-term adverse health effects on populations of all ages."
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Didn't know these tests were being performed? Well why would you? The US media is doing a terrific job of blacking out any news regarding Fukushima and its potential after effects. The downplaying of the effects of Fukushima in the US is now beyond suspicious. It is downright criminal. Do these findings in any way have a link to the cluster of birth defects in Washington state? I would think those charged with finding the answers would at least be questioning this. Of course, as with the fossil fuel and chemical industries the nuclear industry is constantly given cover as well by governments and the media. To me it is insidious how this is being swept under the rug and how their minions now come out to downplay the effects of the Fukushima implosion as if it were a firecracker that went off rather than a complete meltdown.Add the potential for after effects of this to the clear danger of what is happening at Hanford and you have a potential for consequences that the parties in play obviously do not want us privy to. Thankully not all are easily silenced.
Doctors Unsure What's Behind Dramatic Increase in Birth Defects In Rural Washington
"As state and federal officials document the alarming rise of deadly birth defects in rural Washington, health experts are at a loss when it comes to pinpointing the source of the problem.
In the three years prior to January 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found there had been 23 cases of anencephaly – a birth defect in which a child is born without parts of their brain or skull – reported in three Washington counties: Benton, Franklin and Yakima. This rate of 8.4 cases per 10,000 live births quickly attracted the attention of health officials, especially since it’s four times the national average
Anencephaly wasn’t the only severe birth defect confirmed by the CDC, however. Three cases of spina bifida were also uncovered, a condition that involves the failure of a baby’s spine and brain to develop properly.
Since the publication of the report last year, another eight or nine cases of anencephaly and spina bifida have been reported by Susie Ball, a counselor at the Central Washington Genetics Program.
The most worrisome aspect of the whole situation isn’t simply the increased rate of the defects, but the fact that no one is quite sure what’s causing the problem. According to a report by NBC News, the CDC inspected the medical records of hundreds of individuals, looking for disparities between mothers whose children suffered birth defects and those whose children were fine.
Despite examining disease history, the types of medication taken, the source of the water used by mothers, and other factors, the research ultimately yielded disappointing results.
“No statistically significant differences were identified between cases and controls, and a clear cause of the elevated prevalence of anencephaly was not determined,” the CDC report stated.
While some experts, such as the CDC’s Jim Kucik, speculate that the cluster of defects could simply be an unfortunate coincidence, others pointed out that since the investigation did not include interviews of the mothers due to lack of funds, crucial information could have been missed."
End of excerpt
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"crucial information could have been missed."... You think?
This is alarming to me. Take a look at this:
Possible New Leak at Hanford Nuclear Waste Site
Do they truly think that radioactive leaks underground recognize barbed wired fences?
This is the US Fukushima!
Believe the government about this? Highly radioactive waste has been leaking for years into groundwater and the Columbia River and yet the government says no contamination to humans from leaks? Do they really think we are that stupid? Hanford is also located in Benton County, Washington. Benton county along with Yakima and Franklin counties are the three counties where this cluster is located. Yet, even this report filed by the CDC never even mentions it. They talk about pregnant women getting the required amount of folic acid. Now, even if these women did not get enough folic acid would it alone have had the effect it has had as I am sure there are women who are pregnant in every other county in Washington needing folic acid and yet we aren't seeing this in any other county (at least not being reported.) Also, don't pregnant women in general need this information because folic acid deficiency can be found in every state?
Counties in Washington State
I also took a look at a report filed by the Washington State Dept. of Health that stated the following : "Residential address during pregnancy used to determine use of public or private well water supply." The address only? Were actual tests done on the water? They remand that responsibility to the residents!
Twenty three cases of anecephaly between January 2010-January 2013 with 8.4 cases for 10,000 births. The national average is 2.1 per 10,000 births and I think that is even too high. How many babies are born in the US every year? Take that number adding 2.1 for every 10,000 births and it is obvious that the human species is hellbent on destroying itself.
When I first read about this I have to admit my mind first went to Fukushima. There is no doubt there are effects from Fukushima also impacting the states along the West Coast: Professor: Concerns Fukushima is impacting Alaska;“Unusual animals showing up dead… Seals with unknown disease… first cases of avian cholera” — NOAA: ‘Rare whale beachings’ in Alaska under investigation — Japan Paper: Mysterious sea creatures found one after another along coast (PHOTOS). I even thought it could be the increased use of pesticides, particularly the herbicide glyphosate (Round Up) which has been found to effect the brains of fish. It could be one or all of these. The point here is that I believe we are once again seeing a blackout of the elephant sitting in the room.
Our waterways nationwide are contaminated with poisons, pesticides nuclear waste, oil, coal slurry, plastic. The excrement of our greed, excess and apathy. Hanford is staring us in the face and it is time we start asking questions. How unlikely is it that it has absolutely nothing to do with it? There is a slight chance, but as you read through this and watch the video I think that chance becomes slimmer.
On Mother's Day we pay tribute to the one woman in our lives who sacrificed so much for us and who loves us unconditionally. No mother should have to see her baby born without a cranium or a spine. No mother should have to worry about the water she drinks. No mother should have to live with the constant fear that her baby will be born stillborn because we decided that the water she was ingesting or the air she was breathing was not as important as the profit made from poisoning it! I am going to keep on looking for information on this story and will be adding it here. There are too many other toxic legacies left behind by us to simply relegate this to coincidence and we should care about finding answers.
Also see: 50 Reasons We Should Fear the Worst from Fukushima
Because you need to know what the media and the government will not tell you to be aware in order to protect those you love and speak out for change.
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