Cesium levels in plankton higher than surrounding Pacific waters: Beyond Nuclear's take

Japan Times reports that cesium was found in samples of zooplankton and surface seawater taken at 10 points between Hokkaido and Guam, 500 to 2,100 km from the crippled power plant, between Jan. 14 and Feb. 5, 2012. Cesium 134 and 137 were found at all ten locations. The highest level in sea water was 41.5 Bq/kg, at a convergence of two ocean currents, while plankton had a little over 25 Bq/kg, higher than the sea water surrounding them.

“Our concern is the high level of (radioactive cesium found in plankton) taken from waters around latitude 25 degrees north, and we don’t know why the level got high around that area,” Kitamura said.

Plankton are thought to accumulate cesium and since bigger fish feast on plankton, their contamination levels should also be studied for further concentration of cesium. Although the samples were taken over one year ago, about a year after the Fukushima accident began, the study results were just released in May of 2013. The researchers say they don't plan on studying the bigger fish because they lack the equipment to ensure statistical significance but they do plan a follow up study on plankton and seawater in July.

The issue of statistical significance in this context represents a disconnect between how science investigates a problem and what real people who eat fish need to know, regardless of statistical significance. People consume fish from the Pacific, not plankton; and while studies of plankton are very important, testing fish that humans eat is also very necessary. This illustrates the urgent need to monitor our food for radioactive cesium contamination, particularly ocean fish.