Tweet
Deaths of Ringed Seals in Alaska an Unusual Mortality Event, Environmental News Service, Dec. 20, 2011
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared the recent deaths of ringed seals in [...] Alaska an unusual mortality event
Since mid-July, more than 60 dead and 75 diseased seals, most of them ringed seals, have been reported in Alaska
Reports continuing to come in
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also identified diseased and dead walruses
A decision by the Service on making an an unusual mortality declaration for Pacific walrus in Alaska is pending
Tests indicate a virus is not the cause
Walruses and ringed seals in Russia, and ringed seals in Canada, have reportedly suffered similar symptoms
While it is not clear if the disease events are related, the timing and location of the disease suggests the possibility of transmission between the populations, or shared exposure to an environmental cause
Symptoms
Seals and walruses suffering from this disease have skin sores usually on the hind flippers or face
Patchy hair loss
Some of the diseased animals have exhibited labored breathing
Appear lethargic
Do not flee from humans as they usually do
Necropsies have found abnormal growths in the brain
Some seals and walruses have undersized lymph nodes which may indicate compromised immune systems
Dr. Stephen Raverty, veterinary pathologist with the Provincial Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in British Columbia
“These appear to be ulcerated lesions with secondary infections”
“Opportunistic yeast and fungi and bacteria have invaded”
“Our analysis is not completed”
“It could be an environmental factor or more than one disease”
“We are screening for 18 recognized pathogens, but all the lab results have come back negative“
“We think defects in the skin are allowing pathogens to migrate into the animals”
“Bacteria are becoming blood borne and localizing to the liver“
“Causing white spots on the liver, hepatitis and fluid in the lungs“
Reuters: Radiation tests underway on dead and diseased seals in Alaska — Suffering bleeding lesions, hair loss
Scientists in Alaska are investigating whether local seals are being sickened by radiation from Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. [...]
Biologists at first thought the seals were suffering from a virus, but they have so far been unable to identify one, and tests are now underway to find out if radiation is a factor. [...]
Specifics
Scores [multiples of twenty] of ring seals have washed up
On Alaska’s Arctic coastline
Since July
Symptoms
Bleeding lesions on the hind flippers
Irritated skin around the nose and eyes
Patchy hair loss on the animals’ fur coats
John Kelley, Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Marine Science at the University of Alaska Fairbanks:
“We recently received samples of seal tissue from diseased animals captured near St Lawrence Island with a request to examine the material for radioactivity”
“There is concern expressed by some members of the local communities that there may be some relationship to the Fukushima nuclear reactor’s damage”
“[Test results would not be available for] several weeks”
Is this related by any chance?
Dutch Harbor monitor registers highest radiation in US, News Tribune, March 30, 2011:
… The EPA report, issued Monday, is based upon laboratory analyses of filters and charcoal canisters on the monitors…
[A]ll reported some fallout, with Anaheim coming closest to Dutch Harbor [Alaska] in reported levels of radioactive iodine — 1.9 picocuries of radioactivity in each cubic meter of air in Anaheim to Dutch Harbor’s 2.8. …
SOURCE: The NRC Knew Possibility of Elevated Thyroid Dose in Midway Island and Alaska By March 22nd – Worked to keep it away from FOIA, Enformable, October 7, 2011
From: Rogge, John
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 7:49 AM
To: Baker, Pamela; [et al.]
Subject: Tues 0730 – Commissioners Assistants Briefing on Japanese Events
The following is a synopsis of the briefing with changes or noteworthy items: More at 2000 Tuesday from the RDO…. Mr. John Rogge…. [...]
General Items of Interest [...]
The Bounding Plausible Analysis, which needs peer review, would indicate elevated child thyroid to those in Midway Island and Alaska, [sic] This assumes 1 core and 2 SFPs released. (25% U2 Core, 50% U3 SFP, 100% U4 SFP)
V
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared the recent deaths of ringed seals in [...] Alaska an unusual mortality event
Since mid-July, more than 60 dead and 75 diseased seals, most of them ringed seals, have been reported in Alaska
Reports continuing to come in
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also identified diseased and dead walruses
A decision by the Service on making an an unusual mortality declaration for Pacific walrus in Alaska is pending
Tests indicate a virus is not the cause
Walruses and ringed seals in Russia, and ringed seals in Canada, have reportedly suffered similar symptoms
While it is not clear if the disease events are related, the timing and location of the disease suggests the possibility of transmission between the populations, or shared exposure to an environmental cause
Symptoms
Seals and walruses suffering from this disease have skin sores usually on the hind flippers or face
Patchy hair loss
Some of the diseased animals have exhibited labored breathing
Appear lethargic
Do not flee from humans as they usually do
Necropsies have found abnormal growths in the brain
Some seals and walruses have undersized lymph nodes which may indicate compromised immune systems
Dr. Stephen Raverty, veterinary pathologist with the Provincial Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in British Columbia
“These appear to be ulcerated lesions with secondary infections”
“Opportunistic yeast and fungi and bacteria have invaded”
“Our analysis is not completed”
“It could be an environmental factor or more than one disease”
“We are screening for 18 recognized pathogens, but all the lab results have come back negative“
“We think defects in the skin are allowing pathogens to migrate into the animals”
“Bacteria are becoming blood borne and localizing to the liver“
“Causing white spots on the liver, hepatitis and fluid in the lungs“
Reuters: Radiation tests underway on dead and diseased seals in Alaska — Suffering bleeding lesions, hair loss
Scientists in Alaska are investigating whether local seals are being sickened by radiation from Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. [...]
Biologists at first thought the seals were suffering from a virus, but they have so far been unable to identify one, and tests are now underway to find out if radiation is a factor. [...]
Specifics
Scores [multiples of twenty] of ring seals have washed up
On Alaska’s Arctic coastline
Since July
Symptoms
Bleeding lesions on the hind flippers
Irritated skin around the nose and eyes
Patchy hair loss on the animals’ fur coats
John Kelley, Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Marine Science at the University of Alaska Fairbanks:
“We recently received samples of seal tissue from diseased animals captured near St Lawrence Island with a request to examine the material for radioactivity”
“There is concern expressed by some members of the local communities that there may be some relationship to the Fukushima nuclear reactor’s damage”
“[Test results would not be available for] several weeks”
Is this related by any chance?
Dutch Harbor monitor registers highest radiation in US, News Tribune, March 30, 2011:
… The EPA report, issued Monday, is based upon laboratory analyses of filters and charcoal canisters on the monitors…
[A]ll reported some fallout, with Anaheim coming closest to Dutch Harbor [Alaska] in reported levels of radioactive iodine — 1.9 picocuries of radioactivity in each cubic meter of air in Anaheim to Dutch Harbor’s 2.8. …
SOURCE: The NRC Knew Possibility of Elevated Thyroid Dose in Midway Island and Alaska By March 22nd – Worked to keep it away from FOIA, Enformable, October 7, 2011
From: Rogge, John
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 7:49 AM
To: Baker, Pamela; [et al.]
Subject: Tues 0730 – Commissioners Assistants Briefing on Japanese Events
The following is a synopsis of the briefing with changes or noteworthy items: More at 2000 Tuesday from the RDO…. Mr. John Rogge…. [...]
General Items of Interest [...]
The Bounding Plausible Analysis, which needs peer review, would indicate elevated child thyroid to those in Midway Island and Alaska, [sic] This assumes 1 core and 2 SFPs released. (25% U2 Core, 50% U3 SFP, 100% U4 SFP)
V