Environment

We recently reported on mutations and DNA damage being caused to animals who live near the site of the Fukushima disaster. Now, new reports are surfacing about radioactive wild boars that are terrorizing locals who live near the nuclear site. According to the IB Times: Locals living near the now-defunct Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant still have a hard time dealing with lingering effects of the 2011 meltdown. Adding to their woes is havoc caused by radioactive wild boars on the rampage, damaging private property and crops.

Greenpeace has issued a warning to the world: the environmental impact from the Fukushima nuclear disaster is just starting to affect the animals living in nearby forests. The conservation group says that the leak will continue to cause DNA damage and nuclear mutations for many years to come. Yahoo News reports: The March 11, 2011 magnitude 9.0 undersea earthquake off Japan’s northeastern coast sparked a massive tsunami that swamped cooling systems and triggered reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

A powerful earthquake has struck north-east Afghanistan close to the border with Tajikistan. Strong tremors were felt in Pakistan, Tajikistan and India, as far away as New Delhi, with reports of casualties and damages. RT reports: The quake had a depth of 210km and took pace 39km from the town of Ashkasham, Afghanistan, the USGS reported. The China Earthquake Networks Center first measured it at 7.3 magnitude, with various centers then putting the magnitude anywhere between that and the USGS’ measurement of 6.6.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake that hit Afghanistan this morning was felt in a number of major cities across south-west Asia. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake initially measured as magnitude 7.1, struck close to its border with Tajikistan, at 10:28 GMT Epicenter of 7.1 quake was located at Koh Hindukash Region Afghanistan at depth of 236 km https://t.co/i6NaeHepwPpic.twitter.com/ZDr6wIWoac — Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) April 10, 2016 The USGS said the quake struck one of the most seismically-active regions on earth.

A new study has found that children under the age of six living near a former battery plant in Vernon, California have high levels of lead in their blood. The Department of Toxic Substances Control requested that the children in the area around the plant be tested and the report released on Friday by state health officials, showed that children living close to the former Exide Technologies battery-recycling plant had higher levels of lead in their blood than those who live farther away.