Are bees sensitive to changes in background radiation?
As discussed under air quality, based on admittedly limited (self-funded) layman testing and research...the background radiation levels over a significant swatch geographical swath (about 250 miles of road) appear to be elevated over historical levels. Roughly, the readings are about 2x over historical levels. Is this enough of a change to cause issues with some species? In general, mammals are considered to be the ...more »
As discussed under air quality, based on admittedly limited (self-funded) layman testing and research...the background radiation levels over a significant swatch geographical swath (about 250 miles of road) appear to be elevated over historical levels. Roughly, the readings are about 2x over historical levels. Is this enough of a change to cause issues with some species?
In general, mammals are considered to be the most sensitive to radiation changes and insects the least. Yet, one of the very isotopes of Cesium expelled from Fukushima is used industrially to sterilize mosquitos.
The sterile mosquitos are used for biological control of mosquito populations (they are released in the wild and mate with wild mosquitos, tying up their reproductive cycle and producing non-viable offspring).
Last year, I visited a marshy lake in the mountains in mid-summer and there were ZERO mosquitos there. Normally would have had unbearable swarms, that is what got me looking into this.
Also, is it possible that increases could be impacting honey bees? Wondering if EPA can or has done some research along this line?
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