Implications for Human and Environmental Health of Low Doses of Radiation

Mothersill, Carmel; Seymour, Colin

doi:10.1007/978-94-007-1939-2_5

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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Section: Targeted and Nontargeted Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast to the conventional targeted effects, the last two decades have experienced a surge of nontargeted effects of ionizing radiation [51][52][53][54][55][56]. The nontargeted effects include bystander effects, genomic instability, adaptive responses, and other modes, and these nontargeted effects are likely caused by the reactive oxygen species produced by irradiation [51][52][53][54][55][56]. In this sense, the nontarget effects may be referred to as the indirect effects (note that in this chapter, nontargeted effects are classified into the same category as the direct effects as a matter of convenience to some extent).…”

Section: Targeted and Nontargeted Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding Low-Dose Exposure and Field Effects to Resolve the Field-Laboratory Paradox: Multifaceted Biological Effects from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Otaki¹

2018

New Trends in Nuclear Science

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Many reports about the biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident on various wild organisms have accumulated in recent years. Results from field-based laboratory experiments using the pale grass blue butterfly have clearly demonstrated that this butterfly is highly sensitive to "low-dose" internal exposure from field-contaminated host-plant leaves. These experimental results are fully consistent with the filed-collection results reporting high abnormality rates. In contrast, this butterfly is highly resistant against the internal exposure to chemically pure radioactive cesium chloride under laboratory conditions. To resolve this field-laboratory paradox, I propose that the field effects, which are a collection of indirect effects that work through different modes of action than do the conventional direct effects, play an important role in the "low-dose" exposure results in the field. In other words, exclusively focusing on the effects of direct radiation, as predicted by dosimetric analysis, may be too simplistic. In this chapter, I provide a working definition and discuss the possible variation in the field effects. I include an example on the misunderstanding of the field effects In the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) 2017 Report. Lastly, I discuss a theoretical application of the butterfly model to humans.

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Section: Targeted and Nontargeted Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Targeted and Nontargeted Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Low-Dose Exposure and Field Effects to Resolve the Field-Laboratory Paradox: Multifaceted Biological Effects from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Otaki¹

2018

New Trends in Nuclear Science

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“…This assumption is unlikely to be correct; field observations often show higher rates of adverse effects than laboratory experiments under the similar levels of radiation exposure (Garnier-Laplace et al 2013). Synergistic effects with other stressors are likely (Leenhouts and Chadwick 1978;Borek et al 1986;Mothersill et al 2007;Manti and D'Arco 2010;Wilson et al 2011;Miron and Ast ar astoae 2014;Mothersill and Seymour 2014). Thus, too much focus on reductionist and theoretical approaches that are limited to "radiation effects" is not recommended, at least in this immature stage of pollution biology.…”

Section: Second Lesson: Study Fukushima Not Radiation Alonementioning

confidence: 99%

Fukushima's lessons from the blue butterfly: A risk assessment of the human living environment in the post-Fukushima era

Otaki

2016

Integr Environ Assess Manag

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A series of studies on the pale grass blue butterfly that were carried out to assess the biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident teach 3 important lessons. First, it is necessary to have an environmental indicator species, such as the pale grass blue butterfly in Japan, that is common (not endangered), shares a living environment (air, water, and soil) with humans, and is amenable to laboratory experiments. The monitoring of such indicator species before and immediately after a nuclear accident likely reflects acute impacts caused by initial exposure. To assess transgenerational and chronic effects, continuous monitoring over time is encouraged. Second, it is important to understand the actual health status of a polluted region and comprehend the whole picture of the pollution impacts, rather than focusing on the selected effects of radiation alone. In our butterfly experiments, plant leaves from Fukushima were fed to larval butterflies to access whole-body effects, focusing on survival rate and morphological abnormalities (rather than focusing on a specific disease or biochemical marker). Our results revealed that ionizing radiation is unlikely to be the exclusive source of environmental disturbances. Airborne particulate matter from a nuclear reactor, regardless of its radioactivity, is likely equally important. Finally, our butterfly experiments demonstrate that there is considerable variation in sensitivities to nuclear pollution within a single species or even within a local population. Based on these results, it is speculated that high pollution sensitivity in humans may be caused not only by low levels of functional DNA repair enzymes but also by immunological responses to particulate matter in the respiratory tract. These lessons from the pale grass blue butterfly should be integrated in studying future nuclear pollution events and decision making on nuclear and environmental policies at the local and international levels in the postFukushima era. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:667-672. © 2016 SETAC.

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“…Recent advances in the knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the biological effects of low doses have shown that low radiation dose effects are mechanistically different to high doses effects, with low radiation doses effects being similar to those of some chemicals in the environment [6]. Thus, results under mixed exposures to radiation and chemicals may not be predictable for human health, by the consideration of single agent effects [6][7][8]. It has been observed that the risk of increase in cancer incidence caused by low-dose radiation is low [7], but recent epidemiological studies have indicated elevated risks of non-cancer diseases (e.g., such as perturbation of immune function or induction of inflammatory reactions with disease) at low doses below 1-2 Gy, and in some cases much lower, although the mechanisms are still unclear and the estimation of risks remains problematic [7,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exposure to gamma radiation in the built environment would result in low doses of radiation. Recent advances in the knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the biological effects of low doses have shown that low radiation dose effects are mechanistically different to high doses effects, with low radiation doses effects being similar to those of some chemicals in the environment [6]. Thus, results under mixed exposures to radiation and chemicals may not be predictable for human health, by the consideration of single agent effects [6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment by Portable Gamma Spectrometry of External Gamma Radiation Hazard due to Granitic Materials and Indoor Space Typology

2017

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Abstract:Building materials can contribute to ionizing radiation hazards due to their variable content in radioactive isotopes. Uranium, thorium, and potassium radioisotopes are present in various building materials due to their presence in raw materials: minerals and rocks. Among natural building materials, granite is one of those deserving more attention in terms of radioactive hazards. Granites are commonly used in historical buildings of NW Portugal and NW Spain, due to the geological characteristics of these areas. However, radioactive isotopes are present in variable proportions in granites, and thus, in relation to other potential building materials, granites might present a higher radiological hazard. This work discusses multivariate analysis results obtained by spectrometry of a portable range in indoor spaces, presenting different proportions of granite used as a building material in order to evaluate a typology proposed for assessing gamma radiation hazards.

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Implications for Human and Environmental Health of Low Doses of Radiation

Cited by 7 publications

References 61 publications

Understanding Low-Dose Exposure and Field Effects to Resolve the Field-Laboratory Paradox: Multifaceted Biological Effects from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Understanding Low-Dose Exposure and Field Effects to Resolve the Field-Laboratory Paradox: Multifaceted Biological Effects from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Fukushima's lessons from the blue butterfly: A risk assessment of the human living environment in the post-Fukushima era

Assessment by Portable Gamma Spectrometry of External Gamma Radiation Hazard due to Granitic Materials and Indoor Space Typology

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