The need to integrate laboratory- and ecosystem-level research for assessment of the ecological impact of radiation

Bréchignac, François

doi:10.1002/ieam.1830

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…These effects may not be observed in the laboratory-based experimental system where such ecological media are absent. The biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident are expected to be evaluated not only by dosimetric analysis of ionising radiation but also from the viewpoint of the field effects through ecological systems [42,56,57] together with other viewpoints [58,59,60,61] in the future.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tolerance of High Oral Doses of Nonradioactive and Radioactive Caesium Chloride in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly Zizeeria maha

Gurung

Taira

Sakauchi

et al. 2019

Insects

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The biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident have been examined in the pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). In previous internal exposure experiments, larvae were given field-collected contaminated host plant leaves that contained up to 43.5 kBq/kg (leaf) of radioactive caesium. Larvae ingested up to 480 kBq/kg (larva), resulting in high mortality and abnormality rates. However, these results need to be compared with the toxicological data of caesium. Here, we examined the toxicity of both nonradioactive and radioactive caesium chloride on the pale grass blue butterfly. Larvae were fed a caesium-containing artificial diet, ingesting up to 149 MBq/kg (larva) of radioactive caesium (137Cs) or a much higher amount of nonradioactive caesium. We examined the pupation rate, eclosion rate, survival rate up to the adult stage, and the forewing size. In contrast to previous internal exposure experiments using field-collected contaminated leaves, we could not detect any effect. We conclude that the butterfly is tolerant to ionising radiation from 137Cs in the range tested but is vulnerable to radioactive contamination in the field. These results suggest that the biological effects in the field may be mediated through ecological systems and cannot be estimated solely based on radiation doses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tolerance of High Oral Doses of Nonradioactive and Radioactive Caesium Chloride in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly Zizeeria maha

Gurung

Taira

Sakauchi

et al. 2019

Insects

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“…Such laboratory studies are often used to extrapolate to the likely effects of chronic low-dose rates in contaminated natural environments such as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, yet they may have limited ecological relevance [23,24]. Unambiguous determination of the effects of chronic low-dose radiation exposure for wildlife is imperative to predict radiation impacts on ecosystem function in contaminated environments [25], advise in the case of future radiation accidents [26], adhere to ethical obligations associated with environmental protection [27], and to test whether current regulations are fit for purpose [28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chernobyl-level radiation exposure damages bumblebee reproduction: a laboratory experiment

et al. 2020

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The consequences for wildlife of living in radiologically contaminated environments are uncertain. Previous laboratory studies suggest insects are relatively radiation-resistant; however, some field studies from the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone report severe adverse effects at substantially lower radiation dose rates than expected. Here, we present the first laboratory investigation to study how environmentally relevant radiation exposure affects bumblebee life history, assessing the shape of the relationship between radiation exposure and fitness loss. Dose rates comparable to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (50–400 µGy h −1 ) impaired bumblebee reproduction and delayed colony growth but did not affect colony weight or longevity. Our best-fitting model for the effect of radiation dose rate on colony queen production had a strongly nonlinear concave relationship: exposure to only 100 µGy h −1 impaired reproduction by 30–45%, while further dose rate increases caused more modest additional reproductive impairment. Our data indicate that the practice of estimating effects of environmentally relevant low-dose rate exposure by extrapolating from high-dose rates may have considerably underestimated the effects of radiation. If our data can be generalized, they suggest insects suffer significant negative consequences at dose rates previously thought safe; we therefore advocate relevant revisions to the international framework for radiological protection of the environment.

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“…Importantly, similar discussions have been made to encourage researchers from two different disciplines (field‐based ecologists and dosimetry‐based physicists) to find a consensus to declare the importance of the ecological effects of radiation (Bréchignac, 2016; Bréchignac et al, 2011, 2016). This is an important step forward in this research field.…”

Section: The Field–laboratory Paradoxmentioning

confidence: 95%

The second decade of the blue butterfly in Fukushima: Untangling the ecological field effects after the Fukushima nuclear accident

Otaki

Sakauchi

Taira

2022

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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Many field observations of the biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident have been reported in the first decade after the accident. A series of observational and experimental studies have demonstrated causal adverse effects on the pale grass blue butterfly even at the low‐level radiation exposure in the “field,” contrary to the dosimetric view that insects are generally tolerant of radiation exposure. However, it has been demonstrated that the pale grass blue butterfly is tolerant of high oral doses of anthropogenic radioactive cesium (137Cs) under “laboratory” conditions. This field–laboratory paradox can be explained by ecological field effects; for example, radiation stress in the field causes physiological and biochemical changes in the host plant, which then trophically affects butterfly larvae. The second decade of butterfly‐based Fukushima research will be devoted to demonstrating how such adverse field effects occur. Changes in the host plant's nutritional contents likely affect butterfly physiology. The host plant may also upregulate secondary metabolites that affect herbivorous insects. The plant may be affected by changes in endophytic soil microbes in radioactively contaminated areas. If demonstrated, these results will reveal that the delicate ecological balances among the butterfly, its host plant, and soil microbes have been affected by radioactive pollution in Fukushima, which has important implications for environmental policies and human health. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1539–1550. © SETAC

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The need to integrate laboratory- and ecosystem-level research for assessment of the ecological impact of radiation

Cited by 10 publications

References 24 publications

Tolerance of High Oral Doses of Nonradioactive and Radioactive Caesium Chloride in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly Zizeeria maha

Tolerance of High Oral Doses of Nonradioactive and Radioactive Caesium Chloride in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly Zizeeria maha

Chernobyl-level radiation exposure damages bumblebee reproduction: a laboratory experiment

The second decade of the blue butterfly in Fukushima: Untangling the ecological field effects after the Fukushima nuclear accident

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