Ionizing radiation effects on soil biota: Application of lessons learned from Chernobyl accident for radioecological monitoring

Zaitsev, Andrei S.; Gongalsky, Konstantin B.; Nakamori, Taizo; Kaneko, Nobuhiro

doi:10.1016/j.pedobi.2013.09.005

Cited by 24 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Bardgett, 2005;Gessner et al, 2010). Depending on the quantity and quality of radionuclides accumulated in soil and litter, the resulting absorbed radiological dose (or dose rate) by soil organisms during their entire life and across generations may drive direct and/or indirect changes in various biological and ecological processes, including leaf litter decomposition (Geras'kin et al, 2008;Zaitsev et al, 2014). Indeed, within 2 months after the Chernobyl accident, 90% of soil invertebrate species had perished at a distance of 2 to 7 km from the ChNPP (Krivolutsky, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of radionuclide contamination on leaf litter decomposition in the Chernobyl exclusion zone

Bonzom

Hättenschwiler

Lecomte-Pradines

et al. 2016

Science of The Total Environment

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The effects of radioactive contamination on ecosystem processes such as litter decomposition remain largely unknown. Because radionuclides accumulated in soil and plant biomass can be harmful for organisms, the functioning of ecosystems may be altered by radioactive contamination. Here, we tested the hypothesis that decomposition is impaired by increasing levels of radioactivity in the environment by exposing uncontaminated leaf litter from silver birch and black alder at (i) eleven distant forest sites differing in ambient radiation levels (0.22-15μGyh(-1)) and (ii) along a short distance gradient of radioactive contamination (1.2-29μGyh(-1)) within a single forest in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. In addition to measuring ambient external dose rates, we estimated the average total dose rates (ATDRs) absorbed by decomposers for an accurate estimate of dose-induced ecological consequences of radioactive pollution. Taking into account potential confounding factors (soil pH, moisture, texture, and organic carbon content), the results from the eleven distant forest sites, and from the single forest, showed increased litter mass loss with increasing ATDRs from 0.3 to 150μGyh(-1). This unexpected result may be due to (i) overcompensation of decomposer organisms exposed to radionuclides leading to a higher decomposer abundance (hormetic effect), and/or (ii) from preferred feeding by decomposers on the uncontaminated leaf litter used for our experiment compared to locally produced, contaminated leaf litter. Our data indicate that radio-contamination of forest ecosystems over more than two decades does not necessarily have detrimental effects on organic matter decay. However, further studies are needed to unravel the underlying mechanisms of the results reported here, in order to draw firmer conclusions on how radio-contamination affects decomposition and associated ecosystem processes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of radionuclide contamination on leaf litter decomposition in the Chernobyl exclusion zone

Bonzom

Hättenschwiler

Lecomte-Pradines

et al. 2016

Science of The Total Environment

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“… 2 – 8 ]. Although it has been recommended that soil fauna could be used as radiological biomonitors [ 9 ], the effects of ionising radiation on soil biological activity at radiologically contaminated field sites has been relatively poorly studied. This may, in part, be the consequence of soil organisms (invertebrate macrofauna, mesofauna and microorganisms) typically being thought to be relatively insensitive to radiation compared to other biota [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current ionising radiation doses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone do not directly impact on soil biological activity

2022

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Although soil organisms are essential for ecosystem function, the impacts of radiation on soil biological activity at highly contaminated sites has been relatively poorly studied. In April-May 2016, we conducted the first largescale deployment of bait lamina to estimate soil organism (largely soil invertebrate) feeding activity in situ at study plots in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). Across our 53 study plots, estimated weighted absorbed dose rates to soil organisms ranged from 0.7 μGy h-1 to 1753 μGy h-1. There was no significant relationship between soil organism feeding activity and estimated weighted absorbed dose rate. Soil biological activity did show significant relationships with soil moisture content, bulk density (used as a proxy for soil organic matter) and pH. At plots in the Red Forest (an area of coniferous plantation where trees died because of high radiation exposure in 1986) soil biological activity was low compared to plots elsewhere in the CEZ. It is possible that the lower biological activity observed in the Red Forest is a residual consequence of what was in effect an acute high exposure to radiation in 1986.

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“…Negative effects of anthropogenic radioactivity on soil fauna have been extensively reported from spill sites in the old Soviet Union like Chernobyl but with different sensitivities among different soil taxa with earthworms, millipeds, collembolans, enchytraeids and mites being most sensitive and appropriate as bioindicators [ 38 ]. Since these taxa are important to decomposition [ 23 , 39 ], Chernobyl litterbag results showing reduced litter decomposition with increasing levels of anthropogenic radioactivity levels [ 36 ] are not surprising.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced soil fauna decomposition in a high background radiation area

Haanes

Gjelsvik

2021

PLoS ONE

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Decomposition of litter and organic matter is a very important soil ecosystem function where soil fauna play an important role. Knowledge of the responses in decomposition and soil fauna to different stressors is therefore crucial. However, the extent to which radioactivity may affect soil fauna is not so well known. There are some results showing effects on soil fauna at uranium mines and near Chernobyl from relatively high levels of anthropogenic radionuclides. We hypothesize that naturally occurring radionuclides affect soil fauna and thus litter decomposition, which will covary with radionuclide levels when accounting for important soil parameters. We have therefore used standardised litterbags with two different mesh sizes filled with birch leaves (Betula pubescens) to assess litter decomposition in an area with enhanced levels of naturally occurring radionuclides in the thorium (232Th) and uranium (238U) decay chains while controlling for variation in important soil parameters like pH, organic matter content, moisture and large grain size. We show that decomposition rate is higher in litterbags with large mesh size compared to litterbags with a fine mesh size that excludes soil fauna. We also find that litter dried at room temperature is decomposed at a faster rate than litter dried in oven (60⁰C). This was surprising given the associated denaturation of proteins and anticipated increased nutritional level but may be explained by the increased stiffness of oven-dried litter. This result is important since different studies often use either oven-dried or room temperature-dried litter. Taking the above into account, we explore statistical models to show large and expected effects of soil parameters but also significant effects on litter decomposition of the naturally occurring radionuclide levels. We use the ERICA tool to estimate total dose rate per coarse litterbag for four different model organisms, and in subsequent different statistical models we identify that the model including the dose rates of a small tube-shape is the best statistical model. In another statistical model including soil parameters and radionuclide distributions, 226Ra (or uranium precursory radionuclides) explain variation in litter decomposition while 228Ra (and precursors) do not. This may hint to chemical toxicity effects of uranium. However, when combining this model with the best model, the resulting simplified model is equal to the tube-shape dose-rate model. There is thus a need for more research on how naturally occurring radionuclides affect soil fauna, but the study at hand show the importance of an ecosystem approach and the ecosystem parameter soil decomposition.

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Ionizing radiation effects on soil biota: Application of lessons learned from Chernobyl accident for radioecological monitoring

Cited by 24 publications

References 62 publications

Effects of radionuclide contamination on leaf litter decomposition in the Chernobyl exclusion zone

Effects of radionuclide contamination on leaf litter decomposition in the Chernobyl exclusion zone

Current ionising radiation doses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone do not directly impact on soil biological activity

Reduced soil fauna decomposition in a high background radiation area

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