Radioecology: Why Bother?

Abstract

The importance of radioecology to the discussion of radioactive contamination is discussed here. This paper discusses the history of radioecology, alongside the most recent developments in the science. It describes the need for more environmental data, and explains where the gaps in current knowledge lie. The calculation of radiation dose to wildlife along with the complications in performing such calculations is discussed. The paper also tackles the difficult question of the implications of radioecology on nuclear waste management and site decommissioning policies. From the beginnings of the science to today, radioecology is poised to be an important field of study as humans continue to rely on ionizing radiation to improve their lives.

Requirement of the assessment strategy for biosphere in mature safety cases for nuclear waste repositories – Finland case

“…It is generally considered that site-specific data are more representative of the repository and its biosphere than generic data (e.g. Caffrey et al, 2014) but, for example, in the case of the Olkiluoto site in Finland the post-glacial land uplift is expected to initiate formation of lakes and mires lacking from the site at the present and thus a reference site analogous to the expected conditions is used for the empirical study (Haapanen et al, 2011). Use of analogues is necessary at least in such cases in which applicable data are not directly available (IAEA, 2010) but also to improve conceptual modelling (IAEA, 1999).…”

“…However, analogue data should be used with care and justified well (IAEA, 1999(IAEA, , 2010, especially since the radioecological parameters are influenced by many factors associated with the properties of the radionuclide, the organism and the ecosystem (e.g. Roivainen, 2011;Caffrey et al, 2014). The same applies also to replacing change in time with change in spatial location (e.g.…”

Soil Microbes and Plant-Associated Microbes in Response to Radioactive Pollution May Indirectly Affect Plants and Insect Herbivores: Evidence for Indirect Field Effects from Chernobyl and Fukushima

“…In other words, there is biotic and abiotic complexity in the field and simplicity in the laboratory [ 23 ]. Although this point has been emphasized in radioecology since the 1960s [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ], it is still challenging for not only radioactive pollution but also other pollutions, such as those generated by pesticides and heavy metals [ 45 , 46 ]. In the field, there are numerous biotic and abiotic interactions with organisms of interest, which may significantly modify the radiation sensitivity of the organisms to direct exposure.…”