The role of physics in radioecology and radiotoxicology

Abstract

This article gives an overview of physical concepts important for radioecology and radiotoxicology to help bridge a gap between non-physicists in these scientific disciplines and the intricate language of physics. Relying on description and only as much mathematics as necessary, we discuss concepts ranging from fundamental natural forces to applications of physical modelling in phenomenological studies. We first explain why some atomic nuclei are unstable and therefore transmute. Then we address interactions of ionising radiation with matter, which is the foundation of both radioecology and radiotoxicology. We continue with relevant naturally occurring and anthropogenic radionuclides and their properties, abundance in the environment, and toxicity for the humans and biota. Every radioecological or radiotoxicological assessment should take into account combined effects of the biological and physical half-lives of a radionuclide. We also outline the basic principles of physical modelling commonly used to study health effects of exposure to ionising radiation, as it is applicable to every source of radiation but what changes are statistical weighting factors, which depend on the type of radiation and exposed tissue. Typical exposure doses for stochastic and deterministic health effects are discussed, as well as controversies related to the linear no-threshold hypothesis at very low doses.

Radioactivity of soil in Croatia I: naturally occurring decay chains

“…However, the presence of airborne 222 Rn is a different matter. High-energy charged particles – especially gamma particles – are more dangerous in internal exposure than gamma photons, which makes the inhalation of 222 Rn (an gamma emitter) a serious health hazard ( 34 ). Actually, there have been substantiated arguments which relate the inhalation of 222 Rn to the risk of lung cancer ( 35 ).…”

Assessment of the radionuclide remediation potential of novel miscanthus hybrids

“…238 U, 232 Th, and 40 K are primordial radionuclides; they had existed in the universe from before the Earth was formed [ 18 , 39 , 40 ]. 137 Cs is anthropogenic (man-made) radionuclide, present in the environment in Europe mainly as a result of the Chernobyl accident.…”

“…Radionuclides such as 192 Ir, 201 Tl, 90 Sr, and 137 Cs are also produced during the splitting of elemental atoms in the nuclear power plant and they impose a serious hazard, especially to ecosystems [ 17 ]. Hence, monitoring radionuclides in the soil, water and air is important to protect human health and the environment, since the ionizing radiation carries enough energy to ionize the atoms of the material it passes through, including human tissue, by knocking the electrons out of those atoms [ 18 ].…”

Radiological impact of an active quarry in the Papuk Nature Park, Croatia

“…As activity concentrations of 232 Th and 238 U are normally independent of each other, the weak correlation (correlation coefficient of 0.78) we found suggests the same origin. While 226 Ra and 238 U are part of the same decay chain, their chemical properties are different enough that their concentrations routinely differ both in soil and in living organisms ( 58 , 59 , 60 ). Therefore, it is no surprise that the correlation between 226 Ra and 238 U values was marginal (correlation coefficient of 0.54).…”