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Radiation effects in the forest ecosystems: Acute irradiation
S Fesenko1, S Spridonov1, S Geras'kin1
1Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, 249020 109 km, Obninsk, Kaluga region, Russia.
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
|May 27, 2022
Summary
This study details radiation effects on forest ecosystems from acute irradiation. Cellular damage occurred at 2.5 Gy, while tree mortality and reduced radioactivity were observed at higher doses, with seasonal variations in sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Radiation Biology
- Forestry
Background:
- Forest ecosystems face risks from acute radiation events.
- Understanding radiation effects is crucial for ecological risk assessment.
- Previous studies have not fully integrated ecosystem-level responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize data on radiation effects in Russian forest ecosystems.
- To assess radiation impacts across cellular, tissue, and ecosystem levels.
- To highlight the importance of ecosystem endpoints in radiation studies.
Main Methods:
- Ecosystem approach to assess radiation impacts.
- Analysis of various endpoints, including cellular, tissue, and mortality.
- Dose-response assessments for key forest species (pine, birch).
Main Results:
- Cellular effects (chromosome aberrations) observed at 2.5 Gy in pine.
- Tree mortality (D50) at 20-50 Gy; reduced net primary radioactivity at 14-38 Gy (pine) and 280-750 Gy (birch).
- Forest ecosystems exhibit 3-5 fold higher radiosensitivity in spring compared to autumn.
Conclusions:
- Radiation effects manifest at multiple biological levels in forest ecosystems.
- Dose thresholds for cellular damage, mortality, and radioactivity reduction vary by species and endpoint.
- Seasonal variations significantly influence forest ecosystem radiosensitivity, emphasizing the need for temporal considerations in impact assessments.
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