Effects of different gamma exposure regimes on reproduction in the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta)

Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) for radiation-induced reproductive effects in environmental species: state of science and identification of a consensus AOP network

BACKGROUND

Reproductive effects of ionizing radiation in organisms have been observed under laboratory and field conditions. Such assessments often rely on associations between exposure and effects, and thus lacking a detailed mechanistic understanding of causality between effects occurring at different levels of biological organization. The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP), a conceptual knowledge framework to capture, organize, evaluate and visualize the scientific knowledge of relevant toxicological effects, has the potential to evaluate the causal relationships between molecular, cellular, individual, and population effects. This paper presents the first development of a set of consensus AOPs for reproductive effects of ionizing radiation in wildlife. This work was performed by a group of experts formed during a workshop organized jointly by the Multidisciplinary European Low Dose Initiative (MELODI) and the European Radioecology Alliance (ALLIANCE) associations to present the AOP approach and tools. The work presents a series of taxon-specific case studies that were used to identify relevant empirical evidence, identify common AOP components and propose a set of consensus AOPs that could be organized into an AOP network with broader taxonomic applicability.

CONCLUSION

Expert consultation led to the identification of key biological events and description of causal linkages between ionizing radiation, reproductive impairment and reduction in population fitness. The study characterized the knowledge domain of taxon-specific AOPs, identified knowledge gaps pertinent to reproductive-relevant AOP development and reflected on how AOPs could assist applications in radiation (radioecological) research, environmental health assessment, and radiological protection. Future advancement and consolidation of the AOPs is planned to include structured weight of evidence considerations, formalized review and critical assessment of the empirical evidence prior to formal submission and review by the OECD sponsored AOP development program.

Impacts of sewage sludges deposition on agricultural soils: Effects upon model soil organisms

During years sewage sludges have been worldwide poured in agricultural soils to enhance vegetal production. The "Landfill 17" located in Gernika-Lumo town (43°19'28.9"N 2°40'30.9"W) received for decades sewage sludges from the local Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) with agricultural purposes. To this WWTP, several pollutants as heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb), PAHs (benzo(a)pyrene among many others) and pesticides (i.e. dieldrin) could have arrived from local industry and be widespread all over the landfill. Soil invertebrates like earthworms and plants are of special interest due to their close contact with the polluted matrix and their potential effects by the presence of pollutants. In this context, the aim of the present work was to determine the health status of landfill soils by evaluating the effects on model soil organisms exerted by long-lasted pollutants after on site deposition of WWTP active sludges. With such a purpose, different standard toxicity tests and cellular level endpoints were performed on lettuce and earthworms. Indeed, germination (EPA 850.4100) and root elongation (EPA 850.4230) tests were carried out in Lactuca sativa, while OECD acute toxicity test (OECD-204), reproduction test (OECD-222) and Calcein-AM viability test with coelomocytes were applied in Eisenia fetida worms. For the exposure, soils collected in the landfield containing low, medium and high concentrations of pollutants were selected, and as reference LUFA 2.3 natural standard soil was chosen. While no differences were shown in the assays with L. sativa, significant differences between sludge exposed groups and control group were recorded with E. fetida, with lower coelomocyte number and viability and higher tissue metal accumulation after 28 days of exposure to polluted soils. These results confirmed the impact of contaminants to soil biota even after long periods of time.

In vivo assessment of reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress effects induced by chronic exposure to gamma radiation in Caenorhabditis elegans

In the current study, effects of chronic exposure to ionizing gamma radiation were assessed in the radioresistant nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in order to understand whether antioxidant defences (AODs) could ameliorate radical formation, or if increased ROS levels would cause oxidative damage. This analysis was accompanied by phenotypical as well as molecular investigations, via assessment of reproductive capacity, somatic growth and RNA-seq analysis. The use of a fluorescent reporter strain (sod1::gfp) and two ratiometric biosensors (HyPer and Grx1-roGFP2) demonstrated increased ROS production (H₂O₂) and activation of AODs (SOD1 and Grx) in vivo. The data showed that at dose-rates ≤10 mGy h^-1 defence mechanisms were able to prevent the manifestation of oxidative stress. In contrast, at dose-rates ≥40 mGy h^-1 the continuous formation of radicals caused a redox shift, which lead to oxidative stress transcriptomic responses, including changes in mitochondrial functions, protein degradation, lipid metabolism and collagen synthesis. Moreover, genotoxic effects were among the most over-represented functions affected by chronic gamma irradiation, as indicated by differential regulation of genes involved in DNA damage, DNA repair, cell-cycle checkpoints, chromosome segregation and chromatin remodelling. Ultimately, the exposure to gamma radiation caused reprotoxic effects, with >20% reduction in the number of offspring per adult hermaphrodite at dose-rates ≥40 mGy h^-1, accompanied by the down-regulation of more than 300 genes related to reproductive system, apoptosis, meiotic functions and gamete development and fertilization.

Gamma radiation induces life stage-dependent reprotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans via impairment of spermatogenesis

The current study investigated life stage, tissue and cell dependent sensitivity to ionizing radiation of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Results showed that irradiation of post mitotic L4 stage larvae induced no significant effects with respect to mortality, morbidity or reproduction at either acute dose ≤6 Gy (1500 mGy·h^-1) or chronic exposure ≤15 Gy (≤100 mGy·h^-1). In contrast, chronic exposure from the embryo to the L4-young adult stage caused a dose and dose-rate dependent reprotoxicity with 43% reduction in total brood size at 6.7 Gy (108 mGy·h^-1). Systematic irradiation of the different developmental stages showed that the most sensitive life stage was L1 to young L4. Exposure during these stages was associated with dose-rate dependent genotoxic effects, resulting in a 1.8 to 2 fold increase in germ cell apoptosis in larvae subjected to 40 or 100 mGy·h^-1, respectively. This was accompanied by a dose-rate dependent reduction in the number of spermatids, which was positively correlated to the reprotoxic effect (0.99, PCC). RNAseq analysis of nematodes irradiated from L1 to L4 stage revealed a significant enrichment of differentially expressed genes related to both male and hermaphrodite reproductive processes. Gene network analysis revealed effects related to down-regulation of genes required for spindle formation and sperm meiosis/maturation, including smz-1, smz-2 and htas-1. Furthermore, the expression of a subset of 28 set-17 regulated Major Sperm Proteins (MSP) required for spermatid production was correlated (R² 0.80) to the reduction in reproduction and the number of spermatids. Collectively these observations corroborate the impairment of spermatogenesis as the major cause of gamma radiation induced life-stage dependent reprotoxic effect. Furthermore, the progeny of irradiated nematodes showed significant embryonal DNA damage that was associated with persistent effect on somatic growth. Unexpectedly, these nematodes maintained much of their reproductive capacity in spite of the reduced growth.

An investigation into neutron-induced bystander effects: How low can you go?

Neutron radiation is very harmful to both individual organisms and the environment. A n understanding of all aspects of both direct and indirect effects of radiation is necessary to accurately assess the risk of neutron radiation exposure. This review seeks to review current evidence in the literature for radiation-induced bystander effects and related effects attributable to neutron radiation. It also attempts to determine if the suggested evidence in the literature is sufficient to justify claims that neutron-based radiation can cause radiation-induced bystander effects. Lastly, the present paper suggests potential directions for future research concerning neutron radiation-induced bystander effects. Data was collected from studies investigating radiation-induced bystander effects and was used to mathematically generate pooled datasets and putative trends; this was done to potentially elucidate both the appearance of a conventional trend for radiation-induced bystander effects in studies using different types of radiation. Furthermore, literature review was used to compare studies utilizing similar tissue models to determine if neutron effects follow similar trends as those produced by electromagnetic radiation. We conclude that the current understanding of neutron-attributable radiation-induced bystander effects is incomplete. Various factors such as high gamma contamination during the irradiations, unestablished thresholds for gamma effects, different cell lines, energies, and different dose rates affected our ability to confirm a relationship between neutron irradiation and RIBE, particularly in low-dose regions below 100 mGy. It was determined through meta-analysis of the data that effects attributable to neutrons do seem to exist at higher doses, while gamma effects seem likely predominant at lower dose regions. Therefore, whether neutrons can induce bystander effects at lower doses remains unclear. Further research is required to confirm these findings and various recommendations are made to assist in this effort. With these recommendations, we hope that research conducted in the future will be better equipped to explore the indirect effects of neutron radiation as they pertain to biological and ecological phenomena.

Current evidence for a role of epigenetic mechanisms in response to ionizing radiation in an ecotoxicological context

The issue of potential long-term or hereditary effects for both humans and wildlife exposed to low doses (or dose rates) of ionising radiation is a major concern. Chronic exposure to ionising radiation, defined as an exposure over a large fraction of the organism's lifespan or even over several generations, can possibly have consequences in the progeny. Recent work has begun to show that epigenetics plays an important role in adaptation of organisms challenged to environmental stimulae. Changes to so-called epigenetic marks such as histone modifications, DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs result in altered transcriptomes and proteomes, without directly changing the DNA sequence. Moreover, some of these environmentally-induced epigenetic changes tend to persist over generations, and thus, epigenetic modifications are regarded as the conduits for environmental influence on the genome. Here, we review the current knowledge of possible involvement of epigenetics in the cascade of responses resulting from environmental exposure to ionising radiation. In addition, from a comparison of lab and field obtained data, we investigate evidence on radiation-induced changes in the epigenome and in particular the total or locus specific levels of DNA methylation. The challenges for future research and possible use of changes as an early warning (biomarker) of radiosensitivity and individual exposure is discussed. Such a biomarker could be used to detect and better understand the mechanisms of toxic action and inter/intra-species susceptibility to radiation within an environmental risk assessment and management context.

Transgenerational DNA Methylation Changes in Daphnia magna Exposed to Chronic γ Irradiation

Our aim was to investigate epigenetic changes in Daphnia magna after a 25-day chronic external γ irradiation (generation F0 exposed to 6.5 μGy·h^-1 or 41.3 mGy·h^-1) and their potential inheritance by subsequent recovering generations, namely, F2 (exposed as germline cells in F1 embryos) and F3 (the first truly unexposed generation). Effects on survival, growth, and reproduction were observed and DNA was extracted for whole-genome bisulfite sequencing in all generations. Results showed effects on reproduction in F0 but no effect in the subsequent generations F1, F2, and F3. In contrast, we observed significant methylation changes at specific CpG positions in every generation independent of dose rate, with a majority of hypomethylation. Some of these changes were shared between dose rates and between generations. Associated gene functions included gene families and genes that were previously shown to play roles during exposure to ionizing radiation. Common methylation changes detected between generations F2 and F3 clearly showed that epigenetic modifications can be transmitted to unexposed generations, most likely through the germline, with potential implications for environmental risk.

The long-term effects of acute exposure to ionising radiation on survival and fertility in Daphnia magna

The results of recent studies have provided strong evidence for the transgenerational effects of parental exposure to ionising radiation and chemical mutagens. However, the transgenerational effects of parental exposure on survival and fertility remain poorly understood. To establish whether parental irradiation can affect the survival and fertility of directly exposed organisms and their offspring, crustacean Daphnia magna were given 10, 100, 1000 and 10,000mGy of acute γ-rays. Exposure to 1000 and 10,000mGy significantly compromised the viability of irradiated Daphnia and their first-generation progeny, but did not affect the second-generation progeny. The fertility of F0 and F1Daphnia gradually declined with the dose of parental exposure and significantly decreased at dose of 100mGy and at higher doses. The effects of parental irradiation on the number of broods were only observed among the F0Daphnia exposed to 1000 and 10,000mGy, whereas the brood size was equally affected in the two consecutive generations. In contrast, the F2 total fertility was compromised only among progeny of parents that received the highest dose of 10,000mGy. We propose that the decreased fertility observed among the F2 progeny of parents exposed to 10,000mGy is attributed to transgenerational effects of parental irradiation. Our results also indicate a substantial recovery of the F2 progeny of irradiated F0Daphnia exposed to the lower doses of acute γ-rays.

Population modelling to compare chronic external radiotoxicity between individual and population endpoints in four taxonomic groups

In this study, we modelled population responses to chronic external gamma radiation in 12 laboratory species (including aquatic and soil invertebrates, fish and terrestrial mammals). Our aim was to compare radiosensitivity between individual and population endpoints and to examine how internationally proposed benchmarks for environmental radioprotection protected species against various risks at the population level. To do so, we used population matrix models, combining life history and chronic radiotoxicity data (derived from laboratory experiments and described in the literature and the FREDERICA database) to simulate changes in population endpoints (net reproductive rate R0, asymptotic population growth rate λ, equilibrium population size Neq) for a range of dose rates. Elasticity analyses of models showed that population responses differed depending on the affected individual endpoint (juvenile or adult survival, delay in maturity or reduction in fecundity), the considered population endpoint (R0, λ or Neq) and the life history of the studied species. Among population endpoints, net reproductive rate R0 showed the lowest EDR10 (effective dose rate inducing 10% effect) in all species, with values ranging from 26 μGy h(-1) in the mouse Mus musculus to 38,000 μGy h(-1) in the fish Oryzias latipes. For several species, EDR10 for population endpoints were lower than the lowest EDR10 for individual endpoints. Various population level risks, differing in severity for the population, were investigated. Population extinction (predicted when radiation effects caused population growth rate λ to decrease below 1, indicating that no population growth in the long term) was predicted for dose rates ranging from 2700 μGy h(-1) in fish to 12,000 μGy h(-1) in soil invertebrates. A milder risk, that population growth rate λ will be reduced by 10% of the reduction causing extinction, was predicted for dose rates ranging from 24 μGy h(-1) in mammals to 1800 μGy h(-1) in soil invertebrates. These predictions suggested that proposed reference benchmarks from the literature for different taxonomic groups protected all simulated species against population extinction. A generic reference benchmark of 10 μGy h(-1) protected all simulated species against 10% of the effect causing population extinction. Finally, a risk of pseudo-extinction was predicted from 2.0 μGy h(-1) in mammals to 970 μGy h(-1) in soil invertebrates, representing a slight but statistically significant population decline, the importance of which remains to be evaluated in natural settings.

An integrated view of gamma radiation effects on marine fauna: from molecules to ecosystems

Accidental release of nuclides into the ocean is causing health risks to marine organisms and humans. All life forms are susceptible to gamma radiation with a high variation, depending on various physical factors such as dose, mode, and time of exposure and various biological factors such as species, vitality, age, and gender. Differences in sensitivity of gamma radiation are also associated with different efficiencies of mechanisms related to protection and repair systems. Gamma radiation may also affect various other integration levels: from gene, protein, cells and organs, population, and communities, disturbing the energy flow of food webs that will ultimately affect the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Depending on exposure levels, gamma radiation induces damages on growth and reproduction in various organisms such as zooplankton, benthos, and fish in aquatic ecosystems. In this paper, harmful effects of gamma-irradiated aquatic organisms are described and the potential of marine copepods in assessing the risk of gamma radiation is discussed with respect to physiological adverse effects that even affect the ecosystem level.

Effects of chronic gamma irradiation: a multigenerational study using Caenorhabditis elegans

The effects of chronic exposure to (137)Cs gamma radiation (dose rate ranging from 6.6 to 42.7 mGy h(-1)) on growth and reproductive ability were carried out over three generations of Caenorhabditis elegans (F0, F1, and F2). Exposure began at the egg stage for the first generation and was stopped at the end of laying of third-generation eggs (F2). At the same time, the two subsequent generations from parental exposure were returned to the control conditions (F1' and F2'). There was no radiation-induced significant effect on growth, hatchability, and cumulative number of larvae within generations. Moreover, no significant differences were found in growth parameters (hatching length, maximal length, and a constant related to growth rate) among the generations. However, a decrease in the cumulative number of larvae across exposed generations was observed between F0 and F2 at the highest dose rate (238.8 ± 15.4 and 171.2 ± 13.1 number of larvae per individual, respectively). Besides, the F1' generation was found to lay significantly fewer eggs than the F1 generation for tested dose rates 6.6, 8.1, 19.4, and 28.1 mGy h(-1). Our results confirmed that reproduction (here, cumulative number of larvae) is the most sensitive endpoint affected by chronic exposure to ionizing radiation. The results obtained revealed transgenerational effects from parental exposure in the second generation, and the second non-exposed generation was indeed more affected than the second exposed generation.

Chronic exposure by ingestion of environmentally relevant doses of (226)Ra leads to transient growth perturbations in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas, Rafinesque, 1820)

PURPOSE

To assess the impact of environmentally relevant levels of ingested (226)Ra on a common freshwater fish species.

METHODS

Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas, Rafinesque) were obtained at the first feeding stage and established on a commercial fish food diet containing (226)Ra in the activity range 10 mBq/g(-1), -10,000 mBq/g(-1). They remained on this diet for 24 months and were sampled invasively at 1,6,18 and 24 months to assess growth, biochemical indices and accumulated dose and non-invasively also at 12 and 15 months to assess growth.

RESULTS

Fish fed 10 and 100 mBq/g(-1) diet showed a small transitory deregulation of growth at 6 and 12 months. Fish fed higher activities showed less significant or insignificant effects. There was a trend at 18 months which was stronger at 24 months for the population distribution to change in all of the (226)Ra fed groups so that smaller fish were smaller and bigger fish were bigger than the controls. There were also significant differences in the ratios of protein:DNA at 24 months which were seen as a trend but were not significant at earlier time points.

CONCLUSIONS

Fish fed a radium diet for 2 years show a small and transitory growth dysregulation at 6 and 12 months. The effects predominate at the lower activities suggesting hormetic or homeostatic adjustments. There was no effect on growth of exposure to the high activities (226)Ra. This suggests that radium does not have a serious impact on the ecology of the system and the level of radium that would be transferred to humans is very low. The results may be important in the assessment of long-term environmental impacts of (226)Ra exposure.