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Hinton TG, Anderson D, Bæk E, Baranwal VC, Beasley JC, Bontrager HL, Broggio D, Brown J, Byrne ME, Gerke HC, Ishiniwa H, Lance SL, Lind OC, Love CN, Nagata H, Nanba K, Okuda K, Salbu B, Shamovich D, Skuterud L, Trompier F, Webster SC, Zabrotski V. Fundamentals of wildlife dosimetry and lessons learned from a decade of measuring external dose rates in the field. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2024; 278:107472. [PMID: 38905881 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Methods for determining the radiation dose received by exposed biota require major improvements to reduce uncertainties and increase precision. We share our experiences in attempting to quantify external dose rates to free-ranging wildlife using GPS-coupled dosimetry methods. The manuscript is a primer on fundamental concepts in wildlife dosimetry in which the complexities of quantifying dose rates are highlighted, and lessons learned are presented based on research with wild boar and snakes at Fukushima, wolves at Chornobyl, and reindeer in Norway. GPS-coupled dosimeters produced empirical data to which numerical simulations of external dose using computer software were compared. Our data did not support a standing paradigm in risk analyses: Using averaged soil contaminant levels to model external dose rates conservatively overestimate the dose to individuals within a population. Following this paradigm will likely lead to misguided recommendations for risk management. The GPS-dosimetry data also demonstrated the critical importance of how modeled external dose rates are impacted by the scale at which contaminants are mapped. When contaminant mapping scales are coarse even detailed knowledge about each animal's home range was inadequate to accurately predict external dose rates. Importantly, modeled external dose rates based on a single measurement at a trap site did not correlate to actual dose rates measured on free ranging animals. These findings provide empirical data to support published concerns about inadequate dosimetry in much of the published Chernobyl and Fukushima dose-effects research. Our data indicate that a huge portion of that literature should be challenged, and that improper dosimetry remains a significant source of controversy in radiation dose-effect research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G Hinton
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan; CERAD CoE, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
| | - Donovan Anderson
- Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan.
| | - Edda Bæk
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Østerås, Norway.
| | | | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA.
| | - Helen L Bontrager
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA.
| | - David Broggio
- Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
| | - Justin Brown
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Østerås, Norway.
| | - Michael E Byrne
- School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
| | - Hannah C Gerke
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA.
| | - Hiroko Ishiniwa
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan.
| | - Stacey L Lance
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA.
| | - Ole C Lind
- CERAD CoE, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
| | - Cara N Love
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA.
| | - Hiroko Nagata
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan.
| | - Kenji Nanba
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan.
| | - Kei Okuda
- Faculty of Human Environmental Sciences, Hiroshima Shudo University, Hiroshima, Japan.
| | - Brit Salbu
- CERAD CoE, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
| | | | | | - François Trompier
- Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
| | - Sarah C Webster
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA.
| | - Viachaslau Zabrotski
- Republican Center for Hydrometeorology, Control of Radioactive Contamination and Environmental Monitoring (Belhydromet), Minsk, Belarus.
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2
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Hayama SI, Nakanishi S, Tanaka A, Kato T, Watanabe C, Kikuchi N, Danjo R, Matsuda A, Mori W, Kawabata Y, Akiba H, Konno F, Kawamoto Y, Omi T. Decline in the Conception Rate of Wild Japanese Monkeys after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2024; 86:325-334. [PMID: 38664243 PMCID: PMC11143026 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-024-01063-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
We examined the conception rate of wild Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) in Fukushima City that were exposed to radiation as a result of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. The conception rate in the year of delivery from 2009 to 2022 was estimated by dissecting individuals that were euthanized by the government for population control as a countermeasure against crop damage. To evaluate the effects of exposure, the cumulative exposure dose for each individual was calculated using the concentration of radiocesium deposited in the soil at the capture site and the concentration of radiocesium in muscle estimated from the aggregated transfer factor. There were no significant differences in conception rates across all age classes over time. In terms of conception rates by age class, there was a significant decrease post-exposure compared with pre-exposure in the age class ≥ 8 years, but no significant differences in the age class 5-7 years. The non-ovulation rate did not significantly differ between the pre- and post-exposure periods for any age class. Body fat index, which can affect fertility, was compared between the pre- and post-exposure periods, and no significant differences were found in either age class. In contrast, the median total cumulative exposure (cumulative internal exposure + cumulative external exposure) was significantly higher in the age class ≥ 8 years compared with the age class 5-7 years. These results suggest that the total cumulative exposure dose may be one of the reasons for the lower conception rate in the post-exposure period among the age class ≥ 8 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Ichi Hayama
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan.
| | - Setsuko Nakanishi
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Aki Tanaka
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Takuya Kato
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Chinatsu Watanabe
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Kikuchi
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Risa Danjo
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Ayano Matsuda
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Wakako Mori
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Yuki Kawabata
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Hikari Akiba
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Fumiharu Konno
- Tohoku Wildlife Management Center, Sendai, Miyagi, 989-3212, Japan
| | - Yoshi Kawamoto
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Toshinori Omi
- School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
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Sakauchi K, Otaki JM. 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. Microorganisms 2024; 12:364. [PMID: 38399767 PMCID: PMC10892324 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The biological impacts of the nuclear accidents in Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) on wildlife have been studied in many organisms over decades, mainly from dosimetric perspectives based on laboratory experiments using indicator species. However, ecological perspectives are required to understand indirect field-specific effects among species, which are difficult to evaluate under dosimetric laboratory conditions. From the viewpoint that microbes play a fundamental role in ecosystem function as decomposers and symbionts for plants, we reviewed studies on microbes inhabiting soil and plants in Chernobyl and Fukushima in an attempt to find supporting evidence for indirect field-specific effects on plants and insect herbivores. Compositional changes in soil microbes associated with decreases in abundance and species diversity were reported, especially in heavily contaminated areas of both Chernobyl and Fukushima, which may accompany explosions of radioresistant species. In Chernobyl, the population size of soil microbes remained low for at least 20 years after the accident, and the abundance of plant-associated microbes, which are related to the growth and defense systems of plants, possibly decreased. These reported changes in microbes likely affect soil conditions and alter plant physiology. These microbe-mediated effects may then indirectly affect insect herbivores through food-mass-mediated, pollen-mediated, and metabolite-mediated interactions. Metabolite-mediated interactions may be a major pathway for ecological impacts at low pollution levels and could explain the decreases in insect herbivores in Fukushima. The present review highlights the importance of the indirect field effects of long-term low-dose radiation exposure under complex field circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joji M. Otaki
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara 903-0213, Okinawa, Japan;
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Sakauchi K, Otaki JM. Imaging Plate Autoradiography for Ingested Anthropogenic Cesium-137 in Butterfly Bodies: Implications for the Biological Impacts of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13051211. [PMID: 37240856 DOI: 10.3390/life13051211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011 caused biological impacts on the pale grass blue butterfly Zizeeria maha. At least some of the impacts are likely mediated by the host plant, resulting in "field effects". However, to obtain the whole picture of the impacts, direct exposure effects should also be evaluated. Here, we examined the distribution of experimentally ingested anthropogenic cesium-137 (137Cs) in adult butterfly bodies using imaging plate autoradiography. We showed that 137Cs ingested by larvae was incorporated into adult bodies and was biased to females, although the majority of ingested 137Cs was excreted in the pupal cuticle and excretory material during eclosion. 137Cs accumulation in adult bodies was the highest in the abdomen, followed by the thorax and other organs. These results suggest that 137Cs accumulation in reproductive organs may cause adverse transgenerational or maternal effects mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) on germ cells. 137Cs accumulation was detected in field individuals collected in September 2011 and September 2016 but not in May 2011, which is consistent with the abnormality dynamics known from previous studies. Taken together, these results contribute to an integrative understanding of the multifaceted biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ko Sakauchi
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara 903-0213, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Joji M Otaki
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara 903-0213, Okinawa, Japan
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Hayama SI, Nakanishi S, Tanaka A, Konno F, Kawamoto Y, Omi T. Influence of radiation exposure to delayed fetal growth in wild Japanese monkeys after the Fukushima accident. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1151361. [PMID: 37180055 PMCID: PMC10169707 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1151361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) were exposed to radiation after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011. To clarify the biological effects of radiation exposure on their fetal growth, pregnant monkeys and their fetuses were analyzed. These animals were collected between 2008 and 2020 (before and after the accident in 2011) living in Fukushima City, approximately 70 km from the nuclear power plant. Multiple regression analyses were conducted with fetal body weight (FBW) and fetal head circumference (FHS) as objective variables, and maternal and fetal factors as explanatory variables. The maternal factors were relative exposure dose rate (REDR), age, body weight, body length, fat index, and parity. The fetal factors were crown ramp length (CRL) and sex. Multiple regression analyses showed that FBR and FHS growth were positively associated with CRL, maternal body length, and negatively associated with REDR. Since the relative growth of FBR and FHS to CRL decreased with increasing REDR, radiation exposure due to the nuclear accident may have contributed to the delayed fetal growth observed in Japanese monkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-ichi Hayama
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Setsuko Nakanishi
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Aki Tanaka
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumiharu Konno
- Tohoku Wildlife Management Center, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Yoshi Kawamoto
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshinori Omi
- School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
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Hayama SI, Tanaka A, Nakanishi S, Konno F, Kawamoto Y, Ochiai K, Omi T. Time dependence of 137Cs contamination in wild Japanese monkeys after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:88359-88368. [PMID: 36308650 PMCID: PMC9672003 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23707-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Over the 10 years immediately after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, we measured the changes in the muscle 137Cs concentration (Bq/kg) of wild Japanese monkeys living in Fukushima City, which is located approximately 70 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The muscle137Csconcentration, which was observed at a maximum of 13,500 Bq/kg immediately after the accident, had decreased to several hundred Bq/kg 10 years later. The muscle 137Cs concentration was significantly related to the soil contamination levels (10,000-30,000, 30,000-60,000, 60,000-100,000, and 100,000-300,000 Bq/m2), sex, age class (immature, mature), body weight (> 5000 g, 5000-10,000 g, < 10,000 g), and seasons (the cold period from December to April, the warm period from May to November).The value of muscle 137Cs concentration and the aggregated transfer factor (Tag: calculated by dividing muscle 137Cs concentration [Bq/kg] by soil 137Cs deposition density at the capture site [Bq/m2]) apparently decreased with time for several years. However, post hoc pairwise comparisons showed no difference from 2017 to 2020, and the accumulation of 137Cs in muscle may continue for some time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Ichi Hayama
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan.
| | - Aki Tanaka
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Setsuko Nakanishi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Fumiharu Konno
- Fukushima Mirai Agricultural Cooperative, Fukushima, 960-0185, Japan
- Tohoku Wildlife Management Center, Sendai, Miyagi, 989-3212, Japan
| | - Yoshi Kawamoto
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Ochiai
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Toshinori Omi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
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Otaki JM, Sakauchi K, Taira W. The second decade of the blue butterfly in Fukushima: Untangling the ecological field effects after the Fukushima nuclear accident. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2022; 18:1539-1550. [PMID: 35475314 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Many field observations of the biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident have been reported in the first decade after the accident. A series of observational and experimental studies have demonstrated causal adverse effects on the pale grass blue butterfly even at the low-level radiation exposure in the "field," contrary to the dosimetric view that insects are generally tolerant of radiation exposure. However, it has been demonstrated that the pale grass blue butterfly is tolerant of high oral doses of anthropogenic radioactive cesium (137 Cs) under "laboratory" conditions. This field-laboratory paradox can be explained by ecological field effects; for example, radiation stress in the field causes physiological and biochemical changes in the host plant, which then trophically affects butterfly larvae. The second decade of butterfly-based Fukushima research will be devoted to demonstrating how such adverse field effects occur. Changes in the host plant's nutritional contents likely affect butterfly physiology. The host plant may also upregulate secondary metabolites that affect herbivorous insects. The plant may be affected by changes in endophytic soil microbes in radioactively contaminated areas. If demonstrated, these results will reveal that the delicate ecological balances among the butterfly, its host plant, and soil microbes have been affected by radioactive pollution in Fukushima, which has important implications for environmental policies and human health. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1539-1550. © SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joji M Otaki
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Ko Sakauchi
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Wataru Taira
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
- Research Planning Office, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
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Evaluation of sperm fertilization capacity of large Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus) exposed to chronic low dose-rate radiation after the Fukushima accident. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH AND APPLIED SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jrras.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Ingestional Toxicity of Radiation-Dependent Metabolites of the Host Plant for the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly: A Mechanism of Field Effects of Radioactive Pollution in Fukushima. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12050615. [PMID: 35629283 PMCID: PMC9146399 DOI: 10.3390/life12050615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident have been reported in various organisms, including the pale grass blue butterfly Zizeeria maha and its host plant Oxalis corniculata. This plant upregulates various secondary metabolites in response to low-dose radiation exposure, which may contribute to the high mortality and abnormality rates of the butterfly in Fukushima. However, this field effect hypothesis has not been experimentally tested. Here, using an artificial diet for larvae, we examined the ingestional toxicity of three radiation-dependent plant metabolites annotated in a previous metabolomic study: lauric acid (a saturated fatty acid), alfuzosin (an adrenergic receptor antagonist), and ikarugamycin (an antibiotic likely from endophytic bacteria). Ingestion of lauric acid or alfuzosin caused a significant decrease in the pupation, eclosion (survival), and normality rates, indicating toxicity of these compounds. Lauric acid made the egg-larval days significantly longer, indicating larval growth retardation. In contrast, ikarugamycin caused a significant increase in the pupation and eclosion rates, probably due to the protection of the diet from fungi and bacteria. These results suggest that at least some of the radiation-dependent plant metabolites, such as lauric acid, contribute to the deleterious effects of radioactive pollution on the butterfly in Fukushima, providing experimental evidence for the field effect hypothesis.
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Sakauchi K, Taira W, Otaki JM. Metabolomic Profiles of the Creeping Wood Sorrel Oxalis corniculata in Radioactively Contaminated Fields in Fukushima: Dose-Dependent Changes in Key Metabolites. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12010115. [PMID: 35054508 PMCID: PMC8780803 DOI: 10.3390/life12010115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The biological impacts of the Fukushima nuclear accident, in 2011, on wildlife have been studied in many organisms, including the pale grass blue butterfly and its host plant, the creeping wood sorrel Oxalis corniculata. Here, we performed an LC–MS-based metabolomic analysis on leaves of this plant collected in 2018 from radioactively contaminated and control localities in Fukushima, Miyagi, and Niigata prefectures, Japan. Using 7967 peaks detected by LC–MS analysis, clustering analyses showed that nine Fukushima samples and one Miyagi sample were clustered together, irrespective of radiation dose, while two Fukushima (Iitate) and two Niigata samples were not in this cluster. However, 93 peaks were significantly different (FDR < 0.05) among the three dose-dependent groups based on background, low, and high radiation dose rates. Among them, seven upregulated and 15 downregulated peaks had single annotations, and their peak intensity values were positively and negatively correlated with ground radiation dose rates, respectively. Upregulated peaks were annotated as kudinoside D (saponin), andrachcinidine (alkaloid), pyridoxal phosphate (stress-related activated vitamin B6), and four microbe-related bioactive compounds, including antibiotics. Additionally, two peaks were singularly annotated and significantly upregulated (K1R1H1; peptide) or downregulated (DHAP(10:0); decanoyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate) most at the low dose rates. Therefore, this plant likely responded to radioactive pollution in Fukushima by upregulating and downregulating key metabolites. Furthermore, plant-associated endophytic microbes may also have responded to pollution, suggesting their contributions to the stress response of the plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ko Sakauchi
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; (K.S.); (W.T.)
| | - Wataru Taira
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; (K.S.); (W.T.)
- Research Planning Office, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Joji M. Otaki
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; (K.S.); (W.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-98-895-8557
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Sproull M, Hayes J, Ishiniwa H, Nanba K, Shankavaram U, Camphausen K, Johnson TE. Proteomic Biomarker Analysis of Serum from Japanese Field Mice (Apodemus Speciosus) Collected within the Fukushima Difficult-to-return Zone. HEALTH PHYSICS 2021; 121:564-573. [PMID: 34618712 PMCID: PMC8556248 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000001467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The environmental impact of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident is a source of ongoing concern as there is uncertainty regarding the effects of chronic radiation exposure on local plant and animal life from Fukushima-derived radionuclides. In the current study, changes in proteomic biomarker expression due to chronic environmentally-derived radiation exposures was examined in wild field mice. Serum from 10 wild field mice (Apodemus speciosus) native to the Fukushima difficult-to-return zone and from eight wild field mice native to the Soma area (control) were collected. External dose estimations were completed using measurements of ambient radiation levels and calculating 137Cs concentrations in soil. Internal dose was estimated by counting whole mice using an HPGe detector. Age of the mice was estimated using molar wear. Serum was screened using the aptamer-based SOMAscan proteomic assay technology for changes in expression of 1,310 protein analytes. A subset panel of protein biomarkers that demonstrated significant changes in expression between control and exposed mice was determined and analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Control animals had a calculated lifetime dose range from 0.001 to 0.007 Gy, and exposed animals had a calculated lifetime dose range from 0.01 to 0.64 Gy. No discernable effect of dose rate was seen as relative dose rate correlated with dose for all samples. Detectable values were obtained for all 1,310 proteins included in the SOMAscan assay. Subset panels of proteins demonstrating significant (p < 0.05) changes in expression with either an upregulated or downregulated 1.5-fold change over control were identified for both the sample cohort inclusive of all exposed samples and the sample cohort restricted to samples from animals receiving "low" dose exposures. These panels of proteins from exposed animals were analyzed using IPA, which highlighted changes in key biological pathways related to injury, respiratory, renal, urological, and gastrointestinal disease, and cancer. Significant changes in expression of proteomic biomarkers were seen in the serum of wild field mice that received environmental exposure to Fukushima-derived radionuclides. Our findings demonstrate novel biomarkers of radiation exposure in wildlife within the Fukushima difficult-to-return zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Sproull
- Radiation Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland USA
| | - Joshua Hayes
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado USA
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hiroko Ishiniwa
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kenji Nanba
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Uma Shankavaram
- Radiation Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland USA
| | - Kevin Camphausen
- Radiation Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland USA
| | - Thomas E. Johnson
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado USA
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Sakauchi K, Taira W, Otaki JM. Metabolomic Response of the Creeping Wood Sorrel Oxalis corniculata to Low-Dose Radiation Exposure from Fukushima's Contaminated Soil. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:990. [PMID: 34575139 PMCID: PMC8472241 DOI: 10.3390/life11090990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The biological consequences of the Fukushima nuclear accident have been intensively studied using the pale grass blue butterfly Zizeeria maha and its host plant, the creeping wood sorrel Oxalis corniculata. Here, we performed metabolomic analyses of Oxalis leaves from Okinawa to examine the plant metabolites that were upregulated or downregulated in response to low-dose radiation exposure from Fukushima's contaminated soil. The cumulative dose of radiation to the plants was 5.7 mGy (34 μGy/h for 7 days). The GC-MS analysis revealed a systematic tendency of downregulation among the metabolites, some of which were annotated as caproic acid, nonanoic acid, azelaic acid, and oleic acid. Others were annotated as fructose, glucose, and citric acid, involved in the carbohydrate metabolic pathways. Notably, the peak annotated as lauric acid was upregulated. In contrast, the LC-MS analysis detected many upregulated metabolites, some of which were annotated as either antioxidants or stress-related chemicals involved in defense pathways. Among them, only three metabolite peaks had a single annotation, one of which was alfuzosin, an antagonist of the α1-adrenergic receptor. We conclude that this Oxalis plant responded metabolically to low-dose radiation exposure from Fukushima's contaminated soil, which may mediate the ecological "field effects" of the developmental deterioration of butterflies in Fukushima.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ko Sakauchi
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; (K.S.); (W.T.)
| | - Wataru Taira
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; (K.S.); (W.T.)
- Center for Research Advancement and Collaboration, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Joji M. Otaki
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; (K.S.); (W.T.)
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Folkers C. Disproportionate Impacts of Radiation Exposure on Women, Children, and Pregnancy: Taking Back our Narrative. JOURNAL OF THE HISTORY OF BIOLOGY 2021; 54:31-66. [PMID: 33788123 DOI: 10.1007/s10739-021-09630-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Narratives surrounding ionizing radiation have often minimized radioactivity's impact on the health of human and non-human animals and the natural environment. Many Cold War research policies, practices, and interpretations drove nuclear technology forward by institutionally obscuring empirical evidence of radiation's disproportionate and low-dose harm-a legacy we still confront. Women, children, and pregnancy development are particularly sensitive to exposure from radioactivity, suffering more damage per dose than adult males, even down to small doses, making low doses a cornerstone of concern. Evidence of compounding generational damage could indicate increased sensitivity through heritable impact. This essay examines the existing empirical evidence demonstrating these sensitivities, and how research institutions and regulatory authorities have devalued them, willingly sacrificing health in the service of maintaining and expanding nuclear technology (Nadesan 2019). Radiation's disproportionate impacts should now be the research and policy focus, as society is poised to make crucial and long-lasting decisions regarding climate change mitigation and future energy sources (Brown 2019b).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Folkers
- Beyond Nuclear, 7304 Carroll Ave #182, Takoma Park, MD, 20912, USA.
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Komatsu K, Iwasaki T, Murata K, Yamashiro H, Goh VST, Nakayama R, Fujishima Y, Ono T, Kino Y, Simizu Y, Takahashi A, Shinoda H, Ariyoshi K, Kasai K, Suzuki M, Palmerini MG, Belli M, Macchiarelli G, Oka T, Fukumoto M, Yoshida MA, Nakata A, Miura T. Morphological reproductive characteristics of testes and fertilization capacity of cryopreserved sperm after the Fukushima accident in raccoon (Procyon lotor). Reprod Domest Anim 2021; 56:484-497. [PMID: 33372327 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, we have established an archive system of livestock and wild animals from the surrounding ex-evacuation zone. Wildlife within the alert zone have been exposed to low-dose-rate (LDR) radiation for a long continuous time. In this study, we analysed the morphological characteristics of the testes and in vitro fertilization (IVF) capacity of cryopreserved sperm of racoons from the ex-evacuation zone of the FDNPP accident. The radioactivity of caesium-137 (137 Cs) was measured by gamma-ray spectrometry, and the measured radioactivity concentration was 300-6,630 Bq/kg in the Fukushima raccoons. Notably, normal spermatogenesis was observed in the seminiferous tubules of the testes, with the germinal epithelium composed of a spermatogenic cell lineage with no evident ultrastructural alterations; freeze-thawing sperm penetration ability was confirmed using the interspecific zona pellucida-free mouse oocytes IVF assays. This study revealed that the chronic and LDR radiation exposure associated with the FDNPP accident had no adverse effect on the reproductive characteristics and functions of male raccoons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuki Komatsu
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Tsugumi Iwasaki
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Kosuke Murata
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hideaki Yamashiro
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | | | - Ryo Nakayama
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Yohei Fujishima
- Department of Radiation Biology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takumi Ono
- Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasushi Kino
- Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | | | - Hisashi Shinoda
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ariyoshi
- Integrated Center for Science and Humanities, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kosuke Kasai
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Suzuki
- International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Maria Grazia Palmerini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Manuel Belli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Guido Macchiarelli
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Toshitaka Oka
- Sector of Nuclear Science Research, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Manabu Fukumoto
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, Pathology Informatics Team, Saitama, Japan
| | - Mitsuaki A Yoshida
- Department of Risk Analysis and Biodosimetry, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Akifumi Nakata
- Department of Life Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tomisato Miura
- Department of Risk Analysis and Biodosimetry, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Aomori, Japan
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15
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Transition of Radioactive Cesium Deposition in Reproductive Organs of Free-Roaming Cats in Namie Town, Fukushima. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18041772. [PMID: 33670348 PMCID: PMC7918855 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the internal contamination by radioactive cesium associated with the FDNPP accident, in the testes or uterus and ovaries of free-roaming cats (Felis silvestris catus), which were protected by volunteers in the Namie Town, Fukushima. A total of 253 samples (145 testes and 108 uterus and ovaries) obtained from adult cats and 15 fetuses from 3 pregnant female cats were measured. Free-roaming cats in Namie Town had a higher level of radioactive contamination in comparison to the control group in Tokyo, as the 134Cs + 137Cs activity concentration ranged from not detectable to 37,882 Bq kg-1 in adult cats. Furthermore, the radioactivity in the fetuses was almost comparable to those in their mother's uterus and ovaries. The radioactivity was also different between several cats protected in the same location, and there was no significant correlation with ambient dose-rates and activity concentrations in soil. Moreover, radioactive cesium levels in cats decreased with each year. Therefore, it is likely that decontamination work in Namie Town and its surroundings could affect radioactive cesium accumulation, and thus possibly reduce the internal radiation exposure of wildlife living in contaminated areas. It is hence necessary to continue radioactivity monitoring efforts for the residents living in Namie Town.
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Nutrient Imbalance of the Host Plant for Larvae of the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly May Mediate the Field Effect of Low-Dose Radiation Exposure in Fukushima: Dose-Dependent Changes in the Sodium Content. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12020149. [PMID: 33572324 PMCID: PMC7916146 DOI: 10.3390/insects12020149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The pale grass blue butterfly Zizeeria maha is sensitive to low-dose radioactive pollution from the Fukushima nuclear accident in the field but is also highly tolerant to radioactive cesium (137Cs) in an artificial diet in laboratory experiments. To resolve this field-laboratory paradox, we hypothesize that the butterfly shows vulnerability in the field through biochemical changes in the larval host plant, the creeping wood sorrel Oxalis corniculata, in response to radiation stress. To test this field-effect hypothesis, we examined nutrient contents in the host plant leaves from Tohoku (mostly polluted areas including Fukushima), Niigata, and Kyushu, Japan. Leaves from Tohoku showed significantly lower sodium and lipid contents than those from Niigata. In the Tohoku samples, the sodium content (but not the lipid content) was significantly negatively correlated with the radioactivity concentration of cesium (137Cs) in leaves and with the ground radiation dose. The sodium content was also correlated with other nutrient factors. These results suggest that the sodium imbalance of the plant may be caused by radiation stress and that this nutrient imbalance may be one of the reasons that this monophagous butterfly showed high mortality and morphological abnormalities in the field shortly after the accident in Fukushima.
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Maruyama K, Wang B, Doi K, Ishibashi K, Ichikawa S, Furuhata Y, Kubota M, Watanabe Y. Radiation effects on wild medaka around Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant assessed by micronucleus assay. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2021; 62:79-85. [PMID: 33326996 PMCID: PMC7779352 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rraa116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Since the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1-NPP) accident in 2011, radiation effects on wildlife in the contaminated areas have been a major concern. The outskirts of the F1-NPP are mainly rural areas, where many rice fields, streams and reservoirs are located. We searched for wild medaka (small aquarium fish) around the F1-NPP and found two wild medaka habitats (S1 and S2). S1 is a stream located 4 km from the F1-NPP, where the ambient dose equivalent rate was 0.4-0.9 μSv/h (2013-14), and S2 is a reservoir located 7.5 km from the F1-NPP, where the ambient dose equivalent rate was 9.8-22 μSv/h (2013-14 and 2017-18). Dosimeters were placed for one day at the locations where the medaka were captured, and the absorbed dose rates were estimated. Radiation effects on wild medaka were examined using micronucleus assay between 2013 and 2018. No significant difference in frequency of micronucleated gill cells was observed among the wild medaka from S1, S2 and our cultivated medaka that were used as a control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kouichi Maruyama
- Corresponding author: Department of Radioecology and Fukushima Project, Center for Advanced Radiation Emergency Medicine, Quantum Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan. Tel: +81-43-206-3085; Fax: +81-43- 251-4582;
| | - Bing Wang
- Department of Radiation Effects Research, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Quantum Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-Ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Doi
- Center for Radiation Protection Knowledge, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Quantum Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Koji Ishibashi
- Tokyo College of Environment, 3-3-7 Kotobashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0022, Japan
| | - San’ei Ichikawa
- Japan Wildlife Research Center, 3-3-7 Kotobashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-8606, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Furuhata
- Japan Wildlife Research Center, 3-3-7 Kotobashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-8606, Japan
| | - Masahide Kubota
- Japan Wildlife Research Center, 3-3-7 Kotobashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-8606, Japan
| | - Yoshito Watanabe
- Department of Radioecology and Fukushima Project, Center for Advanced Radiation Emergency Medicine, Quantum Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 4-9-1 Anagawa, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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18
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Tanaka S, Kinouchi T, Fujii T, Imanaka T, Takahashi T, Fukutani S, Maki D, Nohtomi A, Takahashi S. Observation of morphological abnormalities in silkworm pupae after feeding 137CsCl-supplemented diet to evaluate the effects of low dose-rate exposure. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16055. [PMID: 32994421 PMCID: PMC7524783 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72882-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, morphological abnormalities in lepidopteran insects, such as shrinkage and/or aberration of wings, have been reported. Butterflies experimentally exposed to radiocesium also show such abnormalities. However, because of a lack of data on absorbed dose and dose-effect relationship, it is unclear whether these abnormalities are caused directly by radiation. We conducted a low dose-rate exposure experiment in silkworms reared from egg to fully developed larvae on a 137CsCl-supplemented artificial diet and estimated the absorbed dose to evaluate morphological abnormalities in pupal wings. We used 137CsCl at 1.3 × 103 Bq/g fresh weight to simulate 137Cs contamination around the FDNPP. Absorbed doses were estimated using a glass rod dosimeter and Monte Carlo particle transport simulation code PHITS. Average external absorbed doses were approximately 0.24 (on diet) and 0.016 mGy/day (near diet); the average internal absorbed dose was approximately 0.82 mGy/day. Pupal wing structure is sensitive to radiation exposure. However, no significant differences were observed in the wing-to-whole body ratio of pupae between the 137CsCl-exposure and control groups. These results suggest that silkworms are insensitive to low dose-rate exposure due to chronic ingestion of high 137Cs at a high concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sota Tanaka
- Research Group for Environmental Science, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tokai, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan.
| | - Tadatoshi Kinouchi
- Division of Radiation Life Science, Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka, 590-0494, Japan
| | - Tsuguru Fujii
- Laboratory of Creative Science for Insect Industries, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Nishi-ku, Motooka, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Tetsuji Imanaka
- Division of Nuclear Engineering Science, Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka, 590-0494, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Takahashi
- Division of Nuclear Engineering Science, Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka, 590-0494, Japan
| | - Satoshi Fukutani
- Division of Nuclear Engineering Science, Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka, 590-0494, Japan
| | - Daisuke Maki
- Technical Staff Office, Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka, 590-0494, Japan
| | - Akihiro Nohtomi
- Quantum Radiation Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Sentaro Takahashi
- Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
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19
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Ariyoshi K, Miura T, Kasai K, Goh VST, Fujishima Y, Nakata A, Takahashi A, Shimizu Y, Shinoda H, Yamashiro H, Seymour C, Mothersill C, Yoshida MA. Environmental radiation on large Japanese field mice in Fukushima reduced colony forming potential in hematopoietic progenitor cells without inducing genomic instability. Int J Radiat Biol 2020; 98:1147-1158. [PMID: 32791031 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1807643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To study the environmental radiation effects of wild animals after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident, we assessed effects on hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) in large Japanese field mice (Apodemus speciosus). MATERIALS AND METHODS A. speciosus were collected from three contaminated sites and control area. The air dose-rates at the control and contaminated areas were 0.96 ± 0.05 μGy/d (Hirosaki), 14.4 ± 2.4 μGy/d (Tanashio), 208.8 ± 31.2 μGy/d (Ide), 470.4 ± 93.6 μGy/d (Omaru), respectively. We investigated possible DNA damage and pro-inflammatory markers in the bone marrow (BM) cells. The colony-forming potential of BM cells was estimated by the number of HPC colony-forming cells. Radiation-induced genomic instability (RIGI) in HPCs was also analyzed by quantifying delayed DNA damage in CFU-GM clones. RESULTS Although no significant differences in DNA damage and inflammation markers in BM cells from control and contaminated areas, the number of HPC colonies exhibited an inverse correlation with air dose-rate. With regard to RIGI, no significant differences in DNA damage of CFU-GM clones between the mice from the control and the three contaminated areas. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that low dose-rate radiation of more than 200 Gy/d reduced HPCs, possibly eliminating genomically unstable HPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Ariyoshi
- Integrated Center for Science and Humanities, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima City, Japan
| | - Tomisato Miura
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Kosuke Kasai
- Department of Bioscience and Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Valerie Swee Ting Goh
- Department of Bioscience and Laboratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Yohei Fujishima
- Department of Radiation Biology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Akifumi Nakata
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University of Science, Sapporo, Japan
| | | | | | - Hisashi Shinoda
- Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hideaki Yamashiro
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Nishiku, Japan
| | - Colin Seymour
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | | | - Mitsuaki A Yoshida
- Department of Radiation Biology, Institute of Radiation Emergency Medicine, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
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20
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Cannon G, Kiang JG. A review of the impact on the ecosystem after ionizing irradiation: wildlife population. Int J Radiat Biol 2020; 98:1054-1062. [PMID: 32663058 PMCID: PMC10139769 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1793021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE On 26 April 1986, reactor 4 at the Chernobyl power plant underwent a catastrophic failure leading to core explosions and open-air fires. On 11 March 2011, a combination of earthquake and tsunami led to a similar disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. In both cases, radioactive isotopes were released and contaminated the air, soil and water in a substantial area around the power plants. Humans were evacuated from the immediate regions but the wildlife stayed and continued to be affected by the ongoing high radiation exposure initially and later decayed amounts of fallout dusts with time. In this review, we will examine the significant effects of the increased radiation on vegetation, insects, fish, birds and mammals. CONCLUSIONS The initial intense radiation in these areas has gradually begun to decrease but still remains high. Adaptation to radiation is evident and the ecosystems have dynamically changed from the periods immediately after the accidents to the present day. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that allow the adaptation and recovery of wildlife to chronic radiation challenges would aid in future attempts at ecosystem remediation in the wake of such incidents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgetta Cannon
- Radiation Combined Injury Program, Scientific Research Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Juliann G Kiang
- Radiation Combined Injury Program, Scientific Research Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
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21
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Endo S, Matsutani Y, Kajimoto T, Tanaka K, Suzuki M. Internal exposure rate conversion coefficients and absorbed fractions of mouse for 137Cs, 134Cs and 90Sr contamination in body. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2020; 61:535-545. [PMID: 32500146 PMCID: PMC7336567 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rraa030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine parameters for estimating the internal exposure of all organs in mouse experiments from the radioactivity concentration in organs. The estimation of internal exposure rate conversion coefficients and absorbed fractions for 137Cs, 134Cs and 90Sr by the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS) with a voxel-based mouse phantom is presented. The geometry of the voxel phantom is constructed from computer tomography images of a mouse 9 cm in length weighing 23.9 g. The voxel-based mouse phantom has the following organs: brain, skull, heart, lungs, liver, stomach, spleen, kidneys, bladder, testis and tissue (tissue and other organs). Gamma- and beta-rays from 137Cs, 134Cs and 90Sr sources in each source organ are generated and scored for every target organ. The internal exposure rate conversion coefficients and absorbed fractions are calculated from deposition energies in each target organ from each source organ and are used to generate an internal exposure rate conversion coefficient matrix and an absorbed fraction matrix. The absorbed fractions of beta-rays in the source organs are roughly 0.5-0.8 for 137Cs and 134Cs, and the absorbed fractions of gamma-rays are <0.04 for 137Cs and <0.03 for 134Cs. The internal exposure rate conversion coefficient matrix is defined using the absorbed fractions. The calculated internal exposure rate coefficient matrix is tested under a uniform radioactivity concentration of 1 Bq/kg for 137Cs, 134Cs and 90Sr. The estimated internal exposure rates in the mouse whole body for 137Cs, 134Cs and 90Sr are 3.28 × 10-3, 2.55 × 10-3 and 1.20 × 10-2 μGy/d, respectively. These values are very similar to those for an ellipsoid frog (31.4 g) and an ellipsoid crab egg mass (12.6 g) reported in ICRP Publication 108.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Endo
- Quantum Energy Applications, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-4-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan
| | - Yuki Matsutani
- Quantum Energy Applications, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-4-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Kajimoto
- Quantum Energy Applications, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-4-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan
| | - Kenichi Tanaka
- Quantum Energy Applications, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-4-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Suzuki
- International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University, Aramaki Aza-Aoba 468-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8572, Japan
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22
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Omi T, Nakiri S, Nakanishi S, Ishii N, Uno T, Konno F, Inagaki T, Sakamoto A, Shito M, Udagawa C, Tada N, Ochiai K, Kato T, Kawamoto Y, Tsuchida S, Hayama SI. Concentrations of 137Cs radiocaesium in the organs and tissues of low-dose-exposed wild Japanese monkeys. BMC Res Notes 2020; 13:121. [PMID: 32122403 PMCID: PMC7053083 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-04972-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Following the massive earthquake that struck eastern Japan on March 11, 2011, a large amount of radioactive material was released into the environment from the damaged reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). After the FDNPP accident, radiocaesium was first detected in muscle samples from wild Japanese monkeys exposed to radioactive materials, and haematologic effects, changes in head size, and delayed body weight gain were also reported, but little is known about the distribution of 137Cs in the organs and tissues of wild Japanese monkeys. Results We detected the 137Cs in various organ and tissue samples of 10 wild Japanese monkeys inhabiting the forested areas of Fukushima City that were captured between July and August 2012. Among muscle, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen, muscle exhibited the highest and the brain the lowest 137Cs concentration. The concentration (mean ± SD) of 137Cs in muscle, brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen was 77 ± 66, 26 ± 22, 41 ± 35, 49 ± 41, 41 ± 38, 53 ± 41, and 53 ± 51 Bq/kg, respectively. These results can help us understand the biological effects of long-term internal radiation exposure in non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshinori Omi
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan.
| | - Sachie Nakiri
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Setsuko Nakanishi
- Conservation and Animal Welfare, 1-9-4 Kunitachi City, Tokyo, 186-0004, Japan
| | - Naomi Ishii
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Taiki Uno
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Fumiharu Konno
- Fukushima-Mirai Agricultural Cooperative, 19-2 Kubota, Kamata, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-0102, Japan
| | - Takeshi Inagaki
- Jichi Medical University, School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke City, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sakamoto
- Jichi Medical University, School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke City, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan
| | - Masayuki Shito
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Chihiro Udagawa
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Naomi Tada
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Ochiai
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Takuya Kato
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Yoshi Kawamoto
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Shuichi Tsuchida
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Hayama
- Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonancho, Musashino City, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
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23
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Tsukamoto T, Nakamura K, Okada S. Simian immunodeficiency virus infection and flow cytometric characterization of Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) hematopoietic cells. J Med Primatol 2020; 49:116-120. [PMID: 31907946 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We characterized Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) hematopoietic cells using flow cytometry and identified 28 cross-reactive anti-human antibody clones. Furthermore, productive infection of peripheral T lymphocytes with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in vitro was confirmed by intracellular SIV p27 staining. This study could facilitate using Japanese macaques as models for human hematological and immunological disorders and infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Tsukamoto
- Division of Hematopoiesis, Center for AIDS Research, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.,Department of Immunology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Seiji Okada
- Division of Hematopoiesis, Center for AIDS Research, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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24
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Overwintering States of the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) at the Time of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident in March 2011. INSECTS 2019; 10:insects10110389. [PMID: 31690046 PMCID: PMC6920751 DOI: 10.3390/insects10110389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011 caused the massive release of anthropogenic radioactive materials from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant to its surrounding environment. Its biological effects have been studied using the pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), but the overwintering states of this butterfly remain elusive. Here, we conducted a series of field surveys in March 2018, March 2019, and April 2019 in Fukushima and its vicinity to clarify the overwintering states of this butterfly at the time of the Fukushima nuclear accident. We discovered overwintering individuals in situ associated with the host plant Oxalis corniculata under natural straw mulch as first-instar to fourth-instar larvae in March 2018 and 2019. No other developmental stages were found. The body length and width were reasonably correlated with the accumulated temperature. On the basis of a linear regression equation between body size and accumulated temperature, together with other data, we deduced that the pale grass blue butterfly occurred as fourth-instar larvae in Fukushima and its vicinity at the time of the accident. This study paves the way for subsequent dosimetric analyses that determine the radiation doses absorbed by the butterfly after the accident.
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25
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Gurung RD, Taira W, Sakauchi K, Iwata M, Hiyama A, Otaki JM. Tolerance of High Oral Doses of Nonradioactive and Radioactive Caesium Chloride in the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly Zizeeria maha. INSECTS 2019; 10:E290. [PMID: 31505757 PMCID: PMC6780287 DOI: 10.3390/insects10090290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The biological effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident have been examined in the pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). In previous internal exposure experiments, larvae were given field-collected contaminated host plant leaves that contained up to 43.5 kBq/kg (leaf) of radioactive caesium. Larvae ingested up to 480 kBq/kg (larva), resulting in high mortality and abnormality rates. However, these results need to be compared with the toxicological data of caesium. Here, we examined the toxicity of both nonradioactive and radioactive caesium chloride on the pale grass blue butterfly. Larvae were fed a caesium-containing artificial diet, ingesting up to 149 MBq/kg (larva) of radioactive caesium (137Cs) or a much higher amount of nonradioactive caesium. We examined the pupation rate, eclosion rate, survival rate up to the adult stage, and the forewing size. In contrast to previous internal exposure experiments using field-collected contaminated leaves, we could not detect any effect. We conclude that the butterfly is tolerant to ionising radiation from 137Cs in the range tested but is vulnerable to radioactive contamination in the field. These results suggest that the biological effects in the field may be mediated through ecological systems and cannot be estimated solely based on radiation doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj D Gurung
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
| | - Wataru Taira
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
- Instrumental Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
| | - Ko Sakauchi
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
| | - Masaki Iwata
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
- Department of International Agricultural Development, Faculty of International Agriculture and Food Studies, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan.
| | - Atsuki Hiyama
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
- Japan Butterfly Conservation Society, Tokyo 140-0014, Japan.
| | - Joji M Otaki
- The BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
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26
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Schofield PN, Kulka U, Tapio S, Grosche B. Big data in radiation biology and epidemiology; an overview of the historical and contemporary landscape of data and biomaterial archives. Int J Radiat Biol 2019; 95:861-878. [DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1589026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul N. Schofield
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ulrike Kulka
- Bundesamt fuer Strahlenschutz, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Soile Tapio
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH, Institute of Radiation Biology, Neuherberg, Germany
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27
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Developmental and hemocytological effects of ingesting Fukushima's radiocesium on the cabbage white butterfly Pieris rapae. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2625. [PMID: 30796244 PMCID: PMC6385249 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37325-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
High morphological abnormality and mortality rates have been reported in the pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha, since the Fukushima nuclear accident. However, it remains uncertain if these effects are restricted to this butterfly. Here, we evaluated the effects of ingesting cabbage leaves grown with contaminated soils from Fukushima on the development and hemocytes of the cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae. Contaminated cabbage leaves containing various low levels of anthropogenic 134Cs and 137Cs radioactivity (less than natural 40K radioactivity) were fed to larvae from Okinawa, the least contaminated locality in Japan. Negative developmental and morphological effects were detected in the experimental groups. The cesium (but not potassium) radioactivity concentration was negatively correlated with the granulocyte percentage in hemolymph, and the granulocyte percentage was positively correlated with the pupal eclosion rate, the adult achievement rate, and the total normality rate. These results demonstrated that ingesting low-level radiocesium contaminants in Fukushima (but not natural radiopotassium) imposed biologically negative effects on the cabbage white butterfly, as in the pale grass blue butterfly, at both cellular and organismal levels.
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