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Car C, Quevarec L, Gilles A, Réale D, Bonzom JM. Evolutionary approach for pollution study: The case of ionizing radiation. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123692. [PMID: 38462194 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123692] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Estimating the consequences of environmental changes, specifically in a global change context, is essential for conservation issues. In the case of pollutants, the interest in using an evolutionary approach to investigate their consequences has been emphasized since the 2000s, but these studies remain rare compared to the characterization of direct effects on individual features. We focused on the study case of anthropogenic ionizing radiation because, despite its potential strong impact on evolution, the scarcity of evolutionary approaches to study the biological consequences of this stressor is particularly true. In this study, by investigating some particular features of the biological effects of this stressor, and by reviewing existing studies on evolution under ionizing radiation, we suggest that evolutionary approach may help provide an integrative view on the biological consequences of ionizing radiation. We focused on three topics: (i) the mutagenic properties of ionizing radiation and its disruption of evolutionary processes, (ii) exposures at different time scales, leading to an interaction between past and contemporary evolution, and (iii) the special features of contaminated areas called exclusion zones and how evolution could match field and laboratory observed effects. This approach can contribute to answering several key issues in radioecology: to explain species differences in the sensitivity to ionizing radiation, to improve our estimation of the impacts of ionizing radiation on populations, and to help identify the environmental features impacting organisms (e.g., interaction with other pollution, migration of populations, anthropogenic environmental changes). Evolutionary approach would benefit from being integrated to the ecological risk assessment process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Car
- Laboratoire de Recherche sur Les Effets des Radionucléides sur L'écosystème (LECO), Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), Saint-Paul Lèz Durance, France
| | - Loïc Quevarec
- Laboratoire de Recherche sur Les Effets des Radionucléides sur L'écosystème (LECO), Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), Saint-Paul Lèz Durance, France.
| | - André Gilles
- UMR Risques, ECOsystèmes, Vulnérabilité, Environnement, Résilience (RECOVER), Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), Marseille, France
| | - Denis Réale
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université Du Québec à Montréal, (UQAM), Montréal, Canada
| | - Jean-Marc Bonzom
- Laboratoire de Recherche sur Les Effets des Radionucléides sur L'écosystème (LECO), Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), Saint-Paul Lèz Durance, France
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Carneiro IM, Széchy MTMD, Bertocci I, Paiva PC. Impact of a nuclear power station effluent on marine forests: A case study in SE Brazil and insights for global warming scenarios. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123323. [PMID: 38190876 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123323] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
One of the main disturbances caused by coastal nuclear power plants is the discharge of thermal effluents capable of affecting a number of marine systems, including macroalgal forests that support key ecosystem services such as carbon uptake, fisheries increment and coastal protection. This study aimed at describing the long-term trend (1992-2022) in the abundance of Sargassum forests from sites located inside and outside areas affected by the thermal effluent discharged by the Brazilian Nuclear Power Station (BNPS) and at evaluating the relationship between Sargassum cover and seawater temperature. This information is interesting to provide insights on whether and how Sargassum populations would likely be affected by increasing temperature due to climate change. We detected a long-term decline in Sargassum cover inside, but not outside the area affected by the BNPS thermal plume. Mean summer surface seawater temperature above 30 °C was identified as an important factor driving the decline of Sargassum abundance. This study highlights the impact caused by decades of discharge of the BNPS thermal effluent on Sargassum forests, which leads to predict the likely disappearance of marine forests under a climate change scenario in other sites situated in warm temperate regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Monclaro Carneiro
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | | | - Iacopo Bertocci
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Paulo Cesar Paiva
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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3
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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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4
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Tremblay LA, Chariton AA, Li MS, Zhang Y, Horiguchi T, Ellis JI. Monitoring the Health of Coastal Environments in the Pacific Region-A Review. TOXICS 2023; 11:277. [PMID: 36977042 PMCID: PMC10059979 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11030277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Coastal areas provide important ecological services to populations accessing, for example, tourism services, fisheries, minerals and petroleum. Coastal zones worldwide are exposed to multiple stressors that threaten the sustainability of receiving environments. Assessing the health of these valuable ecosystems remains a top priority for environmental managers to ensure the key stressor sources are identified and their impacts minimized. The objective of this review was to provide an overview of current coastal environmental monitoring frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region. This large geographical area includes many countries with a range of climate types, population densities and land uses. Traditionally, environmental monitoring frameworks have been based on chemical criteria set against guideline threshold levels. However, regulatory organizations are increasingly promoting the incorporation of biological effects-based data in their decision-making processes. Using a range of examples drawn from across the region, we provide a synthesis of the major approaches currently being applied to examine coastal health in China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, we discuss some of the challenges and investigate potential solutions for improving traditional lines of evidence, including the coordination of regional monitoring programs, the implementation of ecosystem-based management and the inclusion of indigenous knowledge and participatory processes in decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis A. Tremblay
- Cawthron Institute, Private Bag 2, Nelson 7042, New Zealand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Anthony A. Chariton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Meng-Shuo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science of China, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science of China, College of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Toshihiro Horiguchi
- Ecosystem Impact Research Section, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2, Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Joanne I. Ellis
- School of Sciences, Waikato University, Tauranga 3240, New Zealand
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Morishita F, Horiguchi T, Akuta H, Ueki T, Imamura T. Concomitant downregulation of neuropeptide genes in a marine snail with consecutive sexual maturation after a nuclear disaster in Japan. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1129666. [PMID: 36967776 PMCID: PMC10036341 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1129666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Consecutive sexual maturation (CSM), an abnormal reproductive phenomenon of a marine snail, Reishia clavigera, has occurred since 2017 in the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after the nuclear disaster there. We hypothesized that alterations in animal physiology mediated through genetic/epigenetic changes could sensitively reflect environmental pollution. Understanding the mechanism of this rapid biological response should enable us to quantitatively evaluate long-lasting effects of the nuclear disaster. To determine the molecular basis for CSM, we conducted transcriptome profiling in the ganglia of normal and CSM snails. We assembled the short-read cDNA sequences obtained by Illumina sequencing, and succeeded in characterizing more than 60,000 gene models that include 88 kinds of neuropeptide precursors by BLAST search and experimental curation. GO-enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes demonstrated that severe downregulation of neuropeptide-related genes occurred concomitantly with CSM. In particular, significant decreases of the transcripts of 37 genes among 88 neuropeptide precursor genes, including those for myomodulin, PentaFVamide, maturation-associated peptide-5A and conopressin, were commonly observed in female and male CSM snails. By contrast, microseminoprotein precursor was the only exceptional case where the expression was increased in CSM snails. These results indicate that down-regulation of neuropeptide precursors is a remarkable feature of CSM. We also found that factors involved in epigenetic modification rather than transcription factors showed altered patterns of expression upon CSM. Comprehensive expression panels of snail neuropeptide precursors made in this study will be useful tools for environmental assessment as well as for studying marine reproductive biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumihiro Morishita
- Program of Basic Biology, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
- *Correspondence: Fumihiro Morishita, ; Takuya Imamura,
| | - Toshihiro Horiguchi
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroto Akuta
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Ueki
- Program of Basic Biology, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takuya Imamura
- Program of Basic Biology, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
- Program of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
- *Correspondence: Fumihiro Morishita, ; Takuya Imamura,
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Siriatcharanon AK, Sutheeworapong S, Waeonukul R, Pason P, Uke A, Kosugi A, Ratanakhanokchai K, Tachaapaikoon C. Cellulomonas palmilyticum sp. nov., from earthworm soil biofertilizer with the potential to degrade oil palm empty fruit bunch. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2022; 72. [DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) is lignocellulosic waste from the palm oil industry in Southeast Asia. It is difficult to degrade because of its complex matrix and recalcitrant structure. To decompose OPEFB, highly efficient micro-organisms and robust enzymatic systems are required. A bacterium with high degradation ability against untreated OPEFB was isolated from earthworm soil biofertilizer and designated as strain EW123T. Cells were Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped and catalase-positive. In tests, the strain was negative for mycelium formation, motility, nitrate reductase and urease. The 16S rRNA gene analysis of the isolate showed 98.21 % similarity to
Cellulomonas uda
NBRC 3747T, whereas similarity to other species was below 98 %. The genome of strain EW123T was 3 834 009 bp long, with 73.97 mol% G+C content. Polar lipid analysis of strain EW123T indicated phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and aminophospholipid as the lipid components of the cell wall. The major cellular fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0 (41.26 %) and the isomer of 2,6-diaminopimelic acid (DAP) was meso-DAP. The average nucleotide identity value between the genome sequences of EW123T and
C. uda
NBRC 3747T was 88.6 %. In addition, the digital DNA–DNA hybridization and genome average amino acid between those strains were 36.1 and 89.68 %, respectively. The ORF number (186) of carbohydrate-active enzymes, including cellulases, xylanases, mannanase, lipase and lignin-degrading enzymes, was higher than those of related strains. These results indicate that the polyphasic characteristics of EW123T differ from those of other related species in the genus
Cellulomonas
. We therefore propose a novel species of the genus
Cellulomonas
, namely Cellulomonas palmilyticum sp. nov. (type strain TBRC 11805T=NBRC 114552T), with the ability to effectively degrade untreated OPEFB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ake-kavitch Siriatcharanon
- Division of Biochemical Technology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok 10150, Thailand
| | - Sawannee Sutheeworapong
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok 10150, Thailand
| | - Rattiya Waeonukul
- Excellent Center of Enzyme Technology and Microbial Utilization, Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok 10150, Thailand
- Division of Biochemical Technology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok 10150, Thailand
| | - Patthra Pason
- Excellent Center of Enzyme Technology and Microbial Utilization, Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok 10150, Thailand
- Division of Biochemical Technology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok 10150, Thailand
| | - Ayaka Uke
- Biological Resources and Post-harvest Division, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), 1-1 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8686, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kosugi
- Biological Resources and Post-harvest Division, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), 1-1 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8686, Japan
| | - Khanok Ratanakhanokchai
- Excellent Center of Enzyme Technology and Microbial Utilization, Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok 10150, Thailand
- Division of Biochemical Technology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok 10150, Thailand
| | - Chakrit Tachaapaikoon
- Excellent Center of Enzyme Technology and Microbial Utilization, Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok 10150, Thailand
- Division of Biochemical Technology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok 10150, Thailand
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7
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Horiguchi T, Kodama K. What Caused Declines in Intertidal Invertebrate Populations around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Disaster? TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10050214. [PMID: 35622628 PMCID: PMC9147687 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10050214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
We discuss possible causal factors for the decline in intertidal invertebrate populations around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami and nuclear disaster on the basis of existing knowledge about the effects of radionuclides and ionizing radiation on aquatic organisms. We found a gap between effects observed in the laboratory and those observed in natural aquatic environments, and discuss possible reasons why. Considering the complexity of the environment, we conclude that it is critical to evaluate the effects of ionizing radiation combined with other biotic and abiotic environmental factors, together with the life-history traits of the species examined, for realistic assessment of population-level effects. Finally, we present possible causal factors for strange or abnormal phenomena observed in intertidal biota near FDNPP, namely declines in population densities and number of species of invertebrates, delayed recovery from these declines, and continuous sexual maturation in the rock shell population.
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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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10
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Fuller N, Smith JT, Takase T, Ford AT, Wada T. Radiocaesium accumulation and fluctuating asymmetry in the Japanese mitten crab, Eriocheir japonica, along a gradient of radionuclide contamination at Fukushima. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 292:118479. [PMID: 34752791 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118479] [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: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The 2011 Tohoku earthquake-tsunami and the subsequent nuclear accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) led to large-scale radionuclide contamination of the marine and freshwater environment. Monitoring studies of marine food products in the Fukushima region have generally demonstrated a declining trend in radiocaesium concentrations. However, the accumulation and elimination of radiocaesium and potential biological effects remain poorly understood for freshwater biota inhabiting highly contaminated areas at Fukushima. Consequently, the present study aimed to assess radiocaesium accumulation and developmental effects on the commercially important catadromous Japanese mitten crab, Eriocheir japonica. E. japonica were collected from four sites along a gradient of radionuclide contamination 4-44 km in distance from the FDNPS in 2017. To determine potential developmental effects, fluctuating asymmetry (FA) was used as a measure of developmental stability. Combined 134Cs and 137Cs values for whole E. japonica from highly contaminated sites 4 and 16 km in distance from the FDNPS were 3040 ± 521 and 2250 ± 908 Bq kg-1 wet weight respectively, 30 and 22 times greater than the Japanese standard limit of 100 Bq kg-1. Estimated total dose rates based on radiocaesium concentrations in whole crabs and sediment ranged from 0.016 to 37.7 μGy h-1. No significant relationship between radiocaesium accumulation and FA was recorded, suggesting that chronic radiation exposure at Fukushima is not inducing developmental effects in E. japonica as measured using fluctuating asymmetry. Furthermore, estimated dose rates were below proposed regulatory limits where significant deleterious effects are expected. The present study will aid in the understanding of the long-term consequences of radiation exposure for non-human biota and the management of radioactively contaminated environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Fuller
- Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 9LY, UK.
| | - Jim T Smith
- School of Environmental, Geographical and Geological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Building, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3QL, UK
| | - Tsugiko Takase
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1296, Japan
| | - Alex T Ford
- Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 9LY, UK
| | - Toshihiro Wada
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-1296, Japan
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11
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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:life11090990. [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] [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.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-98-895-8557
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12
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Geras'kin S, Yoschenko V, Bitarishvili S, Makarenko E, Vasiliev D, Prazyan A, Lychenkova M, Nanba K. Multifaceted effects of chronic radiation exposure in Japanese red pines from Fukushima prefecture. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 763:142946. [PMID: 33498123 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite many studies carried out to date, the long-term effects of chronic exposure on plants and animals inhabiting the territories affected by the Fukushima Dai-Ichi NPP accident remain the subject of scientific discussions. Our investigations were performed on Japanese red pine, the native tree species that is widely spread in the radioactive contaminated areas. Earlier observations revealed the radiation-induced cancellation of the apical dominance in young trees of this species. To understand the mechanism of such transformation, we evaluated the morphometric parameters of needles, the frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities, and the concentrations of the major classes of phytohormones in several natural populations of young red pine trees growing under different exposure conditions in Fukushima prefecture. No significant relationships between the morphometric parameters of needles and dose rates at the experimental sites were revealed. The frequencies of aberrant cells in the needle's intercalary meristem and the frequencies of cancellation of the apical dominance in the young pine populations in the radioactive contaminated areas were significantly higher than in the reference population. However, only cytogenetic abnormalities increased with the dose rate. We have not found the relation between the frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities in needles and cancellation of the apical dominance in the individual trees. In this paper, for the first time, it is shown that chronic radiation exposure changes the concentration ratio of the major classes of phytohormones in the needles of Japanese red pine. Given the complete lack of information about the most important regulatory system of plants in chronically irradiated populations, this study fills a substantial gap in our knowledge. Finally, our findings indicated that the most probable causes of the cancellation of apical dominance observed in chronically exposed Japanese red pines are radiation damage to the apical meristems of the trees and changes in their phytohormonal balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Geras'kin
- Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, Kievskoe shosse, 109 km, Obninsk, Kaluga Region 249032, Russia.
| | - Vasyl Yoschenko
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity of Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima 960-1296, Japan
| | - Sofia Bitarishvili
- Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, Kievskoe shosse, 109 km, Obninsk, Kaluga Region 249032, Russia
| | - Ekaterina Makarenko
- Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, Kievskoe shosse, 109 km, Obninsk, Kaluga Region 249032, Russia
| | - Denis Vasiliev
- Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, Kievskoe shosse, 109 km, Obninsk, Kaluga Region 249032, Russia
| | - Alexandr Prazyan
- Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, Kievskoe shosse, 109 km, Obninsk, Kaluga Region 249032, Russia
| | - Maria Lychenkova
- Russian Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, Kievskoe shosse, 109 km, Obninsk, Kaluga Region 249032, Russia
| | - Kenji Nanba
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity of Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima 960-1296, Japan
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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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Consecutive sexual maturation observed in a rock shell population in the vicinity of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Japan. Sci Rep 2021; 11:560. [PMID: 33436968 PMCID: PMC7803997 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80686-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2012, after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) that followed the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, no rock shell (Thais clavigera; currently recognized as Reishia clavigera; Gastropoda, Neogastropoda, Muricidae) specimens were found near the plant from Hirono to Futaba Beach (a distance of approximately 30 km). In July 2016, however, rock shells were again found to inhabit the area. From April 2017 to May 2019, we collected rock shell specimens monthly at two sites near the FDNPP (Okuma and Tomioka) and at a reference site ~ 120 km south of the FDNPP (Hiraiso). We examined the gonads of the specimens histologically to evaluate their reproductive cycle and sexual maturation. The gonads of the rock shells collected at Okuma, ~ 1 km south of the FDNPP, exhibited consecutive sexual maturation during the 2 years from April 2017 to May 2019, whereas sexual maturation of the gonads of specimens collected at Hiraiso was observed only in summer. The consecutive sexual maturation of the gonads of the specimens collected at Okuma might not represent a temporary phenomenon but rather a site-specific phenotype, possibly caused by specific environmental factors near the FDNPP.
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15
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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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16
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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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Shigeoka Y, Myose H, Akiyama S, Matsumoto A, Hirakawa N, Ohashi H, Higuchi K, Arakawa H. Temporal Variation of Radionuclide Contamination of Marine Plants on the Fukushima Coast after the East Japan Nuclear Disaster. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:9370-9377. [PMID: 31310718 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b01987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
As a result of the Great East Japan Earthquake and associated tsunami in March 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) released a large amount of radioactive material into the environment, resulting in contamination of many marine organisms. In this study, 15 marine algal species and a seagrass species were collected from the sublittoral zone of the Iwaki Coast of Fukushima Prefecture from May 2012 to June 2015 and analyzed for variations in 110mAg, 134Cs, and 137Cs over time. The results indicated that (1) 110mAg, 134Cs, and 137Cs were present in all marine plants collected in May 2012, (2) the concentration of 110mAg in the seagrass Phyllospadix iwatensis decreased significantly over time while the ecological half-life of 110mAg in P. iwatensis was longer at locations closer to the FDNPP, and (3) the 110mAg/137Cs radioactivity ratio of P. iwatensis was remarkably high until 2015, indicating that detectable 110mAg was present in the coastal environment 4 years after the accident. The concentration of 110mAg in P. iwatensis was higher than those in other marine algae, demonstrating a species-specific mechanism of accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Shigeoka
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology , 4-5-7 Konan , Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477 , Japan
- Tokyo Kyuei Company Ltd. , 1-15, Nihonbashi-3 , Chuo, Tokyo 103-0027 , Japan
| | - Hiroshi Myose
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology , 4-5-7 Konan , Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477 , Japan
| | - Seiji Akiyama
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology , 4-5-7 Konan , Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477 , Japan
| | - Akira Matsumoto
- Fukushima Prefectural Research Institute of Fisheries Resources , 1-1-14 Kouyou , Soma , Fukushima 976-0005 , Japan
| | - Naoto Hirakawa
- Fishery Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Department , 2-16 Sugitsuma-cho , Fukushima , Fukushima 960-8670 , Japan
| | - Hideo Ohashi
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology , 4-5-7 Konan , Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477 , Japan
| | - Ken Higuchi
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology , 4-5-7 Konan , Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477 , Japan
| | - Hisayuki Arakawa
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology , 4-5-7 Konan , Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477 , Japan
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18
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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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19
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Fuller N, Ford AT, Nagorskaya LL, Gudkov DI, Smith JT. Reproduction in the freshwater crustacean Asellus aquaticus along a gradient of radionuclide contamination at Chernobyl. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 628-629:11-17. [PMID: 29427871 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima have led to contamination of the environment that will persist for many years. The consequences of chronic low-dose radiation exposure for non-human organisms inhabiting contaminated environments remain unclear. In radioecology, crustaceans are important model organisms for the development of environmental radioprotection. Previous laboratory studies have demonstrated deleterious effects of radiation exposure on crustacean reproduction. However, no studies have documented the effects of chronic radiation exposure on the reproduction of natural crustacean populations. Based on data from laboratory exposures, we hypothesised that populations of the freshwater isopod Asellus aquaticus exposed to radiation for thirty years at Chernobyl would display reduced reproductive output and altered timing of reproduction. To test this hypothesis, A. aquaticus was collected from six lakes at Chernobyl over two years with total dose rates ranging from 0.06-27.1μGy/h. No significant differences in the fecundity, mass of broods or proportion of reproducing female A. aquaticus were recorded. Significant differences in the body mass of gravid females were recorded suggesting different timings of reproduction, however this was not related to radiation contamination. No significant effect of a range of environmental parameters on A. aquaticus reproduction was recorded. Our data suggests current dose rates at Chernobyl are not causing discernible effects on the reproductive output of A. aquaticus. This study is the first to assess the effects of chronic low-dose radiation exposure on the reproductive output of an aquatic invertebrate at Chernobyl. These findings are consistent with proposed radiological protection benchmarks for the maintenance of wildlife populations and will assist in management of environments impacted by radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Fuller
- Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO4 9LY, UK
| | - Alex T Ford
- Institute of Marine Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO4 9LY, UK
| | - Liubov L Nagorskaya
- Applied Science Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 27 Academicheskaya Str., 220072 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Dmitri I Gudkov
- Department of Freshwater Radioecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Geroyev Stalingrada Ave. 12, UA-04210 Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Jim T Smith
- School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Burnaby Building, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 3QL, UK.
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20
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Otaki JM, Taira W. Current Status of the Blue Butterfly in Fukushima Research. J Hered 2018; 109:178-187. [PMID: 28431090 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esx037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse biological impacts of the Fukushima nuclear accident have been revealed using the pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha, since 2012, which were often considered incompatible with the conventional understanding of radiation biology. This discrepancy likely originates from different system conditions and methodologies. In this article, we first respond to comments from the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) regarding our study; "technical errors" in unit usage and mathematical models noted by UNSCEAR are not errors but reflect our research philosophy not to introduce theoretical assumptions associated with unit conversion and mathematical fit. Second, we review our recent studies to support the original 2012 conclusions. Because the high morphological abnormality rate and small body size detected in Fukushima in 2011 have already ceased, likely through adaptive evolution, their present geographical distributions were investigated throughout Japan. Local populations showing relatively high abnormality rates and small body sizes were rare and basically restricted to Miyagi and its northern populations excluding the Fukushima populations, supporting the causal involvement of the accident. Lastly, we stress the importance of understanding the whole picture of the biological impacts of the Fukushima accident. In addition to the direct radiation impacts, indirect impacts through unknown radiation-associated mechanisms, such as immunological responses to insoluble particulate matter and nutritional deficiencies in plants and animals, would be in effect. Further environmental studies beyond conventional radiation biology and physics are necessary to understand the complex responses of organisms, including humans, to the Fukushima nuclear accident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joji M Otaki
- BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Wataru Taira
- BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
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21
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Akimoto SI, Li Y, Imanaka T, Sato H, Ishida K. Effects of Radiation From Contaminated Soil and Moss in Fukushima on Embryogenesis and Egg Hatching of the Aphid Prociphilus oriens. J Hered 2018; 109:199-205. [PMID: 28992200 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esx072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation-contaminated soils are widespread around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, and such soils raise concerns over its harmful effect on soil-dwelling organisms. We evaluated the effects of contaminated soil and moss sampled in Fukushima on the embryogenesis and hatching of aphid eggs, along with the measurement of the egg exposure dose. Cs-137 concentration in soil and moss from Fukushima ranged from 2200 to 3300 Bq/g and from 64 to 105 Bq/g, respectively. Eggs of the eriosomatine aphid Prociphilus oriens that were collected from a non-contaminated area were directly placed on the soil and moss for 4 or 3 months during diapause and then incubated until hatching. The total exposure dose to the eggs was estimated as ca. 100-200 mGy in the 4-month soil experiment and 4-10 mGy in the 4-month moss experiment. There was no significant difference in egg hatchability between the contaminated soil treatment and the control. No morphological abnormalities were detected in the first instars that hatched from the contaminated soil treatment. However, we found weak effects of radiation on egg hatching; eggs placed on the contaminated moss hatched earlier than did the control eggs. On the contaminated soil, the effects of radiation on egg hatching were not obvious because of uncontrolled environmental differences among containers. The effects of radiation on egg hatching were detected only in containers where high hatchability was recorded. Through the experiments, we concluded that the aphid eggs responded to ultra-low-dose radiation by advancing embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Ichi Akimoto
- Systematic Entomology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yang Li
- Systematic Entomology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | | | - Hitoshi Sato
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ken Ishida
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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22
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Nohara C, Hiyama A, Taira W, Otaki JM. Robustness and Radiation Resistance of the Pale Grass Blue Butterfly from Radioactively Contaminated Areas: A Possible Case of Adaptive Evolution. J Hered 2018; 109:188-198. [PMID: 28199653 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esx012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The pale grass blue butterfly, Zizeeria maha, has been used to evaluate biological impacts of the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011. Here, we examined the possibility that butterflies have adapted to be robust in the contaminated environment. Larvae (n = 2432) were obtained from adult butterflies (n = 20) collected from 7 localities with various contamination levels in May 2012, corresponding to the 7th generation after the accident. When the larvae were reared on non-contaminated host plant leaves from Okinawa, the normality rates of natural exposure without artificial irradiation (as an indication of robustness) were high not only in the least contaminated locality but also in the most contaminated localities. The normality rates were similarly obtained when the larvae were reared on non-contaminated leaves with external irradiation or on contaminated leaves from Fukushima to deliver internal irradiation. The normality rate of natural exposure and that of external or internal exposure were correlated, suggesting that radiation resistance (or susceptibility) likely reflects general state of health. The normality rate of external or internal exposure was divided by the relative normality rate of natural exposure, being defined as the resistance value. The resistance value was the highest in the populations of heavily contaminated localities and was inversely correlated with the distance from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. These results suggest that the butterfly population might have adapted to the contaminated environment within approximately 1 year after the accident. The present study may partly explain the decrease in mortality and abnormality rates later observed in the contaminated areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiyo Nohara
- BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Atsuki Hiyama
- BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Wataru Taira
- BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Joji M Otaki
- BCPH Unit of Molecular Physiology, Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
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23
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Buesseler K, Dai M, Aoyama M, Benitez-Nelson C, Charmasson S, Higley K, Maderich V, Masqué P, Morris PJ, Oughton D, Smith JN. Fukushima Daiichi-Derived Radionuclides in the Ocean: Transport, Fate, and Impacts. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2017; 9:173-203. [PMID: 27359052 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-010816-060733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The events that followed the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, included the loss of power and overheating at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants, which led to extensive releases of radioactive gases, volatiles, and liquids, particularly to the coastal ocean. The fate of these radionuclides depends in large part on their oceanic geochemistry, physical processes, and biological uptake. Whereas radioactivity on land can be resampled and its distribution mapped, releases to the marine environment are harder to characterize owing to variability in ocean currents and the general challenges of sampling at sea. Five years later, it is appropriate to review what happened in terms of the sources, transport, and fate of these radionuclides in the ocean. In addition to the oceanic behavior of these contaminants, this review considers the potential health effects and societal impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Buesseler
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543;
| | - Minhan Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China;
| | - Michio Aoyama
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, Fukushima University, Fukushima 960-1296, Japan;
| | | | - Sabine Charmasson
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, PRP-ENV, La Seyne/Mer 83507, France;
| | - Kathryn Higley
- School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331;
| | - Vladimir Maderich
- Institute of Mathematical Machine and System Problems, Kiev 03680, Ukraine;
| | - Pere Masqué
- School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup 6027, Australia;
- Departament de Física, Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelon, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Paul J Morris
- Environment Laboratories, International Atomic Energy Agency, MC 98000, Monaco;
| | - Deborah Oughton
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås 1430, Norway;
| | - John N Smith
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth B2Y 4A2, Canada;
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Falfushynska H, Gnatyshyna L, Yurchak I, Stoliar O, Sokolova IM. Interpopulational variability of molecular responses to ionizing radiation in freshwater bivalves Anodonta anatina (Unionidae). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 568:444-456. [PMID: 27310535 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.175] [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: 04/02/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are exposed to multiple anthropogenic stressors including chemical pollution and warming that can affect health of the resident organisms and their responses to novel challenges. We investigated the of in situ exposure history on molecular responses to a novel stressor, ionizing radiation, in unionid mollusks Anodonta anatina. Males from pristine (F-), agricultural (A-) sites and a cooling reservoir of a nuclear power plant (N-site) were exposed to acute low dose (2mGy) X-ray radiation followed by 14days of recovery (R-groups) or to control conditions (C-groups). Biomarkers of oxidative stress, geno-, cyto- and neurotoxicity were used to assess cellular injury and stress. Control group from the cooling reservoir (CN) had higher background levels of caspase-3 activity, metallothionein concentrations and nuclear lesions and lower levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione in the gills compared to other control groups (CF and CA). Irradiation induced cellular damage in mussels from all three sites including increased levels of nuclear lesions in hemocytes, depletion of caspase-3, suppression of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, an increase of the lipid peroxidation and oxidized glutathione levels, as well as down-regulation of cholinesterase indicating neurotoxicity. The up-regulation of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity in the digestive gland and vitellogenin-like protein level in gonads were also found in radiation-exposed groups indicating feminization of males and disturbances of xenobiotic metabolism. The RA-group showed the greatest magnitude of radiation-induced stress responses compared to the other two groups. Overall, unionid mollusks, particularly those from a chronically polluted agricultural site, were highly sensitive to low-dose radiation (2mGy) indicating limitations of stress protection mechanisms to deal with multiple stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Falfushynska
- Research Laboratory of Comparative Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ternopil National Pedagogical University, 2, Kryvonosa Str, Ternopil 46027, Ukraine; Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; Department of General Chemistry, I.Ya. Horbachevsky Ternopil State Medical University, 1, Maidan Voli, Ternopil 46001, Ukraine
| | - L Gnatyshyna
- Research Laboratory of Comparative Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ternopil National Pedagogical University, 2, Kryvonosa Str, Ternopil 46027, Ukraine; Department of General Chemistry, I.Ya. Horbachevsky Ternopil State Medical University, 1, Maidan Voli, Ternopil 46001, Ukraine
| | - I Yurchak
- Research Laboratory of Comparative Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ternopil National Pedagogical University, 2, Kryvonosa Str, Ternopil 46027, Ukraine
| | - O Stoliar
- Research Laboratory of Comparative Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ternopil National Pedagogical University, 2, Kryvonosa Str, Ternopil 46027, Ukraine
| | - I M Sokolova
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
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Pollution of radiocesium and radiosilver in wharf roach (Ligia sp.) by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-016-4879-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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