When a duck is not a duck; a new interdisciplinary synthesis for environmental radiation protection

Carmel Mothersill; Michael Abend; François Bréchignac; George Iliakis; Nathalie Impens; Munira Kadhim; Anders Pape Møller; Deborah Oughton; Gibin Powathil; Eline Saenen; Colin Seymour; Jill Sutcliffe; Fen-Ru Tang; Paul N Schofield

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2018.01.022

When a duck is not a duck; a new interdisciplinary synthesis for environmental radiation protection

Environ Res. 2018 Apr:162:318-324. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.01.022. Epub 2018 Feb 4.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1. Electronic address: mothers@mcmaster.ca.
² Bundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: MichaelAbend@bundeswehr.org.
³ Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) & International Union of Radioecology (IUR), Centre du Cadarache, Bldg 229, St Paul-lez-Durance, France. Electronic address: francois.brechignac@irsn.fr.
⁴ Institute of Medical Radiation Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Medical School, Hufeland Str. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Georg.Iliakis@uk-essen.de.
⁵ Institute of Environment, Health and Safety, Biosphere Impact Studies, SCK•CEN, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium. Electronic address: nimpens@sckcen.be.
⁶ Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK. Electronic address: mkadhim@brookes.ac.uk.
⁷ Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Equipe Diversité, Ecologie et Evolution Microbiennes Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, and AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405 Orsay Cedex, France. Electronic address: anders.moller@u-psud.fr.
⁸ Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Ås, Universitetstunet 3, 1432 Ås, Norway. Electronic address: deborah.oughton@nmbu.no.
⁹ Department of Mathematics, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea Wales SA2 8PP, UK. Electronic address: g.g.powathil@swansea.ac.uk.
¹⁰ Institute of Environment, Health and Safety, Biosphere Impact Studies, SCK•CEN, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium. Electronic address: eline.saenen@sckcen.be.
¹¹ Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1. Electronic address: seymouc@mcmaster.ca.
¹² Low Level Radiation and Health Group, Ingrams Farm Fittleworth Road, Wisborough Green RH14 0JA, West Sussex, UK. Electronic address: jillsutcliffe1@gmail.com.
¹³ National University of Singapore, Radiobiology Research Laboratory, Singapore Nuclear, Research and Safety Initiative, Singapore. Electronic address: tangfr@gmail.com.
¹⁴ Dept of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK. Electronic address: pns12@cam.ac.uk.

PMID: 29407763
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.01.022

Abstract

This consensus paper presents the results of a workshop held in Essen, Germany in September 2017, called to examine critically the current approach to radiological environmental protection. The meeting brought together participants from the field of low dose radiobiology and those working in radioecology. Both groups have a common aim of identifying radiation exposures and protecting populations and individuals from harmful effects of ionising radiation exposure, but rarely work closely together. A key question in radiobiology is to understand mechanisms triggered by low doses or dose rates, leading to adverse outcomes of individuals while in radioecology a key objective is to recognise when harm is occurring at the level of the ecosystem. The discussion provided a total of six strategic recommendations which would help to address these questions.

Keywords: Environment; Low dose; Radiation protection; Radioecology; Reference animals and plants.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Conservation of Natural Resources
Germany
Humans
Radiation Dosage
Radiation Protection*
Radiobiology*