Addressing ecological effects of radiation on populations and ecosystems to improve protection of the environment against radiation: Agreed statements from a Consensus Symposium

François Bréchignac, Deborah Oughton, Claire Mays, Lawrence Barnthouse, James C. Beasley, Andrea Bonisoli-Alquati, Clare Bradshaw, Justin Brown, Stéphane Dray, Stanislav Geras'kin, Travis Glenn, Kathy Higley, Ken Ishida, Lawrence Kapustka, Ulrik Kautsky, Wendy Kuhne, Michael Lynch, Tapio Mappes, Steve Mihok, Anders P. MøllerCarmel Mothersill, Timothy A. Mousseau, Joji Otaki, Evgeny Pryakhin, Olin E. Rhodes, Brit Salbu, Per Strand, Hirofumi Tsukada

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

77 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper reports the output of a consensus symposium organized by the International Union of Radioecology in November 2015. The symposium gathered an academically diverse group of 30 scientists to consider the still debated ecological impact of radiation on populations and ecosystems. Stimulated by the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters' accidental contamination of the environment, there is increasing interest in developing environmental radiation protection frameworks. Scientific research conducted in a variety of laboratory and field settings has improved our knowledge of the effects of ionizing radiation on the environment. However, the results from such studies sometimes appear contradictory and there is disagreement about the implications for risk assessment. The Symposium discussions therefore focused on issues that might lead to different interpretations of the results, such as laboratory versus field approaches, organism versus population and ecosystemic inference strategies, dose estimation approaches and their significance under chronic exposure conditions. The participating scientists, from across the spectrum of disciplines and research areas, extending also beyond the traditional radioecology community, successfully developed a constructive spirit directed at understanding discrepancies. From the discussions, the group has derived seven consensus statements related to environmental protection against radiation, which are supplemented with some recommendations. Each of these statements is contextualized and discussed in view of contributing to the orientation and integration of future research, the results of which should yield better consensus on the ecological impact of radiation and consolidate suitable approaches for efficient radiological protection of the environment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)21-29
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Environmental Radioactivity
Volume158-159
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Consensus development
  • Ecological risk assessment
  • Ecosystems
  • Environmental protection
  • Populations
  • Radiation effects

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Pollution
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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