Publication Abstract

A possible approach for the assessment of radiation effects on populations of wild organisms in radionuclide-contaminated environments?

A possible approach for the assessmentof radiation effects on populations of wild organisms in radionuclide-contaminatedenvironments?

By D.S Woodhead

It is frequently asserted thatmeasures to protect the biotic environment from increased radiation exposures arising fromhuman activities should be focussed on the population rather than the individual. It is,however, difficult (if not impossible) to identify any population-specific attributes thatcan be affected by radiation exposure directly rather than through the mediation ofdirect, known and identifiable effects in individual organisms. Indeed, it is oftenconceded that this difficulty forces attention to be refocussed onto the effects inindividuals. Regulatory controls on radioactive waste management and disposal could thenbe implemented to ensure that any radiation effects in individual native plants andanimals remain at, or below, some acceptable level (yet to be defined). Nevertheless, thequestion remains as to whether such controls would also provide for the protection of thepopulation. An answer to this question depends on the availability of a model that allowsthe integration of the known effects of radiation exposure on the mortality, morbidity,fertility and fecundity of individuals into an assessment of the possible impact at thepopulation level. The utility of one such approach, the Leslie Matrix Model, is exploredin respect of a fish population (the plaice, Pleuronectes platessa). This initialimplementation of the population model is simplistic (and, certainly, environmentallyunrealistic), but it is concluded that the output from the model does provide someinsights into how the population might respond to radiation-induced changes in individualattributes, and that further development in the direction of increased realism is fullywarranted

Reference:

D.S Woodhead. 2002. A possible approach for the assessment of radiation effects onpopulations of wild organisms in radionuclide-contaminated environments?. Journal ofEnvironmental Radioactivity 66 (1-2) 181-213

D.S Woodhead

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 66 (1-2) 181-213