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The Animals of Chernobyl and Fukushima

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Genetics, Evolution and Radiation

Abstract

Significant progress has been made in the past decade towards a better understanding of the genetic, developmental and ecological consequences of low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) on natural populations. Here, we review key studies of animals living under natural conditions in regions affected by the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents. Most studies show significant genetic damage related to radiation exposure, with consequent effects on reproduction, development, fertility, and population growth rates. Of particular note are the findings of eye cataracts, tumors, smaller brain size, and fewer or abnormal sperm with the frequency of occurrence generally following a dose-response-like relationship with ambient radiation levels. All animal groups surveyed in Chernobyl showed smaller population abundances in regions of high radiation, although not all species responded to the same degree and a few species even give the appearance of having adapted to some degree. In the more radioactive regions of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, bird abundances have steadily dropped since the time of the accident, with declines following a linear dose response based on a novel dose reconstruction approach. Overall, the parallels observed between radiation effects on animals in Chernobyl and Fukushima provide additional evidence for the significant ecological consequences of nuclear accidents, and ionizing radiation in general.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the help and support of V. Bezrukov, O. Bondarenko, A. Bonisoli-Alquati, Z. Boratynski, I. Chizhevsky, N. Evangeliou, MA. Fitzpatrick, E. Flensted-Jensen, I. Galvan, S. Gaschak, D. Grodzinsky, H. Hagiwara, S. Jenkinson, S. Kasahara, K. Kawai, H. Kawai, K. Kawatsu, K. Koyama, I. Kozeretska, A. Kravets, A. Litvinchuk, T. Mappes, W. Mardal, L. Milinevski, S. Mitsui, B. Murray, M. Naboka, P. Nagarkatti, I. Nishiumi, J. Palms, H. Pastides, A. Peklo, E. Pysanets, A. Rozhok, G. Rudolfsen, S. Ruskovski, N. Saino, D.V. Shestopolov, H. Smith, H. Suzuki, K. Ueda, M. Wyatt, and many others. A very special thank you goes to T. Kanagawa and G. Milinevsky for their commitment and support to our research in Fukushima and Chernobyl.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, and the Environment and Sustainability Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA

    Timothy A. Mousseau

  2. Laboratoire d’Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, CNRS UMR 8079, Université Paris-Sud, Bâtiment 362, 91405, Orsay Cedex, France

    Anders P. Møller

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  1. Timothy A. Mousseau
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  2. Anders P. Møller
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Correspondence to Timothy A. Mousseau .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia

    Victoria L. Korogodina

  2. Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Carmel E Mothersill

  3. Genetics and Biotechnology, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Sergey G. Inge-Vechtomov

  4. Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Colin B. Seymour

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Mousseau, T.A., Møller, A.P. (2016). The Animals of Chernobyl and Fukushima. In: Korogodina, V., Mothersill, C., Inge-Vechtomov, S., Seymour, C. (eds) Genetics, Evolution and Radiation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48838-7_21

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