Environmental Radiobiology

Abstract

This chapter aims to contribute to a comprehensive view of environmental radiobiology and discuss the effects of different kinds of ionizing radiation on ecosystems. The impact of ionizing radiation was considered on both organisms and the abiotic environment, assessing the fate of radionuclides in abiotic compartments (e.g., the movement through atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere) and in the trophic chains, with implications for human and non-human biota. The available methodologies for estimating radiation dose to biota were also addressed as well as the associated challenges. This chapter also focused on the impacts of ionizing radiation exposure on non-human biota from microorganisms to vertebrates, as well as on the basic concepts related to environmental radiobiology and the molecular effects associated with the exposure to different types of ionizing radiation. The particular context of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) contamination was also tackled, as well as its effects on non-human biota.