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PubMedDate not supplied

[Natural background radiation: problem of radionuclide migration and biological effects].

Natural radiation background is the main contributor to radiation dose delivered to plants, animals, and man. That is why its effects are of increasing interest in radiobiology, radioecology, and radiation hygiene. The following problems are discussed: migration of main natural radionuclides in biosphere, dose formation, biological role of natural radiation background on the Earth, standards for natural radiation background, and problems of natural radiation background and biosphere evolution. The tasks of further radiobiological research in evaluating the role of natural radiation background are outlined.

Background Radiation↗
PubMed1995

Low environmental radiation background impairs biological defence of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to chemical radiomimetic agents.

Background radiation is likely to constitute one of the factors involved in biological evolution since radiations are able to affect biological processes. Therefore, it is possible to hypothesize that organisms are adapted to environmental background radiation and that this adaptation could increase their ability to respond to the harmful effects of ionizing radiations. In fact, adaptive responses to alkylating agents and to low doses of ionizing radiation have been found in many organisms. In order to test for effects of adaptation, cell susceptibility to treatments with high doses of radiomimetic chemical agents has been studied by growing them in a reduced environmental radiation background. The experiment has been performed by culturing yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae D7) in parallel in a standard background environment and in the underground Gran Sasso National Laboratory, with reduced environmental background radiation. After a conditioning period, yeast cells were exposed to recombinogenic doses of methyl methanesulfonate. The yeast cells grown in the Gran Sasso Laboratory showed a higher frequency of radiomimetic induced recombination as compared to those grown in the standard environment. This suggests that environmental radiation may act as a conditioning agent.

Background Radiation↗
PubMed1991

Natural radiation background in metropolitan Taipei.

A high-pressure ionization chamber was used to measure the natural background radiation in metropolitan Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. during a period in 1987-1988. The average exposure rate was 27.55 x 10(-10) C kg-1 h-1 including cosmic radiation, but the radon contribution was excluded. Scintillation survey meter, gamma-ray spectroscopy for soil samples, in-situ measurement with a NaI(Tl) detector coupled to a portable multichannel analyzer, instrumental neutron activation analysis of rock samples, and even thermoluminescent dosimeters were used as complementary measuring devices. Areas of higher radiation background were detected. They are the radium-bearing Peitou stones, an unusual occurrence of uraniferous zone at Sanhsia, and uranium precipitation in the glassy olivine basalt in a tea field at Tachi. All these areas are located in suburban sites of Taipei. Three types of building in Taipei City were selected for radon detection. No significantly elevated level of radon was detected, since Taipei is located in a semitropical area where ventilation of buildings is not a problem.

Background Radiation↗
PubMed2003

Annual radiation background in the City of Isfahan.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of environmental exposure is very important from different points of view especially for human health. In Iran, it is measured in some cities especially in high background areas such as Ramsar, but so far there is not any measurement in Isfahan. MATERIAL/METHODS: Measurements were performed using CaSO4: Dy TLDs. The locations under investigations were 52 health centers distributed all around Isfahan city. Each TLD badge was put in a special plastic bag and left over the roofs of the selected health center for a month. The procedure was repeated for all 12 months of the year 1379 (21st March 2000 to 20th March 2001). RESULTS: The maximum and the minimum of obtained results for dose equivalent in different months and locations were 15.9 x 10(-2) and 6.5 x 10(-2) mSv. Obtained maximum and minimum of the means between all the locations were 10.5 x 10(-2) and 8.6 x 10(2) mSv for the whole year. Monthly mean and SD for Isfahan city for the whole year were 9.7 x 10(-2) and 1.5 x 10(-2) respectively therefore mean annual dose equivalent in Isfahan city is 1.16 x 0.18 mSv. The results do not show any high background radiation area. CONCLUSIONS: From the total of 624 measurements at 52 sites of Isfahan, obtained annual outdoor X and gamma ray dose equivalent for a person living in isfahan is 1.16 x 0.18 mSv. This figure is about 48.3% of the world average total radiation background reported by UNSCEAR.

Background Radiation↗
PubMed2005

Alterations in lipids & lipid peroxidation in rats fed with flavonoid rich fraction of banana (Musa paradisiaca) from high background radiation area.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: A group of villages in Kollam district of Kerala, southern part of India are exposed to a higher dose of natural radiation than global average. Yet no adverse health effects have been found in humans, animals and plants in these areas. The present study was carried out to understand whether radiation affects the quantity and quality of flavonoids in plants grown in this area of high radiation, and to assess the effect of feeding flavonoid rich fraction (FRF) of the two varieties of banana to rats on their biochemical parameters like lipids, lipid peroxides and antioxidant enzyme levels. METHODS: A total of 42 albino rats were equally divided into 7 groups. Rats fed laboratory diet alone were grouped under group I (normal control). Groups II and V received flavonoid rich fraction (FRF) from the fruits of two varieties of Musa paradisiaca, Palayamkodan and Rasakadali respectively from normal background radiation area (Veli) and treated as controls. Rats of groups III and IV received FRF of Palayamkodan from high background radiation areas (HBRAs) - Neendakara and Karunagappally respectively while groups VI and VII received FRF of Rasakadali from HBRAs. At the end of the experimental period of 45 days, lipids, lipid peroxides and antioxidant enzymes from liver, heart and kidney were analyzed. RESULTS: FRF of Palayamkodan and Rasakadali varieties showed significant hypolipidaemic and antioxidant activities. But these activities were found to be lowered in plants grown in HBRAs, particularly in Karunagappally area. Of the two, Palayamkodan variety was more effective in reducing lipids and lipid peroxides. MDA and hydroperoxides were significantly diminished in rats given FRF of banana from Veli (control area) only. FRF from plants grown in HBRAs exerted inhibition in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the liver of rats and this inhibitory effect was maximum in rats fed FRF from Karunagappally. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Banana grown in HBRAs is of lower quality with less efficient antioxidant system. Palayamkodan was superior with its effect on hypolipidaemic and antioxidant activities. High background radiation seems to have no enhancing effect on the radioprotective action of flavonoids of banana and thereby to those consuming these fruits.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiological studies on disturbances of human fetal development in areas with various doses of natural background radiation. I. Relationship between incidences of Down's syndrome or visible malformation and gonad dose equivalent rate of natural background radiation.

The relationship between environmental radiation (mSv X a-1) to the gonads and incidences of Down's syndrome and visible malformation was analyzed using Kendall's rank correlation method. The subjects, studied during a 3-yr period (1979-1981), were inhabitants of 46 prefectures in Japan that had various dose rates (mu R/h) of natural background ionizing radiation. Results showed that the natural background very low-dose radiation rate was not a predominant factor responsible for inducing Down's syndrome or other visible malformations.

Background Radiation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiological studies on disturbances of human fetal development in areas with various doses of natural background radiation. II. Relationship between incidences of hydatidiform mole, malignant hydatidiform mole, and chorionepithelioma and gonad dose equivalent rate of natural background radiation.

The relationships between gonad dose equivalent rates and incidences of chorionic disease (i.e., hydatidiform mole, malignant hydatidiform mole, and chorionepithelioma) were analyzed with Kendall's rank correlation and regression methods. Data used were from 11 prefectures of Japan with various dose rates of natural background ionizing radiation between the years 1974 to 1976. The results suggested an association of the incidence of chorionic disease with the radiation dose rate in the very low dose-rate range.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Very high background radiation areas of Ramsar, Iran: preliminary biological studies.

People in some areas of Ramsar, a city in northern Iran, receive an annual radiation absorbed dose from background radiation that is up to 260 mSv y(-1), substantially higher than the 20 mSv y(-1) that is permitted for radiation workers. Inhabitants of Ramsar have lived for many generations in these high background areas. Cytogenetic studies show no significant differences between people in the high background compared to people in normal background areas. An in vitro challenge dose of 1.5 Gy of gamma rays was administered to the lymphocytes, which showed significantly reduced frequency for chromosome aberrations of people living in high background compared to those in normal background areas in and near Ramsar. Specifically, inhabitants of high background radiation areas had about 56% the average number of induced chromosomal abnormalities of normal background radiation area inhabitants following this exposure. This suggests that adaptive response might be induced by chronic exposure to natural background radiation as opposed to acute exposure to higher (tens of mGy) levels of radiation in the laboratory. There were no differences in laboratory tests of the immune systems, and no noted differences in hematological alterations between these two groups of people.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2005

Background radiation of the territory of some military objectives in Georgia.

Background radiation on the territory of some military objects in Georgia has been investigated with the help of "DRPB-03" (dosimeter-radiometer) according to the specially created instruction. Background radiation of investigated objects varied from 0,09 to 0,28 mkZv/h; in average 0,18 mkZv/h. The maximal level was measured on the 8th object -0,28 mkZv/h, minimal on the 2nd object -0,09 mkZv/h, in average near the - 0,18 mkZv/h. The maximal level of the annual doze of radiation was measured on the 8th object -0,49 mZv/y; and minimal on the 2nd -0,15 mZv/y. The analysis of investigations showed, that the level of background radiation on the territory of the investigated military objects exceeds the level of European countries and South Caucasus (except Armenia). This could be explained by the peculiarities of our country: geomorphological structure and disposition of soil (altitude, latitude). These reasons could cause the high levels of natural background radiation. The level of background radiation is higher in Black Sea coast area, which may be the result of the Chernobyl Accident (contamination with artificial radionuclides). The comparatively high level of background radiation indicates that the personnel sustain relatively high radiation doses from natural radiation origins.

Background Radiation↗
PubMed2002

The proportion of thyroid cancers in the Japanese atomic bomb survivors associated with natural background radiation.

Generalised absolute and relative risk models (with adjustment to the excess absolute risk for time since exposure and age at exposure, and with adjustment to the excess relative risk for age at exposure) are fitted to the Japanese atomic bomb survivor thyroid cancer incidence data followed up over the period 1958-87, taking account of natural background radiation. Thyroid cancers associated with natural background radiation and atomic bomb radiation are overwhelmingly accounted for by exposure at young ages. Over 50% of the excess cases associated with either the atomic bomb radiation or natural background radiation are linked to exposures under the age of 20, irrespective of the assumed risk model or natural background dose rate. The excess risk is overwhelmingly concentrated among females, again irrespective of the assumed model or natural background dose rate. Depending on the assumed natural background dose rate (in the range 0.5-2.0 mSv/year) between 17.3 and 32.0% of the thyroid cancer in this cohort may be associated with natural background radiation if an absolute risk model applies; between 4.2 and 17.1% of the thyroid cancers may be associated with natural background radiation if the relative risk model applies. The proportion of the thyroid tumours attributed to the atomic bomb radiation is between 21.1 and 22.0% for the absolute risk model, and is between 18.7 and 19.1% for the relative risk model, in both cases irrespective of the assumed background radiation dose. In particular, these proportions are not very different from the proportions calculated when fitting models that do not take account of natural background radiation, namely 22.0% for the absolute risk model and 18.6% for the relative risk model. The proportion of thyroid cancers accounted for by natural background radiation progressively increases with attained age, from 0.3% of cancers among those under the age of 15 to 30.5% for those over the age of 60, assuming that the absolute risk model applies. There is a similar increase in this percentage, if to a rather lower level (from 0.2 to 10.2%), assuming that the relative risk model applies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Effect of smoking on chromosomes compared with that of radiation in the residents of a high-background radiation area in China.

Cytogenetic investigation of stable-type aberrations (translocations) was carried out with our improved methods on 28 elderly individuals in a high-background radiation area (HBRA) in China, and on 24 elderly individuals in a control area (CA). The level of radiation in HBRA is 3 to 5 times higher than in CA. The mean frequencies of translocations per 1,000 cells in HBRA and CA were 12.4 +/- 5.3 and 10.0 +/- 3.8, respectively. No significant difference was found in the frequencies between HBRA and CA (P>0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). When elderly individuals in HBRA and CA were classified into four subgroups of HBRA nonsmokers, HBRA smokers, CA nonsmokers, and CA smokers, a significant difference was found in the frequencies between CA smokers and CA nonsmokers (P<0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). Furthermore a tendency of difference (a near T-value of 0.05 level) was found in a comparison of HBRA smokers vs. CA nonsmokers. The present results indicate that the elevated level of natural radiation in HBRA plays a less significant part than smoking in bringing about the induction rate of stable-type aberrations (translocations) in those areas.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

A survey of background radiation dose rates and radioactivity in Tanzania.

Potential terrestrial sources of naturally occurring elevated radiation levels have been identified in Tanzania. Thus, efforts are currently being undertaken to create a natural radiation database, in the form of a radiation level map of natural radioactivity, to be used to assess the associated radiation risk to public and workers. Background radiation dose rate was determined with thermoluminescent dosimeters for 7 y (1993-1999) in five stations. The average background radiation dose rates for these stations were as follows: Tropical Pesticides Research Institute (TPRI) (102 +/- 7 nGy h(-1)), Same (98 +/- 2 nGy h(-1)), Namanga (98 +/- 5 nGy h(-1)), University of Dar Es Salaam (99 +/- 2 nGy h(-1)), and Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (121 +/- 3 nGy h(-1)). These stations were found convenient from an economic point of view since the project has no funds to cover wider and/or more remote areas in Tanzania. For the sake of comparison, similar measurements were made for the same period at Minjingu phosphate mine. The mine was one of the suspected areas with elevated levels of natural radioactivity. The radiation dose rate measured in this mine was about fourteen times higher (1,415 +/- 28 nGy h(-1)) than the average value obtained in northern Tanzania (98 nGy h(-1)). The high average activity levels of phosphate (5760 +/- 107 Bq kg(-1) for 261Ra, 497 +/- 5 Bq kg(-1) for 228Ra, 350 +/- 6 Bq kg(-1) for 228Th, and 280 +/- 5 Bq kg(-1) for 40K) and radiation dose rate recorded show that Minjingu phosphate mine has higher values than the highest radioactivity in phosphate compiled by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation. In view of these findings, a comprehensive risk-management strategy for reduction of radiation risk to the public and mine workers should be put in place. Efforts are currently being made to seek support to improve the background radiation database for subsequent assessment of radiation risk to miners and the societies in the vicinity of these mines in Tanzania.

Background Radiation↗
PubMed1983

Natural background radiation and cancer mortality in the Republic of Ireland.

An extensive area of rural Ireland was monitored in detail for natural background radiation (NBR); average background radiation values were derived for all District Electoral Divisions (DEDs) in this area. Cancer mortality rates were calculated for the DEDs aggregated according to average NBR. No association was apparent between cancer mortality rates and levels of natural background radiation.

Background Radiation↗
PubMed2003

natural background radiation dosimetry in the highest altitude region of Iran.

The natural background radiation has been measured in one of the highest altitude regions (Zagros Mountains), Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, in the south west of Iran. The outdoors-environmental monitoring exposure rate of radiation was measured in 200 randomly chosen regions using portable Geiger-Muller and scintillation detectors. Eight measurements were made in each region and an average value was used to calculate the exposure rate from natural background radiation. The average exposure rate was found to be 0.246 microGy/h and the annual average effective dose equivalent was found to be 0.49 mSv. An overall population-weighted mean outdoor dose rate was calculated to be 49 nGy/h, which is higher than the world-wide mean value of 44 nGy/h, as reported by UNSCEAR in 1998, and is comparable to the annual effective dose equivalent of 0.38 mSv. A good correlation between the altitude and the exposure rate was observed, as the higher altitude regions have higher natural background radiation levels.

Altitude↗
PubMed2001

The effects of changing atmospheric oxygen concentrations and background radiation levels on radiogenic DNA damage rates.

Both background radiation levels and atmospheric oxygen concentrations have changed dramatically over the history of life on earth. Because oxygen has a strong modifying influence on radiogenic mutation rates, these factors must be considered jointly to determine changes in radiogenic mutation rates over time. Using accepted models that describe how both of these parameters have changed through time, we find that radiogenic mutation rates in organisms have fluctuated between about 1.5 to 2.5 times current levels through most of the history of life. The results of this study have interesting implications that may impact our understanding of how modern organisms respond to radiation damage and of models that use molecular clocks to date species divergence times. It is also possible that changing oxygen levels have served to buffer mutation rate changes that result from changes in background radiation levels over time.

Background Radiation↗
PubMed2026

Radiation-resistant and desiccation-tolerant bacteria from the Chavara-Neendakara high background radiation area, india: phenotypic characterisation and genomic insights.

Radiation-resistant microorganisms that survive high doses of ionising radiation serve as valuable models for understanding stress adaptation; however, the genomic determinants underlying extreme radiation tolerance in bacteria from natural environments with high background radiation remain insufficiently characterised. Bacterial isolates from the Chavara-Neendakara HBRA (Kerala, India) were evaluated for desiccation tolerance, and the desiccation-resistant isolates were subsequently exposed to gamma irradiation (1-10&#xa0;kGy) using a 60Co source. Isolates were identified through 16S rRNA sequencing, morphologically characterised by FE-SEM, and screened for antibiotic susceptibility. The highly radiation-resistant strain underwent whole-genome sequencing via Oxford Nanopore Technology, with De novo assembly, polishing, and genome annotation. Four bacterial isolates (Micrococcaceae and Paenibacillaceae) exhibited D10 values of 1-7&#xa0;kGy, including one multidrug-resistant strain; no endospores were observed in the Paenibacillus isolate under the tested conditions. Paenibacillus sp. HBRA004 survived 10&#xa0;kGy gamma radiation, exceeding all previously reported HBRA isolates by over fourfold. Its 5.0 Mbp genome (GC&#x2009;=&#x2009;48.27%,&#x2009;&#x2265;&#x2009;99% completeness) encodes five mechanistically independent DNA repair pathways; homologous recombination (recA, recN, radA), base excision repair (mutM, mutY, mutT), mismatch repair (mutL, mutS), nucleotide excision repair (uvrA, uvrB, uvrD), and non-homologous end joining (ku, ligD), alongside a redundant antioxidant network comprising triple-copy Fe/Mn-family superoxide dismutases and ahpC peroxiredoxin. A thioredoxin system (trxA, trxB, msrA) and manganese uptake via mntH may contribute to further layers of ROS defence. Their specific contribution to the HBRA004 phenotype remains to be experimentally and comparatively validated. These findings represent the first genomically characterised 10&#xa0;kGy-resistant bacterial isolate from the Chavara-Neendakara HBRA, establishing a new benchmark for radiation tolerance within this ecologically significant environment. Pathway depth, gene copy amplification, and Mn/Fe homeostasis appear to be candidate mechanisms contributing to high-level radiation tolerance, consistent with patterns in other radiation-resistant taxa, though their contribution requires functional validation.

India↗
PubMed2000

Dose measurement, its distribution and individual external dose assessments of inhabitants in the high background radiation areas in China.

As a part of the China-Japan cooperative research on natural radiation epidemiology, we have carried out a dose-assessment study to evaluate the external exposure to natural radiation in the high background radiation areas (HBRA) of Yangjiang in Guangdong province and in the control areas (CA) of Enping prefecture since 1991. Because of the difficulties in measuring the individual doses of all inhabitants directly by personal dosimeters, an indirect method was applied in which the exposed individual doses were estimated from the environmental radiation doses measured by survey meters and the occupancy factors of each hamlet. We analyzed the dose in the hamlets and the variation in the occupancy factors to obtain the parameters of dose estimation on the inhabitants in selected hamlets; Madi and several hamlets of different dose levels in HBRA and Hampizai hamlet in CA. With these parameters, we estimated individual dose rates and compared them with those obtained from direct measurement using dosimeters carried by selected individuals. The results obtained are as follows. 1) The environmental radiation doses are influenced by the natural radioactive nuclide concentrations in building materials, the age of the building and the arrangement of the houses in a hamlet. There existed a fairly large and heterogeneous distribution of indoor and outdoor environmental radiations. The indoor radiation doses were due to exposure from the natural radioactive nuclides in the building materials and were about two times as large as the outdoor radiation doses. The difference between indoor and outdoor doses was not observed in CA. 2) The occupancy factor was influenced by the age of individuals and by the season of the year. The occupancy factor was higher for infants and aged individuals than for other age groups. This lead to higher dose rates of exposure to those age groups. 3) A good correlation was observed between the dose assessed indirectly and that measured directly and the correlation factor was 0.97.

Background Radiation↗