Environmental biodosimetry: a biologically relevant
tool for ecological risk assessment and biomonitoring
B. Ulsh a, T.G. Hinton b, J.D. Congdon b, L.C. Dugan c, F.W. Whicker a, J.S. Bedford a
aDepartment
of Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins,
CO 80523, USA
bSavannah River Ecology Laboratory, Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802,
USA
c Biology and Biotechnology Research Program, Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, PO Box 808, L-452, Livennore, CA
94551, USA
Received 1 July 2000; received in revised form 14 May 2001; accepted 15
May 2001
Abstract
Biodosimetry,
the estimation of received doses by determining the frequency of radiation-
induced chromosome aberrations, is widely applied in humans acutely exposed
as a result of accidents or for clinical purposes, but biodosimetric techniques
have not been utilized in organ- isms chronically exposed to radionuclides
in contaminated environments. The application of biodosimetry to environmental
exposure scenarios could greatly improve the accuracy, and reduce the
uncertainties, of ecological risk assessments and biomonitoring studies,
because no assumptions are required regarding external exposure rates
and the movement of organisms into and out of contaminated areas. Furthermore,
unlike residue analyses of environmental media, environmental biodosimetry
provides a genetically relevant biomarker of cumulative life- time exposure.
Symmetrical chromosome translocations can impact reproductive success,
and could therefore prove to be ecologically relevant as well. We describe
our experience in studying aberrations in the yellow-bellied slider turtle
as an example of environmental biodosimetry.
Keywords:
Environmental biodosimetry; Chromosome aberrations; Fluorescent in-situ
hybridization; Yellow-bellied slider turtle; Trachemys scripta
SREL Reprint #2701
Ulsh, B., T. G. Hinton, J. D. Congdon, L. C. Dugan, F. W. Whicker and J. S. Bedford. 2003. Environmental biodosimetry: a biologically relevant tool for ecological risk assessment and biomonitoring. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 66:121-139.
