In vivo effects of chronic contamination with 137 cesium on testicular and adrenal steroidogenesis

Title: In vivo effects of chronic contamination with 137 cesium on testicular and adrenal steroidogenesis

Author: Elise Grignard, Yann Guéguen, Stéphane Grison, Jean-Marc A. Lobaccaro, Patrick Gourmelon, Maâmar Souidi

Reference: Archives of Toxicology , September 2008, Volume 82, Issue 9, pp 583-589

DOI: 10.1007/s00204-007-0268-4

Keywords : Steroidogenesis, Testis, Adrenal, Cesium, Chronic contamination

Abstract: More than 20 years after Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion, radionuclids are still mainly bound to the organic soil layers. The radiation exposure is dominated by the external exposure to gamma-radiation following the decay of ¹³⁷Cs and by soil-to-plant-to-human transfer of ¹³⁷Cs into the food chain. Because of this persistence of contamination with ¹³⁷Cs, questions regarding public health for people living in contaminated areas were raised. We investigated the biological effects of chronic exposure to ¹³⁷Cs on testicular and adrenal steroidogenesis metabolisms in rat. Animals were exposed to radionuclide in their drinking water for 9 months at a dose of 6,500 Bq/l (610 Bq/kg/day). Cesium contamination decreases the level of circulating 17β-estradiol, and increases corticosterone level. In testis, several nuclear receptors messenger expression is disrupted; levels of mRNA encoding Liver X receptor α (LXRα) and LXRβ are increased, whereas farnesoid X receptor mRNA presents a lower level. Adrenal metabolism presents a paradoxical decrease in cyp11a1 gene expression. In conclusion, our results show for the first time molecular and hormonal modifications in testicular and adrenal steroidogenic metabolism, induced by chronic contamination with low doses of ¹³⁷Cs.

ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00204-007-0268-4

Analysis of Blood Lymphocyte Subsets in Children Living around Chernobyl Exposed Long-Term to Low Doses of Cesium-137 and Various Doses of Iodine-131

Title: Analysis of Blood Lymphocyte Subsets in Children Living around Chernobyl Exposed Long-Term to Low Doses of Cesium-137 and Various Doses of Iodine-131

Author: Eugene V. Vykhovanets, Victor P. Chernyshov, Igor I. Slukvin, Yury G. Antipkin, Alexander Vasyuk, and Valerey Colos

Reference: Radiation Research June 2000 : Vol. 153, Issue 6 (Jun 2000), pg(s) 760-772

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1667/0033-7587(2000)153[0760:AOBLSI]2.0.CO;2

Keywords : blood lymphocyte, children, low doses, cesium-137, iodine-131

Abstract: Epidemiological studies have found that children living around Chernobyl have rates of respiratory tract illness that are higher than those seen in the area before the Chernobyl accident. The present study investigates the possible effects of radiation exposure on the composition of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in children living around Chernobyl. Two hundred nineteen healthy children and children suffering from recurrent respiratory diseases aged 6–14 years who received both low doses of radiation to the whole body from ¹³⁷Cs and various doses of radiation to the thyroid from ¹³¹I as fallout from the accident were assessed 5 (1991) and 8–10 years (1994–1996) after the accident. A total of 148 healthy children and children suffering from recurrent respiratory diseases living in noncontaminated areas were also evaluated as controls. Children with recurrent respiratory diseases who lived around Chernobyl had a significantly lower percentage of T cells and a higher percentage of NK cells compared to control children with recurrent respiratory diseases during the study period. In contrast to the findings in 1991, a significant decrease in the percentage of helper-inducer cells was observed in children with recurrent respiratory diseases in 1994–1996. In contrast to 1991, there is a positive correlation between the percentage of helper-inducer cells, the helper-inducer/cytotoxic-suppressor cell ratio, and the dose of radiation to the thyroid of healthy children from ¹³¹I in 1994–1996. There was a positive correlation between the dose of radiation to the thyroid from ¹³¹I and the percentage of helper-inducer cells in children with recurrent respiratory diseases 5 years (1991) after the accident. Further, the dose of radiation to the thyroid from ¹³¹I correlated negatively with the percentage of T and B cells and positively with the percentage of NK cells in children with recurrent respiratory diseases 8–10 years (1994–1996) after the accident. These results raise the possibility that long-term exposure to low doses of ¹³⁷Cs may have altered the composition of the T-cell subsets and NK cells in children with recurrent respiratory diseases. The differences in the composition of the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets between healthy children and those with recurrent respiratory diseases may be attributed to long-term low-dose exposure of the whole body to radiation from ¹³⁷Cs and exposure of the thyroid to radiation from ¹³¹I subsequent to the Chernobyl accident.

ＵＲＬ：http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1667/0033-7587%282000%29153%5B0760%3AAOBLSI%5D2.0.CO%3B2?prevSearch=chernobyl%2Bobstetrics&searchHistoryKey=&queryHash=93d611a9bfec5beb1e2f82cb49cf110e

Concentration of 137Cs and 40K in meat of omnivore and herbivore game species in mountain forest ecosystems of Gorski Kotar, Croatia

Title: Concentration of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K in meat of omnivore and herbivore game species in mountain forest ecosystems of Gorski Kotar, Croatia

Author: Nikica Šprem, Ivan Babić, Domagoj Barišić, Delko Barišić

Reference: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, October 2013, Volume 298, Issue 1, pp 513-517

DOI: 10.1007/s10967-013-2475-1

Keywords: Game meat, 137Cs, 40K, Omnivore, Herbivore, Mountain forest ecosystem

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K load in large mammal game species in the mountain forest region of Gorski Kotar in Croatia approximately a quarter of century after the Chernobyl accident. ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K activity were determined by the gamma-spectrometric method in 49 meat samples of five large game species: brown bear (Ursus arctos), wild boar (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). The results indicated that herbivore game species (roe deer, red deer and chamois) show significantly lower ¹³⁷Cs concentrations than omnivore species (brown bear, wild boar), thereby confirming the hypothesis that different dietary strategy impact caesium concentrations in meat. The measured caesium load in brown bear meat was in the range of two orders of magnitude, while caesium load in wild boar meat was found in the range of one order of magnitude. The estimated effective equivalent dose showed that uptake of the highest caesium doses would be from consumption of omnivore species meat, while much lower doses could be taken in with the consumption of meat from herbivore species.

ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10967-013-2475-1

Long-term 137Cs contamination of mushrooms following the Chernobyl fallout

Title: Long-term 137Cs contamination of mushrooms following the Chernobyl fallout

Author: D. Mascanzoni

Reference: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry July 2001, Volume 249, Issue 1, pp 245-249

DOI: 10.1023/A:1013263114576

Keywords: 137Cs, contamination, mushrooms, Europe, Sweden

Abstract: In the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident high concentrations of ¹³⁷ Cs were found in mushrooms in several European countries and in Sweden. Two edible mushrooms species were selected for a long-term investigation in order to evaluate the ¹³⁷Cs contamination over a long time. Samples of Suillus variegatus and Cantharellus spp. were collected from 1986to 1998 and their ¹³⁷ Cs contents assessed. The results show that the activity of ¹³⁷Cs remained more or less constant in Suillus variegatus, while it increased in Cantharellus spp. This reflects the forest ecosystem of the mushrooms, where nutrient-poor substrates, rich in organic substance and with high pH maintain ¹³⁷Cs available for uptake. A decay-correction of the time distribution shows that radioactive decay appears to be the main factor affecting the content of ¹³⁷Cs in mushrooms, at least in the medium term.

ＵＲＬ：http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A%3A1013263114576

Radioactive Contamination of Food in Stepanivka Village, Zhytomyr Region, Ukraine: in 1992 and in 2001

Title: Radioactive Contamination of Food in Stepanivka Village, Zhytomyr Region, Ukraine: in 1992 and in 2001

Author: Volodymyr TYKHYY

Reference: Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University, July 2002

Keywords: contamination, food, Zhytomir region, Ukraine

Abstract: Two series of measurements of radioactive contamination in food samples were performed in 1992 and in 2001 in a village contaminated by the Chernobyl accident. The village, Stepanivka is located 120 km to the west of Chernobyl NPP and has a typical level of Cs-137 surface contamination around that area (3 – 5 Ci/km2). The study was performed by the Independent Environmental Laboratory in Kyiv, jointly founded by the Ukrainian NGO “Green World”, Greenpeace International and the International Renaissance Foundation. It is shown that the Cs-137 contamination in milk in 2001 became 9 times lower than in 1992, while the Cs-137 contamination in wild mushrooms and berries remained at the same level. Annual intake of Cs-137 by the people in Stepanivka through food products and water was about 3 times lower in 2001 than in 1992. On the contrary to the trend of Cs-137, activity of Sr-90 in milk and dried berries was significantly higher in 2001 than in 1992.

ＵＲＬ：http://www.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/NSRG/reports/kr79/KURRI-KR-79.htm

Long Term Temporal Changes of 90Sr and 137Cs in Seawater, Bottom Sediment and Marine Organism Samples – from the Chernobyl Accident to Immediately after the Fukushima Accident –

Title: Long Term Temporal Changes of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in Seawater, Bottom Sediment and Marine Organism Samples – from the Chernobyl Accident to Immediately after the Fukushima Accident –

Author: Shinji OIKAWA, Teruhisa WATABE, Hyoe TAKATA, Chiyoshi SUZUKI, Motokazu NAKAHARA, Jun MISONOO

Reference: BUNSEKI KAGAKU, Vol. 62 (2013) No. 6 p. 455-474

Doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2116/bunsekikagaku.62.455

Keywords: radiochemistry, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, seawater, sediment, marine organism

Abstract: A radioactivity survey program was launched in 1983 to determine the background levels of artificial radionuclides, such as ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in the marine environment off commercial nuclear power stations. In this paper, we report on the long-term temporal changes of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in seawater, bottom sediment and marine organism samples. Both ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs have been detected since the beginning of the program in the seawater samples.

ＵＲＬ：https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bunsekikagaku/62/6/62_455/_article/-char/ja/

Concentration of Radioactive Cesium in Imported Foods and Contribution by Chernobyl Reactor Accident

Title: Concentration of Radioactive Cesium in Imported Foods and Contribution by Chernobyl Reactor Accident

Author: Kazuyoshi FUKUDA

Reference: RADIOISOTOPES, Vol. 49 (2000) No. 9 P 433-438

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3769/radioisotopes.49.433

Keywords: radioactive cesium, potassium-40, imported food, Chernobyl reactor accident

Abstract: Radionuclides in imported foods consumed in Hokkaido were examined by germanium (Ge) gamma-ray spectrometer system.
The values of radioactive cesium (¹³⁷Cs+¹³⁴Cs) concentration of 480 samples collected during 1989-1999 were lower than the temporary limit (370Bq/kg) . These values of 441 samples (92%) were lower than 1 Bq/kg. The maximum values of ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³⁴Cs were 62.4Bq/kg, 3.8Bq/kg in black tea imported from China.
From the relation between concentration of ¹³⁷Cs and cesium unit, the contribution from Chernobyl reactor accident was estimated qualitatively on 24 samples with higher values than 0.40Bq/g-K. Based on the concentration of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs detected in 16 samples, the contribution of ¹³⁷Cs from this accident were calculated.

ＵＲＬ：https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/radioisotopes1952/49/9/49_9_433/_article

Migration of 137Cs in soils of different ecosystems of Bryansk Polessie

Title: Migration of 137Cs in soils of different ecosystems of Bryansk Polessie

Author: Skovorodnikova, Natalia Alexeevna

Reference: Bryansk, 2005

Keywords: cesium-137, soil, ecosystem, agro-ecosystem, phytocenosis, Bryansk Polessie/ Polesia

Abstract: The purpose of the research; the study of cesium migration in soils of natural ecosystems and agro-ecosystems in Bryansk Polessie and its quantitative assessment.

URL:http://www.dissercat.com/content/migratsiya-137cs-v-pochvakh-razlichnykh-ekosistem-bryanskogo-polesya

Accumulation and distribution of radionuclides in forest ecosystems of the Krasnoyarsk region

Title: Accumulation and distribution of radionuclides in forest ecosystems of the Krasnoyarsk region

Author: Rudenko, Lyudmila Nikolayevna

Reference: Krasnoyarsk, 2003

Keywords: dynamics, pattern of accumulation, distribution of radionuclides, cesium-137, strontium-90, hardwoods, Krasnoyarsk region

Abstract: The purpose of the thesis was to conclude from the scientific and methodological rationale, the study of the dynamics and patterns of accumulation and distribution of radionuclides cesium-137 and strontium-90 among the hardwood of the Krasnoyarsk region.

URL:http://www.dissercat.com/content/nakoplenie-i-raspredelenie-tekhnogennykh-radionuklidov-v-lesnykh-ekosistemakh-krasnoyarskogo

Neuro-inflammatory response in rats chronically exposed to (137)Cesium

Author: P. Lestaevel, L. Grandcolas, F. Paquet et al.

Reference: Neurotoxicology. ― 2008. ― Vol. 29, № 2. ― P. 343–348.

Keywords: CNS, Cs137, inflammatory cytokine genes, electrophysiological alterations

Abstract: After the Chernobyl nuclear accident, behavioural disorders and central nervous system diseases were frequently observed in populations living in the areas contaminated by (137)Cs. Until now, these neurological disturbances were not elucidated, but the presence of a neuro-inflammatory response could be one explanation. Rats were exposed for 3 months to drinking water contaminated with (137)Cs at a dose of 400Bqkg(-1), which is similar to that ingested by the population living in contaminated areas in the former USSR countries. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes were assessed by real-time PCR in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus. At this level of exposure, gene expression of TNF-alpha and IL-6 increased in the hippocampus and gene expression of IL-10 increased in the frontal cortex. Concentration of TNF-alpha, measured by ELISA assays, was also increased in the hippocampus. The central NO-ergic pathway was also studied: iNOS gene expression and cNOS activity were significantly increased in the hippocampus. In conclusion, this study showed for the first time that sub-chronic exposure with post-accidental doses of (137)Cs leads to molecular modifications of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and NO-ergic pathway in the brain. This neuro-inflammatory response could contribute to the electrophysiological and biochemical alterations observed after chronic exposure to (137)Cs.

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18295892