Comparison of chronic low-dose effects of alpha- and beta-emitting radionuclides on marine bacteria

Effects of Americium-241 ( 241 Am), alpha-emitting radionuclide of high specific radioactivity, and tritium ( 3 H), beta-emitting radionuclide, on luminous bacteria Photobacterium phosphoreum were compared. Bioluminescence intensity served as a marker of bacterial physiological activity. Three succe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Central European journal of biology 2014-10, Vol.9 (10), p.951-959
Main Authors: Selivanova, M. A., Rozhko, T. V., Devyatlovskaya, A. N., Kudryasheva, N. S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Am-241
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biotechnology
Cell Biology
Hormesis
Human Genetics
Immunology
Life Sciences
Luminous bacteria
Peroxides
Radiotoxicity
Research Article
Tritium
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Effects of Americium-241 ( 241 Am), alpha-emitting radionuclide of high specific radioactivity, and tritium ( 3 H), beta-emitting radionuclide, on luminous bacteria Photobacterium phosphoreum were compared. Bioluminescence intensity served as a marker of bacterial physiological activity. Three successive stages in the bioluminescence response to 241 Am and 3 H were found under conditions of lowdose irradiation: (1) absence of effects, (2) activation, and (3) inhibition. They were interpreted in terms of bacterial response to stressfactor as stress recognition, adaptive response/syndrome, and suppression of physiological function ( i.e. radiation toxicity). Times of bioluminescence activation (TBA) and inhibition (TBI) were suggested as parameters to characterize hormesis and toxic stages in a course of chronic low-dose irradiation of the microorganisms. Values of TBA and TBI of 241 Am were shorter than those of 3 H, revealing higher impact of alpha-irradiation (as compared to beta-irradiation) under comparable radiation doses. Increases of peroxide concentration and NADH oxidation rates in 241 Am aquatic solutions were demonstrated; these were not found in tritiated water. The results reveal a biological role of reactive oxygen species generated in water solutions as secondary products of the radioactive decay. The study provides a scientific basis for elaboration of bioluminescence-based assay to monitor radiotoxicity of alpha- and beta-emitting radionuclides in aquatic solutions.
ISSN:1895-104X
2391-5412
1644-3632
2391-5412
DOI:10.2478/s11535-014-0331-0