Biological effects of ionizing radiation on aquatic biota-A critical review

Ionizing radiation from radionuclides impacts marine aquatic biota and the scope of investigation must be wider than just invertebrates. We intend to detail and illustrate numerous biological effects that occur in both aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates, at various dose rates from all three kinds of ionizing radiation. The characteristics of radiation sources and dosages that would most effectively generate the intended effects in the irradiated organism were assessed once the biological differentiation between vertebrates and invertebrates was deter-mined through multiple lines of evidence. We contend that invertebrates are still more radiosensitive than vertebrates, due to their small genome size, rapid reproduction rates and lifestyle, which help them to compensate for the effects of radiation induced declines in fecundity, life span and individual health. We also identified various research gaps in this field and suggest future directions to be investigated to remedy the lack of data available in this area.

Automated summary

This study investigates the impact of ionizing radiation on marine aquatic biota, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. It concludes that invertebrates are more sensitive to radiation due to their smaller genome size, faster reproduction rates, and lifestyle. The study also identifies research gaps in this field and suggests future directions for investigation.