Disease Risks from Environmental Radiological Exposure

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ionizing radiations arise from many natural sources, ranging from the unstable atoms in the materials around us, and within our bodies, to the Sun, and even beyond the Solar System. In addition, the testing of nuclear weapons, nuclear waste, and nuclear accidents can be included as radioactive sources. These sources have provided the means of dating environmental materials and tracing the movements of substances through the Earth's land, oceans, and atmosphere. However, although radionuclides have been used in the Earth, marine, and environmental sciences for over a hundred years and provide unique tools to study environmental processes in great detail from different observational scales, ionizing radiations affect genetic systems, which has led to a remarkable range of studies to examine how and how quickly both humans and biota accumulate unstable atoms, and their various effects on both, thus creating adverse genetic effects for future generations.

Accordingly, this Topic welcomes the submission of research and review papers on environmental radioactivity, radiation protection, radiation hazards, and medical radiation countermeasures for radiological emergencies.

Prof. Dr. Valentina Venuti
Prof. Dr. Francesco Caridi
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.5	2011	16 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Biology biology	3.5	7.4	2012	16.8 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Cancers cancers	4.4	8.8	2009	19.1 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ijerph	-	8.5	2004	29.5 Days	CHF 2500	Submit
Radiation radiation	-	-	2021	23 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Toxics toxics	4.1	6.4	2013	17.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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19 pages, 2256 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Alpha Particle Exposure on Genetic Stability and Morphogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster

by Zarema Biyasheva, Yuliya Zaripova, Anna Lovinskaya, Vyacheslav Dyachkov and Alexandr Yushkov

Biology 2026, 15(10), 789; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15100789 - 15 May 2026

Viewed by 143

Abstract

The study of genetic effects induced by low-dose alpha radiation associated with radon and its decay progeny is critically important for assessing radiation risks in regions with elevated natural background levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutagenic effects (in [...] Read more.

The study of genetic effects induced by low-dose alpha radiation associated with radon and its decay progeny is critically important for assessing radiation risks in regions with elevated natural background levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutagenic effects (in germline cells) and teratogenic effects (in somatic tissues) of alpha radiation using the D. melanogaster model. To differentiate between these effects, teratogenic outcomes were analyzed in directly exposed individuals (phenotypic analysis of adults that developed from irradiated larvae), whereas mutagenic effects were assessed in the progeny of irradiated flies. Larvae and adult flies were exposed to calibrated alpha-particle sources with energies ranging from 4.8 to 7.7 MeV and absorbed doses of 1.90–44.96 mGy. The results demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the frequency of morphological abnormalities in the exposed groups, including melanotic masses and deformities of the wings, thorax, and tergites. Under 72 h exposure, a strong correlation between absorbed dose and abnormality frequency was observed (r = 0.98). In the reporter system, induction of GFP expression was detected in imaginal discs at doses above 10 mGy, indicating threshold activation of the cellular stress response. The obtained data demonstrate that chronic low-dose α-irradiation leads to an increased frequency of morphological abnormalities (indirect phenotypic manifestations of compromised genetic stability) in D. melanogaster, with the most pronounced effects observed at the level of morphogenesis. The high sensitivity of the applied test systems was confirmed, supporting the use of D. melanogaster as a bioindicator for ecogenetic monitoring of radon-prone areas, including regions of Kazakhstan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Disease Risks from Environmental Radiological Exposure)

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31 pages, 1523 KB  

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Thorium Valorization at the Interface of Technology, Risk, and Sustainability

by Geani Teodor Man, Andreea Maria Iordache, Diana Ionela Popescu (Stegarus), Ionela Ramona Zgavarogea and Nicoleta Anca Șuțan

Toxics 2026, 14(3), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14030193 - 25 Feb 2026

Viewed by 1322

Abstract

Thorium (Th), a naturally occurring actinide, is gaining renewed attention due to its dual role as a strategic nuclear resource and a potential environmental contaminant. This review critically reassesses thorium valorization pathways by integrating extraction technologies, environmental behavior, toxicological risks, and regulatory constraints. [...] Read more.

Thorium (Th), a naturally occurring actinide, is gaining renewed attention due to its dual role as a strategic nuclear resource and a potential environmental contaminant. This review critically reassesses thorium valorization pathways by integrating extraction technologies, environmental behavior, toxicological risks, and regulatory constraints. While thorium is primarily recovered as a by-product of rare earth element (REE) processing, conventional hydrometallurgical methods—though mature—generate significant secondary waste and pose environmental challenges. Emerging technologies, such as functionalized adsorbents, membrane systems, and biohydrometallurgy, show promise but remain largely confined to laboratory-scale studies due to scalability and stability issues. A key finding is that thorium’s environmental mobility and toxicological impact are directly influenced by the extraction processes used, creating species with distinct bioavailability and risk profiles. This work highlights the disconnect between high laboratory efficiencies and real-world applicability, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches that consider lifecycle impacts, waste minimization, and occupational safety. We propose a circular economy framework for sustainable thorium management, connecting green primary processing, secondary recovery from industrial residues, smart environmental stewardship, and supportive policy. The review concludes that successful thorium valorization depends not on incremental efficiency gains but on holistic designs that reconcile technological performance with environmental and health safeguards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Disease Risks from Environmental Radiological Exposure)

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