Abstract
Scientific community and institutions (e. g., ICRP) consider that the Linear No-Threshold (LNT) model, which extrapolates stochastic risk at low dose/low dose rate from the risk at moderate/high doses, provides a prudent basis for practical purposes of radiological protection. However, biological low dose/dose rate responses that challenge the LNT model have been highlighted and important dowels came from radiobiology studies conducted in Deep Underground Laboratories (DULs). These extreme ultra-low radiation environments are ideal locations to conduct below-background radiobiology experiments, interesting from basic and applied science. The INFN Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) (Italy) is the site where most of the underground radiobiological data has been collected so far and where the first in vivo underground experiment was carried out using Drosophila melanogaster as model organism. Presently, many DULs around the world have implemented dedicated programs, meetings and proposals. The general message coming from studies conducted in DULs using protozoan, bacteria, mammalian cells and organisms (flies, worms, fishes) is that environmental radiation may trigger biological mechanisms that can increase the capability to cope against stress. However, several issues are still open, among them: the role of the quality of the radiation spectrum in modulating the biological response, the dependence on the biological endpoint and on the model system considered, the overall effect at organism level (detrimental or beneficial). At LNGS, we recently launched the RENOIR experiment aimed at improving knowledge on the environmental radiation spectrum and to investigate the specific role of the gamma component on the biological response of Drosophila melanogaster.
Highlights
Understanding the impact of natural background radiation on metabolism of living organisms is an open puzzling issue
The first one was held in Canfranc, Spain, in October 2015,1 the second at the LNGS, Italy, in November 2019.2 The DULIA-bio Workshop is expected to be organized in Boulby, UK. In this Perspective paper, after a brief summary of the LNGS experience in conducting underground radiobiological studies, we report on our approach to get more insight in the field of extremely low dose rate radiobiology
In the attempt to understand whether the biological response is related to an overall increase of the dose-rate exposure or to the contribution of specific component(s) of the radiation field, the three-year RENOIR experiment recently started at LNGS
Summary
Understanding the impact of natural background radiation on metabolism of living organisms is an open puzzling issue. A crucial point is to elucidate the role of the different components of the environmental radiation field on the response of living organisms With this aim, we recently started the RENOIR (Radiation ENvirOnment triggers bIological Responses in flies: physical and biological mechanisms) experiment, using Drosophila melanogaster as in vivo model system. In the attempt to understand whether the biological response is related to an overall increase of the dose-rate exposure or to the contribution of specific component(s) of the radiation field, the three-year RENOIR experiment recently started at LNGS. To increase the gamma component at LRE, we will use especially designed Marinelli beakers filled with natural gammaemitter building material (tuff and pozzolana), and sealed to avoid any radon exposure This approach has been proposed for the first time by the WIPP group who used gamma from 40K to increase the dose rate underground in bacteria experiments [16]. The experiment was useful to check the irradiation configuration and confirmed the feasibility of the test in the conditions we are setting
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