Effects of acute gamma irradiation on Folsomia candida (Collembola) in a standard test.

An understanding of the effects of ionizing radiation on non-human biota is required by the International Commission on Radiological Protection for the radiological protection of the environment. We examined dose–effect relationships for gamma radiation on survival, growth, and reproduction in the soil invertebrate Folsomia candida (Collembola) in a standard laboratory test. F. candida were acutely irradiated at increasing doses of gamma radiation, and subsequent survival, growth in body length, and number of neonates produced by irradiated specimens were examined. The 50% lethal dose was at 1356Gy, and the 10% and 50% effective doses (ED10 and ED50) for growth were at 32 and 144Gy, respectively. The ED10 and ED50 values for reproduction were at 7.1 and 21.9Gy, respectively. These data establish important baselines for the radiological protection of terrestrial ecosystems based on scientific principles.