Journal of Pollution Effects & Control
Open Access

Abstract

The Impact of Radioactive Contamination on Infectious Disease Dynamics in Animals, Marine Life, and Humans

Nidhi Joshi and Kajal A. Pradhan*

Infectious disease-chemical pollution interactions are well-known and recognised as key variables in controlling how wild animals react to pollutant exposure. However, although commonly occurring in conjunction with chemical pollution, the influence of ionising radiation and radio nuclides on host-pathogen interactions in contaminated environments has been ignored. Nonetheless, there is a large body of literature on host-pathogen interactions under radiation exposure from laboratory and field investigations, and with a renewed interest in radioecology growing, an assessment of infectious disease dynamics under these settings would be appropriate. In laboratory studies, the impact of external ionising radiation and radio nuclides on animal hosts and pathogens (viruses, bacteria, protozoa’s, helmets, and arthropods) is assessed, and data from field studies, including the large number of investigations conducted after the Chernobyl disaster, is compiled. It is clear that radiation has a significant impact on the hostpathogen interaction. Although damage to the host immune system is a key component, other factors such as damage to host tissue barriers and pathogen viability inhibition also play a role in parasite illness frequency and intensity. The development of host-pathogen relationships in radioactively polluted areas is complicated, according to field research, with a range of biotic and abiotic variables impacting both pathogen and host, resulting in alterations in infectious disease dynamics.

Published Date: 2021-07-31; Received Date: 2021-07-10