Radiation exposure of microorganisms living in radioactive mineral springs

The TIRAMISU collaboration gathers expertise from biologists, physicists, radiochemists and geologists within the Zone-Atelier Territoires Uranifères (ZATU) in France to study response of microorganisms living naturally radioactive mineral springs. Mineral springs are isolated ecosystems, extremely stable over geological time scales, which display different physicochemical radiological parameters compared their surroundings. Water sediment samples collected 27 volcanic Auvergne region (Massif Central, France) have been analyzed for microbial biodiversity radionuclide content. Among present, diatoms (a microalgae species), widely used as environmental bioindicators water quality, shown an exceptional abundance teratogenic forms most studied (radon activity up 3700 Bq/L). current work presents a first assessment dose received by inhabiting risk freshwater environments was estimated using ERICA tool. Most sampled were highly above threshold 10 mGy/h due large concentrations radium sediments (up 50 Bq/g). complete data on inputs Monte Carlo simulations at micro- (GATE) nano- (Geant4-DNA) scale order assess direct indirect damages diatom DNA.