International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN. 

Review status of High Background Radiation Area (HBRAs) associated with Marine Microorganisms using Radioactive Remediation

Author Affiliations

  • 1Center for Environmental Nuclear Research, Directorate of Research SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, TN, India

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 15, Issue (2), Pages 54-66, April,22 (2026)

Abstract

The present study critically evaluates environmentally occurring High Background Radiation Areas (HBRAs) and their ecological association with marine microorganisms involved in radionuclide remediation. Emphasis is placed on the radiological characterization of environmental matrices, including seawater and coastal sediments, and the corresponding structure and functional diversity of microbial communities inhabiting these radiation enriched ecosystems. Microorganisms residing in HBRAs exhibit pronounced radio resistance and metabolic plasticity, enabling survival under chronic exposure to be elevated ionizing radiation. Such resilience is attributed to enhanced DNA repair systems, antioxidant defense mechanisms, efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, and adaptive genomic modifications. Long-term radiation exposure has driven selective pressure, resulting in stable genetic mutations and regulatory adaptations that optimize survival and metabolic efficiency in radionuclide-rich environments. Importantly, these adaptive traits facilitate diverse biogeochemical processes including bioaccumulation, biosorption, biotransformation, bio reduction, and biomineralization of radionuclides. Microbial taxa capable of mediating redox transformations can alter radionuclide speciation, solubility, and mobility, thereby promoting immobilization or detoxification. Additionally, certain strains possess metalbinding proteins, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and enzymatic systems that enhance radionuclide sequestration and precipitation. The sustained exposure of microbial communities to radionuclides in HBRAs provides a natural model system for understanding microberadionuclide interactions at molecular and ecosystem levels. This evaluation synthesizes current knowledge on physiological, biochemical, and genomic mechanisms underpinning microbial adaptation and highlights their potential application in developing sustainable, eco-compatible strategies for radioactive waste remediation and environmental restoration.

References

  1. Popic, J. M., Urso, L., & Michalik, B. (2023)., Assessing the exposure situations with naturally occurring radioactive materials across European countries by means of the e-NORM survey., Science of the total Environment, 905, 167065.
  2. Pandion, K., Arunachalam, K. D., Dowlath, M. J. H., Chinnapan, S., Chang, S. W., Chang, W., ... & Ravindran, B. (2023)., The spatial distribution of physicochemical parameters in coastal sediments along the Bay of Bengal Coastal Zone with statistical analysis., Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(1), 126.
  3. Acosta-González, A., & Marqués, S. (2016)., Bacterial diversity in oil-polluted marine coastal sediments., Current opinion in biotechnology, 38, 24-32.
  4. Cecchi, G., Cutroneo, L., Di Piazza, S., Vagge, G., Capello, M., & Zotti, M. (2020)., From waste to resource: mycoremediation of contaminated marine sediments in the SEDITERRA project., Journal of soils and sediments, 20(6), 2653-2663.
  5. Bulgariu, L., & Bulgariu, D. (2019)., Bioremediation of toxic heavy metals using marine algae biomass. In Green materials for wastewater treatment (pp. 69-98)., Cham: Springer International Publishing.
  6. Trevisi, R., Ampollini, M., Bogi, A., Bucci, S., Caldognetto, E., La Verde, G., ... & Pugliese, M. (2023)., Radiological protection in industries involving NORM: a (graded) methodological approach to characterize the exposure situations., Atmosphere, 14(4), 635.
  7. Sohrabi, M. (2013)., World high background natural radiation areas: Need to protect public from radiation exposure., Radiation Measurements, 50, 166-171.
  8. Xiong, D., & Wang, C. (2021)., Risk assessment of human exposure to heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and radionuclides in oil-based drilling cutting residues used for roadbed materials in Chongqing, China., Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(35), 48171-48183.
  9. Puertas, F., Suárez-Navarro, J. A., Alonso López, M., & Gascó, C. (2021)., NORM waste, cements, and concretes., A review.
  10. Popic, J. M., Haanes, H., Di Carlo, C., Nuccetelli, C., Venoso, G., Leonardi, F., ... & Fevrier, L. (2023)., Tools for harmonized data collection at exposure situations with naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM)., Environment International, 175, 107954.
  11. Julius, H. W., & Van Dongen, R. (1985)., Radiation doses to the population in the Netherlands, due to external natural sources., Science of The Total Environment, 45, 449-458.
  12. Green, B. M. R., Brown, L., Cliff, K. D., Driscoll, C. M. H., Miles, J. C. H., & Wrixon, A. D. (1985)., Surveys of natural radiation exposure in UK dwellings with passive and active measurement techniques., Science of the Total Environment, 45, 459-466.
  13. Bezuidenhout, J., & le Roux, R. (2024)., Investigating Radon Concentrations in the Cango Cave, South Africa., Atmosphere, 15(9), 1133.
  14. Lin, Y. M., Lin, P. H., Chen, C. J., & Huang, C. C. (1987)., Measurements of terrestrial γ radiation in Taiwan, Republic of China., Health physics (1958), 52(6), 805-811.
  15. Tso, M. Y. W., & Li, C. C. (1992)., Terrestrial gamma radiation dose in Hong Kong., Health physics, 62(1), 77-81.
  16. Marouf, B. A., Mohamad, A. S., Taha, J. S., & Al-Haddad, I. K. (1992)., Population doses from environmental gamma radiation in Iraq., Health physics, 62(5), 443-444.
  17. Al-Jundi, J. (2002)., Population doses from terrestrial gamma exposure in areas near to old phosphate mine, Russaifa, Jordan., Radiation Measurements, 35(1), 23-28.
  18. Aliyu, A. S., & Ramli, A. T. (2015)., The world, Radiation Measurements, 73, 51-59.
  19. Ahmad, S., Koya, P. K. M., & Seshadri, M. (2013)., Effects of chronic low level radiation in the population residing in the high level natural radiation area in Kerala, India: employing heritable DNA mutation studies., Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, 751(2), 91-95.
  20. Karuppasamy, C. V., Ramachandran, E. N., Kumar, V. A., Kumar, P. V., Koya, P. K. M., Jaikrishan, G., & Das, B. (2016)., Peripheral blood lymphocyte micronucleus frequencies in men from areas of Kerala, India, with high vs normal levels of natural background ionizing radiation., Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, 800, 40-45.
  21. Singh, H. N., Shanker, D., Neelakandan, V. N., & Singh, V. P. (2007)., Distribution patterns of natural radioactivity and delineation of anomalous radioactive zones using in situ radiation observations in Southern Tamil Nadu, India., Journal of hazardous materials, 141(1), 264-272.
  22. Bhattacharya, T., Shankar, V. M., Reddy, B. R. M., Thangavel, S., & Sharma, P. K. (2018)., Radioactivity levels in the atomic mineral occurrences along Dharmapuri Shear zone in parts of Vellore, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Salem districts of Tamil Nadu, India., Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 132, 135-141.
  23. K., Bhaumik, B. K., Guin, R., & Saha, S. K. (2006)., A new high background radiation area in the Geothermal region of Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB) of Orissa, India., Radiation Measurements, 41(5), 602-610.
  24. Mohanty, A. K., Sengupta, D., Das, S. K., Saha, S. K., & Van, K. V. (2004)., Natural radioactivity and radiation exposure in the high background area at Chhatrapur beach placer deposit of Orissa, India., Journal of environmental radioactivity, 75(1), 15-33.
  25. Shrivastava, H. B., Rao, V. K., Singh, R. V., Rahman, M., Rout, G. B., Banerjee, R., ... & Verma, M. B. (2015)., Uranium series disequilibrium studies in Chenchu colony area, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India., Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 105, 163-169.
  26. Reddy, K. V. K., Reddy, B. S., Reddy, M. S., Reddy, C. G., Reddy, P. Y., & Reddy, K. R. (2003)., Baseline studies of radon/thoron concentration levels in and around the Lambapur and Peddagattu areas in Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India., Radiation measurements, 36(1-6), 419-423.
  27. Mulas, D., Camacho, A., Serrano, I., Montes, S., Devesa, R., & Duch, M. A. (2017)., Natural and artificial radionuclides in sludge, sand, granular activated carbon and reverse osmosis brine from a metropolitan drinking water treatment plant., Journal of environmental radioactivity, 177, 233-240.
  28. Tsytsugina, V. G. E., Risik, N. S., Lazorenko, G. E., & Polikarpov, B. (1975)., Artificial and natural radionuclides in marine life.,
  29. Veguerı́a, S. F. J., Godoy, J. M., & Miekeley, N. (2002)., Environmental impact in sediments and seawater due to discharges of Ba, 226Ra, 228Ra, V, Ni and Pb by produced water from the Bacia de Campos oil field offshore platforms., Environmental Forensics, 3(2), 115-123.
  30. Vegueria, S. J., Godoy, J. M., & Miekeley, N. (2002)., Environmental impact studies of barium and radium discharges by produced waters from the “Bacia de Campos” oil-field offshore platforms, Brazil., Journal of Environmental radioactivity, 62(1), 29-38.
  31. Matishov, D. G., & Matishov, G. G. (2013)., Radioecology in Northern European Seas., Springer Science & Business Media.
  32. Harikrishnan, N., Ravisankar, R., Chandrasekaran, A., Gandhi, M. S., Vijayagopal, P., & Mehra, R. (2018)., Assessment of gamma radiation and associated radiation hazards in coastal sediments of south east coast of Tamilnadu, India with statistical approach., Ecotoxicology and Environmental safety, 162, 521-528.
  33. Ramasamy, V., Sundarrajan, M., Paramasivam, K., Meenakshisundaram, V., & Suresh, G. (2013)., Assessment of spatial distribution and radiological hazardous nature of radionuclides in high background radiation area, Kerala, India., Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 73, 21-31.
  34. Noureddine, A., Benkrid, M., Hammadi, A., Boudjenoun, R., Menacer, M., Khaber, A., & Kecir, M. S. (2003)., Radioactivity distribution in surface and core sediment of the central part of the Algerian Coast: An estimation of the recent sedimentation rate., Mediterranean Marine Science, 4(2), 53-58.
  35. Berlanga, M. (2000)., Microbiología. LM Prescott, JP Harley, DA Klein., International Microbiology, 3(3), 198-199.
  36. Tamponnet, C., Martin-Garin, A., Gonze, M. A., Parekh, N., Vallejo, R., Sauras-Yera, T., ... & Shaw, G. (2008)., An overview of BORIS: bioavailability of radionuclides in soils., Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 99(5), 820-830.
  37. Shaowei, W., Zhaorong, S., Ping, W., Guoliang, W., & Yuqin, D. (2016)., Study on radioactive contaminated soil remediation technologies and selection principles., In International Confernece Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference (pp. 547-554). Singapore: Springer Singapore.
  38. Tabak, H. H., Lens, P., Van Hullebusch, E. D., & Dejonghe, W. (2005)., Developments in bioremediation of soils and sediments polluted with metals and radionuclides–1. Microbial processes and mechanisms affecting bioremediation of metal contamination and influencing metal toxicity and transport., Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 4(3), 115-156.
  39. Tišáková, L. E. N. K. A., Pipíška, M. A. R. T. I. N., Godány, A. N. D. R. E. J., Horník, M. I. R. O. S. L. A. V., Vidová, B., & Augustín, J. (2013)., Bioaccumulation of 137Cs and 60Co by bacteria isolated from spent nuclear fuel pools., Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 295(1), 737-748.
  40. Staunton, S., Dumat, C., & Zsolnay, A. (2002)., Possible role of organic matter in radiocaesium adsorption in soils., Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 58(2-3), 163-173.
  41. Merroun, M. L., & Selenska-Pobell, S. (2008)., Bacterial interactions with uranium: an environmental perspective., Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 102(3-4), 285-295.
  42. Ozdemir, S., Oduncu, M. K., Kilinc, E., & Soylak, M. (2017)., Resistance, bioaccumulation and solid phase extraction of uranium (VI) by Bacillus vallismortis and its UV–vis spectrophotometric determination., Journal of environmental radioactivity, 171, 217-225.
  43. Tsuruta, T. (2006)., Bioaccumulation of uranium and thorium from the solution containing both elements using various microorganisms., Journal of alloys and compounds, 408, 1312-1315.
  44. Prakash, D., Gabani, P., Chandel, A. K., Ronen, Z., & Singh, O. V. (2013)., Bioremediation: a genuine technology to remediate radionuclides from the environment., Microbial Biotechnology, 6(4), 349-360.
  45. Luk’yanova, E. A., Zakharova, E. V., Konstantinova, L. I., & Nazina, T. N. (2008)., Sorption of radionuclides by microorganisms from a deep repository of liquid low-level waste., Radiochemistry, 50(1), 85-90.
  46. Dobrowolski, R., Szcześ, A., Czemierska, M., & Jarosz-Wikołazka, A. (2017)., Studies of cadmium (II), lead (II), nickel (II), cobalt (II) and chromium (VI) sorption on extracellular polymeric substances produced by Rhodococcus opacus and Rhodococcus rhodochrous., Bioresource technology, 225, 113-120.
  47. Jabbar, T., & Wallner, G. (2015)., Biotransformation of radionuclides: Trends and challenges., Radionuclides in the Environment: Influence of chemical speciation and plant uptake on radionuclide migration, 169-184.
  48. Francis, A. J., & Nancharaiah, Y. V. (2015)., In situ and ex situ bioremediation of radionuclide-contaminated soils at nuclear and norm sites., In Environmental remediation and restoration of contaminated nuclear and norm sites (pp. 185-236). Woodhead Publishing.
  49. Mohapatra, B. R., Dinardo, O., Gould, W. D., & Koren, D. W. (2010)., Biochemical and genomic facets on the dissimilatory reduction of radionuclides by microorganisms –A review., Minerals Engineering, 23(8), 591-599.
  50. Cherkouk, A., Law, G. T., Rizoulis, A., Law, K., Renshaw, J. C., Morris, K., ... & Lloyd, J. R. (2016)., Influence of riboflavin on the reduction of radionuclides by Shewanella oneidenis MR-1., Dalton Transactions, 45(12), 5030-5037.
  51. Pandey, B. D., & Natarajan, K. A. (Eds.). (2015)., Microbiology for minerals, metals, materials and the environment., CRC Press.
  52. Francis, A. J., Dodge, C. J., & Gillow, J. B. (1992)., Biodegradation of metal citrate complexes and implications for toxic-metal mobility., Nature, 356(6365), 140-142.
  53. Dadachova, E., & Casadevall, A. (2008)., Ionizing radiation: how fungi cope, adapt, and exploit with the help of melanin., Current opinion in microbiology, 11(6), 525-531.
  54. Arlinger, J., Oskarsson, A., Albinsson, Y., Andlid, T., & Pedersen, K. (2003)., Mobilisation of radionuclides by ligands produced by bacteria from the deep subsurface., MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL), 807, 823.
  55. Green, S. J., Prakash, O., Jasrotia, P., Overholt, W. A., Cardenas, E., Hubbard, D., ... & Kostka, J. E. (2012)., Denitrifying bacteria from the genus Rhodanobacter dominate bacterial communities in the highly contaminated subsurface of a nuclear legacy waste site., Applied and environmental microbiology, 78(4), 1039-1047.
  56. Amachi, S., Minami, K., Miyasaka, I., & Fukunaga, S. (2010)., Ability of anaerobic microorganisms to associate with iodine: 125I tracer experiments using laboratory strains and enriched microbial communities from subsurface formation water., Chemosphere, 79(4), 349-354.
  57. Sharma, A., Gaidamakova, E. K., Grichenko, O., Matrosova, V. Y., Hoeke, V., Klimenkova, P., ... & Daly, M. J. (2017)., Across the tree of life, radiation resistance is governed by antioxidant Mn2+, gauged by paramagnetic resonance., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(44), E9253-E9260.
  58. Shuryak, I., & Brenner, D. J. (2010)., Effects of radiation quality on interactions between oxidative stress, protein and DNA damage in Deinococcus radiodurans., Radiation and environmental biophysics, 49(4), 693-703.
  59. Ardini, M., Fiorillo, A., Fittipaldi, M., Stefanini, S., Gatteschi, D., Ilari, A., & Chiancone, E. (2013)., Kineococcus radiotolerans Dps forms a heteronuclear Mn–Fe ferroxidase center that may explain the Mn-dependent protection against oxidative stress., Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-General Subjects, 1830(6), 3745-3755.
  60. Song, S., Zhang, S., Huang, S., Zhang, R., Yin, L., Hu, Y., ... & Wang, X. (2019)., A novel multi-shelled Fe3O4, undefined
  61. MnOx hollow microspheres for immobilizing U (VI) and Eu (III)., Chemical Engineering Journal, 355, 697-709., undefined
  62. Slade, D., & Radman, M. (2011)., Oxidative stress resistance in Deinococcus radiodurans., Microbiology and molecular biology reviews, 75(1), 133-191.
  63. Yu, K. N., Stokes, M. J., Young, E., & Guan, Z. J. (1994)., Natural and artificial radionuclides in seabed sediments of Hong Kong., Nuclear Geophysics (International Journal of Radiation Applications and Instrumentation, Part E);(United Kingdom), 8(1).
  64. Ding, L., Tan, W. F., Xie, S. B., Mumford, K., Lv, J. W., Wang, H. Q., ... & Li, M. (2018)., Uranium adsorption and subsequent re-oxidation under aerobic conditions by Leifsonia sp.-Coated biochar as green trapping agent., Environmental Pollution, 242, 778-787.
  65. Lovley, D. R. (2002)., Microbial redox interactions with uranium: an environmental perspective., In Radioactivity in the Environment (Vol. 2, pp. 205-223). Elsevier.
  66. Yin, Y., Wang, J., Yang, X., & Li, W. (2017)., Removal of strontium ions by immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae in magnetic chitosan microspheres., Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 49(1), 172-177.
  67. Alexandrova, M., Rozhko, T., Vydryakova, G., & Kudryasheva, N. (2011)., Effect of americium-241 on luminous bacteria. Role of peroxides., Journal of environmental radioactivity, 102(4), 407-411.
  68. Misra, C. S., Appukuttan, D., Kantamreddi, V. S. S., Rao, A. S., & Apte, S. K. (2012)., Recombinant D. radiodurans cells for bioremediation of heavy metals from acidic/neutral aqueous wastes., Bioengineered, 3(1), 44-48.
  69. Raghu, G., Balaji, V., Venkateswaran, G., Rodrigue, A., & Maruthi Mohan, P. (2008)., Bioremediation of trace cobalt from simulated spent decontamination solutions of nuclear power reactors using E. coli expressing NiCoT genes., Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 81(3), 571-578.
  70. Nilgiriwala, K. S., Alahari, A., Rao, A. S., & Apte, S. K. (2008)., Cloning and overexpression of alkaline phosphatase PhoK from Sphingomonas sp. strain BSAR-1 for bioprecipitation of uranium from alkaline solutions., Applied and environmental microbiology, 74(17), 5516-5523.
  71. Appukuttan, D., Rao, A. S., & Apte, S. K. (2006)., Engineering of Deinococcus radiodurans R1 for bioprecipitation of uranium from dilute nuclear waste., Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 72(12), 7873-7878.
  72. Hazen, T. C., & Tabak, H. H. (2005)., Developments in bioremediation of soils and sediments polluted with metals and radionuclides: 2. Field research on bioremediation of metals and radionuclides., Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 4(3), 157-183.
  73. Reena, R., Majhi, M. C., Arya, A. K., Kumar, R., & Kumar, A. (2012)., BioRadBase: a database for bioremediation of radioactive waste., African Journal of Biotechnology, 11(35), 8718-8721.
  74. Xu, Y., & Zhou, N. Y. (2017)., Microbial remediation of aromatics-contaminated soil., Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 11(2), 1.
  75. Lofrano, G., Libralato, G., Minetto, D., De Gisi, S., Todaro, F., Conte, B., ... & Notarnicola, M. (2017)., In situ remediation of contaminated marinesediment: an overview., Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(6), 5189-5206.
  76. Paterson-Beedle, M., Macaskie, L. E., Lee, C. H., Hriljac, J. A., Jee, K. Y., & Kim, W. H. (2006)., Utilisation of a hydrogen uranyl phosphate-based ion exchanger supported on a biofilm for the removal of cobalt, strontium and caesium from aqueous solutions., Hydrometallurgy, 83(1-4), 141-145.
  77. Sasaki, K., Takeno, K., Shinkawa, H., Sasaki, K., & Das, N. (2015)., Removal of radioactivity and recovery of radioactive Cs from sediment mud and soil in Fukushima, Japan using immobilized photosynthetic bacteria., Advanced Materials Research, 1091, 125-130.
  78. Pandion, K., & Arunachalam, K. D. (2022)., Potential health risk estimation of naturally occurring radionuclides intake due to the consumption of seafood around Coastal zone., J. Food Sci. Nutr. Ther., 8(1), 028-037.
  79. Pandion, K., Dowlath, M. J. H., Arunachalam, K. D., Abd-Elkader, O. H., Yadav, K. K., Nazir, N., ... & Ravindran, B. (2023)., Seasonal influence on physicochemical properties of the sediments from Bay of Bengal coast with statistical approach., Environmental Research, 235, 116611.
  80. Pandion, K., Mayanib, S. V., Nikamc, R. J., Saranb, A., & Deivi Arunachalam, K. (2024)., Naturally occurring radionuclides intake of fish diversity by inhabitants around the nuclear power plant, based on the market basket sampling (MBS) approach., Environ. Sci. Open Access, 2(1), 1006.
  81. Pandion, K., Arunachalam, K. D., Gaafar, A. R. Z., Almunqedhi, B. M., Kuppusamy, S., Singh, R. P., ... & Balasubramani, R. (2025)., Assessment of naturally occurring radionuclides in the coastal sediment with statistical analysis of radiological risk parameters., Journal of Hydroinformatics, 27(1), 17-32.