TY - JOUR

T1 - Consequences of nuclear accidents for biodiversity and ecosystem services

AU - von Wehrden, Henrik

AU - Fischer, J.

AU - Brandt, P.

AU - Wagner, Viktoria

AU - Kümmerer, K.

AU - Kuemmerle, Tobias

AU - Nagel, Anne

AU - Olsson, O.

AU - Hostert, Patrick

N1 - FP7: 265104

PY - 2012/4/1

Y1 - 2012/4/1

N2 - Nuclear energy is a potential solution to electricity demand but also entails risks.Policy debates on nuclear accidents have focused primarily on negative impacts on humans. Although such impacts are important, we argue that policy debates must also consider the consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Wereviewed 521 studies conducted after the Chernobyl accident, the most severenuclear accident in history. Elevated radiation levels have been recorded among adiversity of species, even up to thousands of kilometers away from the meltdown site, and after more than two decades following the accident. Close to the reactor, physiological and morphological changes have occurred. Negative effects on ecosystem services have been observed, including the contamination of water, soils, and wild food supplies. Informed policy decisions on nuclear energy require a greater understanding of the consequences of accidents, including effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Based on our review, we recommend to (1) fully incorporate risks for biodiversity and ecosystem services into policy debates; (2) develop a coherent information chain regarding such risks; (3) use proactive planning strategies to be prepared for potential accidents, and (4) develop a coherent research agenda on the consequences of nuclear accidents for biodiversity and ecosystem services.

AB - Nuclear energy is a potential solution to electricity demand but also entails risks.Policy debates on nuclear accidents have focused primarily on negative impacts on humans. Although such impacts are important, we argue that policy debates must also consider the consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Wereviewed 521 studies conducted after the Chernobyl accident, the most severenuclear accident in history. Elevated radiation levels have been recorded among adiversity of species, even up to thousands of kilometers away from the meltdown site, and after more than two decades following the accident. Close to the reactor, physiological and morphological changes have occurred. Negative effects on ecosystem services have been observed, including the contamination of water, soils, and wild food supplies. Informed policy decisions on nuclear energy require a greater understanding of the consequences of accidents, including effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Based on our review, we recommend to (1) fully incorporate risks for biodiversity and ecosystem services into policy debates; (2) develop a coherent information chain regarding such risks; (3) use proactive planning strategies to be prepared for potential accidents, and (4) develop a coherent research agenda on the consequences of nuclear accidents for biodiversity and ecosystem services.

KW - Ecosystems Research

KW - Caesium

KW - Chernobyl

KW - Nuclear

KW - energy

KW - Radiation

KW - Reactor meltdown

KW - Caesium

KW - Chernobyl

KW - Nuclear energy

KW - Radiation

KW - Reactor meltdown

KW - Biology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859576111&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/61c6dd9a-10b9-36f2-8e90-ae06dc6d68b3/

U2 - 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2011.00217.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2011.00217.x

M3 - Scientific review articles

AN - SCOPUS:84859576111

VL - 5

SP - 81

EP - 89

JO - Conservation Letters

JF - Conservation Letters

SN - 1755-263X

IS - 2

ER -