Abandoned uranium mine-induced effects in caged roach : a multiparametric approach for the evaluation of in situ metal toxicity

In the frame of the characterization of environmental risk assessment linked to abandoned uranium mines in the Limousin region (France) and in the context of the DEVIL program (Development and validation of fish biomarkers for the implementation of environmental legislation) led by INERIS (National institute for industry environment and risks), a study has been conducted on the effects of uranium mining releases on roach health status. The first part of the work was the search of potential sites for the study. Based on information from IRSN (National institute for radioprotection and nuclear safety) and from the owner of old mines, two private pounds were identified: one presenting uranium contamination, and one upstream the mining zone presenting no uranium in water. Roaches were therefore caged during one month on these two pounds. Biological sampling have been performed at the beginning of the experiment, and 2 and 4 weeks after, in order to measure several parameters: immune parameters followed by flow cytometry (phagocytosis, ROS production, apoptosis, lyosomes), genotoxicity (comet assay), oxidative stress (glutathione, lipoperoxidation), biotransformation (EROD, GST, ABC transporter), neurotoxicity (AChE), endocrine disruption (vitellogenin) and physiological parameters (ADN/ARN ratio, stomach contents, otoliths, condition index, sex ratio). Physico-chemical parameters of water and sediments (cations, anions, metals, radioactive elements) were also followed and bioaccumulation of metals in several organs (muscle, liver, kidney, gonad and gill) was measured. The results showed on the uranium contaminated site a water contamination of iron, aluminium, barium and manganese. Aluminium and iron were also present in the water of the uranium-free site. The sediments from the uranium contaminated site showed high levels of radioactive elements coming from the disintegration chain of uranium. Preliminary biological results indicated a stimulation of immune parameters, an increase of oxidative stress and a decrease of AChE in fish coming from the uranium contaminated site compared to the uranium-free site. The whole results, using integrated index, will allow the establishment of roach health status in the context of pluri-metallic mining release pollution. These data will strengthen the research for the improvement of methods and tools needed for the environmental risk assessment associated to radioactive substances in the environment