Ionizing Radiation Effects on Rabbits

: A case study with a rabbit as a key species in dune areas

Abstract

Traditional radiation protection frameworks prioritized human health, assuming that safeguarding humans would also protect the environment. However, history demonstrated that this assumption was inadequate, as ionizing radiation could have species-specific and ecosystem-level effects not captured by human-based models. This study focused on identifying the interacting processes and evaluated how ionizing radiation affected Oryctolagus cuniculus (European rabbit) within a dune ecosystem, using the species as a model organism for ecological radioprotection.

Rabbits played a keystone role in dune environments through grazing, burrowing, and shaping vegetation dynamics. Their presence near nuclear facilities in the Netherlands made them ecologically relevant for assessing environmental radiation risks. A systematic literature review, supported by expert consultation, was conducted to identify primary exposure pathways and to assess the biological, reproductive, and generational consequences of radiation exposure.

The study found that even low to moderate chronic doses might have resulted in sub-lethal effects, including reduced fertility, organ damage, and potential heritable mutations. These effects compromised individual fitness and, when accumulated across generations, may have destabilized populations. In current models particularly LD50 thresholds and rat-based reference data ecological complexity was inadequately reflected, and long-term impacts were underestimated.

Additionally, the study raised ethical concerns regarding the anthropocentric nature of existing risk models, which prioritized quantifiable health endpoints over ecological function and animal welfare. Sub-lethal suffering and reproductive decline were not included in current assessments.

This research highlighted the limitations of conventional radiological models and underlined the need for population-level, species-specific, and ethically informed approaches to ecological radiation protection.

Date of Award	1 Oct 2025
Original language	English
Supervisor	Frank Van Belleghem (Examiner), Jikke van Wijnen (Co-assessor), Lyana Curier (Co-assessor) & Ewoud Verhoef (Supervisor)