{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,5]],"date-time":"2026-03-05T23:53:13Z","timestamp":1772754793553,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2016,1,27]],"date-time":"2016-01-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1453852800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2016,1,27]],"date-time":"2016-01-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1453852800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sci Rep"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:p>A cataract is a clouding of the lens that reduces light transmission to the retina and it decreases the visual acuity of the bearer. The prevalence of cataracts in natural populations of mammals and their potential ecological significance, is poorly known. Cataracts have been reported to arise from high levels of oxidative stress and a major cause of oxidative stress is ionizing radiation. We investigated whether elevated frequencies of cataracts are found in eyes of bank voles <jats:italic>Myodes glareolus<\/jats:italic> collected from natural populations in areas with varying levels of background radiation in Chernobyl. We found high frequencies of cataracts in voles collected from different areas in Chernobyl. The frequency of cataracts was positively correlated with age and in females also with the accumulated radiation dose. Furthermore, the number of offspring in female voles was negatively correlated with cataract severity. The results suggest that cataracts primarily develop as a function of ionizing background radiation, most likely as a plastic response to high levels of oxidative stress. It is therefore possible that the elevated levels of background radiation in Chernobyl affect the ecology and fitness of local mammals both directly through, for instance, reduced fertility and indirectly, through increased cataractogenesis.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/srep19974","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2016,1,27]],"date-time":"2016-01-27T10:32:46Z","timestamp":1453890766000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":46,"title":["Fitness costs of increased cataract frequency and cumulative radiation dose in natural mammalian populations from Chernobyl"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Philipp","family":"Lehmann","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Zbyszek","family":"Boraty\u0144ski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Tapio","family":"Mappes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Timothy A.","family":"Mousseau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Anders P.","family":"M\u00f8ller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2016,1,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR1","unstructured":"Riordan-Eva, P. & Cunningham, E. T. Jr. (eds) Vaughan & Asbury\u2019s General Ophthalmology. (The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. USA, 2011)."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"445","DOI":"10.1038\/eye.1999.119","volume":"13","author":"HR Taylor","year":"1999","unstructured":"Taylor, H. R. Epidemiology of age-related cataract. Eye. 13, 445\u2013448 (1999).","journal-title":"Eye."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"128","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.333.7559.128","volume":"33","author":"D Allen","year":"2006","unstructured":"Allen, D. & Vasavada, A. Cataract and surgery for cataract. BMJ. 33, 128\u2013132 (2006).","journal-title":"BMJ."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2395","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcrs.2005.06.039","volume":"31","author":"SP Kelly","year":"2005","unstructured":"Kelly, S. P., Thornton, J., Edwards, R., Sahu, A. & Harrison, R. Smoking and cataract: review of causal association. J. Cataract Refract. Surg. 31, 2395\u20132404 (2005).","journal-title":"J. Cataract Refract. Surg."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1429","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM198812013192201","volume":"319","author":"HR Taylor","year":"1988","unstructured":"Taylor, H. R. et al. Effect of ultraviolet radiation on cataract formation. N. Engl. J. Med. 319, 1429\u20131433 (1988).","journal-title":"N. Engl. J. Med."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo.73.2.100","volume":"73","author":"DC Minassian","year":"1989","unstructured":"Minassian, D. C., Mehra, V. & Verrey, J. D. Dehydrational crises: a major risk factor in blinding cataract. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 73, 100\u2013105 (1989).","journal-title":"Br. J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1459","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.78.11.1459","volume":"78","author":"GW Collman","year":"1988","unstructured":"Collman, G. W., Shore, D. L., Shy, C. M., Checkoway, H. & Luria, A. S. Sunlight and other risk factors for cataracts: an epidemiologic study. Am. J. Public Health. 78, 1459\u20131462 (1988).","journal-title":"Am. J. Public Health."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1439S","DOI":"10.1093\/ajcn\/62.6.1439S","volume":"62","author":"A Taylor","year":"1995","unstructured":"Taylor, A., Jacques, P. F. & Epstein, E. M. Relations among aging, antioxidant status and cataract. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 62, 1439S\u20131447S (1995).","journal-title":"Am. J. Clin. Nutr."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Costantini, D. (ed.) Oxidative stress and hormesis in evolutionary ecology and physiology. (Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 2014).","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-54663-1"},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cbpa.2012.03.012","volume":"162","author":"I Galvan","year":"2012","unstructured":"Galvan, I., Erritz\u00f8e, J., Wakamatsu, K. & M\u00f8ller, A. P. High prevalence of cataracts in birds with pheomelanin-based colouration. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A. 162, 259\u2013264 (2012).","journal-title":"Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e66939","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0066939","volume":"8","author":"TA Mousseau","year":"2013","unstructured":"Mousseau, T. A. & M\u00f8ller, A. P. Elevated frequency of cataracts in birds from Chernobyl. PLoS ONE. 8, e66939 (2013).","journal-title":"PLoS ONE."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR12","unstructured":"UNSCEAR. Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. In: Effects. Vol. 2. (United Nations, New York, NY, 2008)"},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"International Commission on Radiological Protection. ICRP statement on tissue reactions and early and late effects of radiation in normal tissues and organs\u2014threshold doses for tissue reactions in a radiation protection context. ICRP publication 118. Ann. ICRP. 41, 1\u2013322 (2012).","DOI":"10.1016\/j.icrp.2012.02.001"},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1667\/RR1688.1","volume":"172","author":"EA Ainsbury","year":"2009","unstructured":"Ainsbury, E. A. et al. Radiation cataractogenesis: a review of recent studies. Radiat. Res. 172, 1\u20139 (2009).","journal-title":"Radiat. Res."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1667\/RR1850.1","volume":"173","author":"WA Hsieh","year":"2010","unstructured":"Hsieh, W. A. et al. Lens Opacities in Young individuals Long after Exposure to Protracted Low-Dose-Rate \u03b3 Radiation in 60Co-Contaminated buildings in Taiwan. Rad. Research. 173, 197\u2013204 (2010).","journal-title":"Rad. Research."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7141","DOI":"10.1038\/srep07141","volume":"4","author":"Z Boratynski","year":"2014","unstructured":"Boratynski, Z., Lehmann, P., Mappes, T., Mousseau, T. A. & Moller, A. P. Increased radiation from Chernobyl decreases the expression of red colouration in natural populations of bank voles (Myodes glareolus). Sci. Rep. 4, 7141 (2014).","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1016665226716","volume":"10","author":"RJ Baker","year":"2001","unstructured":"Baker, R. J. et al. Consequences of polluted environments on population structure: the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) at Chornobyl. Ecotoxicology. 10, 211\u2013216 (2001).","journal-title":"Ecotoxicology."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1936","DOI":"10.1002\/etc.5620200911","volume":"20","author":"BE Rodgers","year":"2001","unstructured":"Rodgers, B. E., Wickliffe, J. K., Phillips, C. J., Chesser, R. K. & Baker, R. J. Experimental exposure of na\u00efve bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) to the Chornobyl, Ukraine, environment: a test of radioresistance. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 20, 1936\u20131941 (2001).","journal-title":"Environ. Toxicol. Chem."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR19","first-page":"305","volume":"19","author":"RK Chesser","year":"2000","unstructured":"Chesser, R. K. et al. 2000 Concentrations and dose rate estimates of 124, 137cesium and 90strontium in small mammals at Chornobyl, Ukraine. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 19, 305\u2013312 (2000).","journal-title":"Environ. Toxicol. Chem."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"488","DOI":"10.2307\/3574142","volume":"62","author":"GR Merriam","year":"1975","unstructured":"Merriam, G. R. & Szechter, A. The relative radiosensitivity of rat lenses as a function of age. Rad. Research. 62, 488\u2013497 (1975).","journal-title":"Rad. Research."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"226","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-185X.2012.00249.x","volume":"88","author":"AP M\u00f8ller","year":"2013","unstructured":"M\u00f8ller, A. P. & Mousseau, T. The effect of natural variation in background radioactivity on humans, animals and other organisms. Biol. Rev. 88, 226\u2013254 (2013).","journal-title":"Biol. Rev."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1700S","DOI":"10.1093\/jn\/133.5.1700S","volume":"133","author":"E Casanueva","year":"2003","unstructured":"Casanueva, E. & Viteri, F. E. Iron and oxidative stress in pregnancy. J. Nutr. 133, 1700S\u20131708S (2003).","journal-title":"J. Nutr."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.1111\/rda.12141","volume":"48","author":"M Mutinati","year":"2013","unstructured":"Mutinati, M. et al. Oxidative stress during pregnancy in the sheep. Repr. Dom. Anim. 48, 353\u2013357 (2013).","journal-title":"Repr. Dom. Anim."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1799","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.068452","volume":"215","author":"L Oldakowski","year":"2012","unstructured":"Oldakowski, L. et al. Is Reproduction costly? No increase of oxidative damage in breeding bank voles. J. Exp. Biol. 215, 1799\u20131805 (2012).","journal-title":"J. Exp. Biol."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"The Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group. Prevalence of cataract and pseudophakia\/aphakia among adults in the United States. Epidemiology. 122, 487\u2013494 (2004).","DOI":"10.1001\/archopht.122.4.487"},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"477","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ophtha.2007.11.024","volume":"155","author":"BEK Klein","year":"2008","unstructured":"Klein, B. E. K., Klein, R., Lee, K. E. & Gangnon, R. E. Incidence of age-related cataract over a 15-year interval. Ophthalmology. 155, 477\u2013482 (2008).","journal-title":"Ophthalmology."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1148\/radiol.12111947","volume":"265","author":"K Neriishi","year":"2012","unstructured":"Neriishi, K. et al. Radiation dose and cataract surgery incidence in atomic bomb survivors, 1986\u20132005. Radiology. 265, 167\u2013174 (2012).","journal-title":"Radiology."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR28","first-page":"519","volume":"5","author":"T Mappes","year":"1993","unstructured":"Mappes, T., Halonen, M., Suhonen, J. & Yl\u00f6nen, H. Selective avian predation on population of field vole Microtus agrestis: greater vulnerability of males and subordinates. Ethol. Ecol. & Evol. 5, 519\u2013527 (1993).","journal-title":"Ethol. Ecol. & Evol."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR29","unstructured":"International Commission on Radiological Protection. Biological effects after prenatal irradiation (Embryo and Fetus). ICRP publication 90. Ann. ICRP. 41, 1\u2013322 (2012)."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"435","DOI":"10.1007\/s00411-013-0484-7","volume":"52","author":"MP Little","year":"2013","unstructured":"Little, M. P. A review of non-cancer effects, especially circulatory and ocular diseases. Radiat. Environ. Biophys. 52, 435\u2013449 (2013).","journal-title":"Radiat. Environ. Biophys."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"632","DOI":"10.1097\/00004032-199505000-00002","volume":"68","author":"R Day","year":"1995","unstructured":"Day, R., Gorin, M. B. & Eller, A. W. Prevalence of lens changes in Ukrainian children residing around Chernobyl. Health. Phys. 68, 632\u2013642 (1995).","journal-title":"Health. Phys."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1016\/j.icrp.2012.06.018","volume":"41","author":"NJ Kleiman","year":"2012","unstructured":"Kleiman, N. J. Radiation cataract. ICRP Proceedings. 41, 80\u201397 (2012).","journal-title":"ICRP Proceedings."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1159\/000264731","volume":"7","author":"BV Worgul","year":"1975","unstructured":"Worgul, B. V. & Rothstein, H. Radiation cataract and mitosis. Ophthalm. Res. 7, 21\u201332 (1975).","journal-title":"Ophthalm. Res."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"254","DOI":"10.1016\/j.asr.2005.01.030","volume":"35","author":"BV Worgul","year":"2005","unstructured":"Worgul, B. V., Smilenov, L. & Brenner, D. J. Mice heterozygous for the ATM gene are more sensitive to both X-ray and heavy ion exposure than are wildtypes. Adv. Space. Res. 35, 254\u2013259 (2005).","journal-title":"Adv. Space. Res."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00317745","volume":"83","author":"M Sandell","year":"1990","unstructured":"Sandell, M., Agrell, J., Erlinge, S. & Nelson, J. Natal dispersal in relation to population density and sex ratio in the field vole, Microtus agrestis. Oecologia. 83, 145\u2013149 (1990).","journal-title":"Microtus agrestis. Oecologia."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1074","DOI":"10.1139\/Z08-087","volume":"86","author":"T Meri","year":"2008","unstructured":"Meri, T., Halonen, M., Mappes, T. & Suhonen, J. Younger bank voles are more vulnerable to avian predation. Can. J. Zool. 86, 1074\u20131078 (2008).","journal-title":"Can. J. Zool."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvrad.2012.01.013","volume":"121","author":"J Garnier-Laplace","year":"2013","unstructured":"Garnier-Laplace, J. et al. Are radiosensitivity data derived from natural field conditions consistent with data from controlled exposures? A case study of Chernobyl wildlife chronically exposed to low dose rates. J. Environ. Rad. 121, 12\u201321 (2013).","journal-title":"J. Environ. Rad."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"275","DOI":"10.4098\/AT.arch.82-24","volume":"27","author":"TO Gustafsson","year":"1982","unstructured":"Gustafsson, T. O., Andersson, C. B. & Westlin, L. M. Determining the age of Bank voles - a laboratory study. Acta. Theriol. 27, 275\u2013282 (1982).","journal-title":"Acta. Theriol."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR39","unstructured":"Sokal, R. R. & Rohlf, F. J. (eds) Biometry, the principles and practice of statistics in biological research. (W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, 2003)."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"620","DOI":"10.1093\/aje\/kwn171","volume":"168","author":"G Chodick","year":"2008","unstructured":"Chodick, G. et al. Risk of cataract after exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation: a 20-year prospective cohort study among US radiologic technologists. Am. J. Epidemiol. 168, 620\u2013631 (2008).","journal-title":"Am. J. Epidemiol."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"404","DOI":"10.1667\/RR0928.1","volume":"168","author":"K Neriishi","year":"2007","unstructured":"Neriishi, K. et al. Postoperative cataract cases among atomic bomb survivors: radiation dose response and threshold. Radiat. Res. 168, 404\u2013408 (2007).","journal-title":"Radiat. Res."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1667\/RR0298.1","volume":"167","author":"BV Worgul","year":"2007","unstructured":"Worgul, B. V. et al. Cataracts among Chernobyl clear-up workers: implications regarding permissible eye exposures. Radiat. Res. 167, 233\u2013243 (2007).","journal-title":"Radiat. Res."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1102","DOI":"10.1001\/archopht.123.8.1102","volume":"123","author":"V Rafnsson","year":"2005","unstructured":"Rafnsson, V. et al. Cosmic radiation increases the risk of nuclear cataract in airline pilots: a population-based case-control study. Arch. Opththalmol. 123, 1102\u20131105 (2005).","journal-title":"Arch. Opththalmol."},{"key":"BFsrep19974_CR44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"150011","DOI":"10.1098\/rsob.150011","volume":"5","author":"E Markiewicz","year":"2015","unstructured":"Markiewicz, E. et al. Nonlinear ionizing radiation-induced changes in eye lens cell proliferation, cyclin D1 expression and lens shape. Open Biol. 5, 150011 (2015).","journal-title":"Open Biol."}],"container-title":["Scientific Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep19974","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep19974.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep19974.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,4]],"date-time":"2023-01-04T13:27:26Z","timestamp":1672838846000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep19974"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2016,1,27]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2016,4,22]]}},"alternative-id":["BFsrep19974"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/srep19974","relation":{},"ISSN":["2045-2322"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2045-2322","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2016,1,27]]},"assertion":[{"value":"11 June 2015","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"21 December 2015","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"27 January 2016","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing financial interests.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"19974"}}