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Review
. 2025 Oct 15;23(4):15593258251385632.
doi: 10.1177/15593258251385632. eCollection 2025 Oct-Dec.

Adaptive Responses in High-Radiation Environments: Insights From Chernobyl Wildlife and Ramsar Residents

Smj Mortazavi  1 , Sahel Rabiee  2 , AmirAli Fallah  1 , Razieh Rashidfar  1 , Zeynab Seyyedi  1 , Hassan Vafapour  1 , Alireza Mortazavi  3 , Fatemeh Makarempour  1 , Zahra Kherad  4 , Marzieh Abdollahi  1 , James S Welsh  5   6
Affiliations
Review

Adaptive Responses in High-Radiation Environments: Insights From Chernobyl Wildlife and Ramsar Residents

Smj Mortazavi et al. Dose Response. .

Abstract

This mini-review explores adaptive responses in organisms exposed to high radiation levels, drawing comparisons between Chernobyl's wildlife-specifically its darker-pigmented frogs-and residents of Ramsar, Iran, a region with high natural background radiation. Chernobyl's wildlife adaptations are not surprising, as substantial evidence in humans, demonstrates similar adaptation to high radiation levels. Studies reveal that mechanisms such as increased melanin production in frogs and enhanced DNA repair capabilities in Ramsar residents help mitigate radiation damage. These adaptations provide a framework for understanding resilience to environmental stressors and contribute to broader discussions on evolutionary survival mechanisms in extreme environments. By examining ecological and physiological responses across species, this review sheds light on radiation's role in natural selection and potential applications for environmental and radiobiological research.

Keywords: DNA repair capabilities; adaptive response; chernobyl wildlife; high natural background radiation area; ramsar residents.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Despite High Radiation Levels in the High Background Radiation Areas (HBRAs) of Ramsar, No Clear Increase in Radiation-Related Health Problems (eg, Cancer or Decreased Lifespan) has Been Consistently Observed, Suggesting Possible Adaptive Biological Responses. Cultured Lymphocytes From Ramsar Residents Show Paradoxically Lower Chromosomal Aberrations or Micronucleus Formation after in Vitro Radiation Exposure Compared to Controls, Consistent With an Adaptive Response (Yonezowa Effect) Induced by Their Chronic Radiation Exposure
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Frogs in Chernobyl Have Developed Darker Pigmentation, Earning Them the Nickname “Chernobyl Black Frogs.” This Dark Coloration is Believed to be an Adaptive Response to Radiation, as Melanin—The Pigment Responsible for Darker Skin Tones—Absorbs and Dissipates Radiation Energy, Offering Cellular Protection
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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