Professor David Copplestone

Professor

Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor David Copplestone

Contact details

About me

I have 25 years’ experience studying the behaviour, effects and fate of radionuclides in the environment and have previously worked for the Environment Agency in England.

I have active international collaborations throughout Europe, Australia, India, Canada, Ukraine, USA. Since 2004 I have been involved in collaborative research activities through the International Atomic Energy Agency working groups in their EMRAS, EMRAS II, Modaria and Modaria II programmes on modelling radionuclide behaviour and fate in the environment.

Ongoing activities within the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) as a member of Committee 5 (2009-2016) on Environmental Protection and since 2016 on Committee 4 (Applications of the recommendations of the ICRP). Participating in ICRP Task Group 99 (Update to the Reference Animals and Plants) and chairing Task Group 105 (Considering the environment when applying the system of radiological protection). Between 2000-2012 I was secretary, and since 2012 Treasurer, to the UK Coordinating Group on Environmental Radioactivity.

My research focuses on assessing the exposure and effects of ionising radiation on wildlife from all sources of release including from the nuclear industry, accidents (e.g. Chernobyl) and small user sources such as from hospitals and research institutes. The study of radionuclides can also tell us about the fate and behaviour of non-radioactive contaminants (e.g. heavy metals, persistent organic compounds) in the environment and consequently I have an interest in how environmental contaminants in general impact on the environment. Specifically, I have been involved in the development of scientific approaches to evaluate the biological impact of contaminants (primarily radionuclides) on wildlife. I am part of the international team maintaining the ERICA Tool, which is the most widely used environmental radiological assessment model for predicting the risk to wildlife from ionising radiation.

I was Co-I and the work package leader on effects of the NERC, RWM and Environment Agency-funded TREE (Transfer-Exposure-Effects) project which has conducted the largest ever co-ordinated study of the effects of radiation on wildlife in the Chernobyl exclusion zone coupled with controlled laboratory experiments.

Research projects (10)

Radiological Habits Surveys
PI: Professor David Copplestone
Funded by: Scottish Environment Protection Agency
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The Screening Permits for Ingestion Pathway Radiological Assessment Impacts Tool
PI: Professor David Copplestone
Funded by: Food Standards Agency
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Reporting UK Non-nuclear radioactive discharges as required under the convention for the protection of the marine environment of the NE Atlantic (the OSPAR convention)
PI: Professor David Copplestone
Funded by: Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
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Evaluating the impact of chronic exposure to low dose ionising radiation on immunity
PI: Dr Jenson Lim
Funded by: The Carnegie Trust
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TRansfer-Exposure-Effects
PI: Professor David Copplestone
Funded by: Natural Environment Research Council
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The provision of a radiological habits survey around Dounreay, Caithness
PI: Professor Andrew Tyler
Funded by: Scottish Environment Protection Agency
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Provision of Radiological Habit Surveys
PI: Professor Andrew Tyler
Funded by: Scottish Environment Protection Agency
–

Adaptation & resilience of coastal energy supply
PI: Professor David Copplestone
Funded by: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
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Radiological Habit Surveys
PI: Professor Andrew Tyler
Funded by: Scottish Environment Protection Agency
–

Standby monitoring services for radionuclides - Dalgety Bay
PI: Professor Andrew Tyler
Funded by: Scottish Environment Protection Agency
–

Outputs (91)

Book Chapter

Radiological Protection of the Environment

Beresford N & Copplestone D (2022) Radiological Protection of the Environment. In: Campbell PGC, Hodson PV, Welbourn PM & Wright DA (eds.) Ecotoxicology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 399-402. https://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/earth-and-environmental-science/geochemistry-and-environmental-chemistry/ecotoxicology?format=HB

Conference Paper (published)

Biomarkers and Ecological indicators for Environmental Radioactivity in Invertebrates

Raines K, Goodman J, Copplestone D & Lim J (2022) Biomarkers and Ecological indicators for Environmental Radioactivity in Invertebrates. In: Wood MD, Mothersill CE, Tsakanova G, Cresswell T & Woloschak GE (eds.) Biomarkers of Radiation in the Environment. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology. NATO Advanced Research Workshop on 'Biomarkers of Radiation in the Environment: Robust Tools for Risk Assessment (BRITE)’, Yerevan, Armenia, 28.11.2017-30.11.2017. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer, pp. 245-270. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2101-9_15

Article

Ensuring robust radiological risk assessment for wildlife: insights from the International Atomic Energy Agency EMRAS and MODARIA programmes

Beresford N, Beaugelin-Seiller K, Barnett C, Brown J, Doering C, Caffrey E, Johansen M, Melintescu A, Ruedig E, Vandenhove H, Vives I Batlle J, Wood M, Yankovich T & Copplestone D (2022) Ensuring robust radiological risk assessment for wildlife: insights from the International Atomic Energy Agency EMRAS and MODARIA programmes. Journal of Radiological Protection, 42 (2), Art. No.: 020512. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6498/ac6043

Article

Towards solving a scientific controversy - The effects of ionising radiation on the environment

Beresford NA, Horemans N, Copplestone D, Raines KE, Orizaola G, Wood MD, Laanen P, Whitehead HC, Burrows JE, Tinsley MC, Smith JT, Bonzom J, Gagnaire B, Adam-Guillermin C & Gashchak S (2020) Towards solving a scientific controversy - The effects of ionising radiation on the environment. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 211, Art. No.: 106033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106033

Article

The tubercular badger and the uncertain curve:- the need for a multiple stressor approach in environmental radiation protection

Mothersill C, Abend M, Bréchignac F, Copplestone D, Geras’kin S, Goodman J, Horemans N, Jeggo P, McBride W, Mousseau TA, O’Hare A, Papineni RVL, Powathil G, Schofield PN & Austin B (2018) The tubercular badger and the uncertain curve:- the need for a multiple stressor approach in environmental radiation protection. Environmental Research, 168, pp. 130-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.09.031

Conference Paper (published)

Protection of the environment in existing exposure situations

Copplestone D, Larsson C, Strand P & Sneve MK (2016) Protection of the environment in existing exposure situations. In: volume 45. ICRP 2015 - Third International Symposium on the System of Radiological Protection, Seoul, South Korea, 20.10.2015-22.10.2015. SAGE, pp. 91-105. http://www.icrp.org/page.asp?id=186; https://doi.org/10.1177/0146645316630167

Article

The IAEA handbook on radionuclide transfer to wildlife

Howard BJ, Beresford NA, Copplestone D, Telleria D, Proehl G, Fesenko S, Jeffree RA, Yankovich TL, Brown J, Higley K, Johansen M, Mulye H, Vandenhove H, Gashchak S & Wood MD (2012) The IAEA handbook on radionuclide transfer to wildlife. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 121, pp. 55-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.01.027

Commentary

Comment on "Abundance of birds in Fukushima as judged from Chernobyl" by Moller et al. (2012)

Beresford NA, Adam-Guillermin C, Bonzom J, Garnier-Laplace J, Hinton TG, Lecomte C & Copplestone D (2012) Comment on "Abundance of birds in Fukushima as judged from Chernobyl" by Moller et al. (2012). Commentary on: A.P. Møller, A. Hagiwara, S. Matsui, S. Kasahara, K. Kawatsu, I. Nishiumi, H. Suzuki, K. Ueda, T.A. Mousseau, Abundance of birds at Fukushima as judged from Chernobyl, Environmental Pollution, 164 (2012), pp. 36–39. Environmental Pollution, 169, pp. 136-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2012.05.011

Commentary

Response to authors' reply regarding "Abundance of birds in Fukushima as judged from Chernobyl" by Moller et al. (2012)

Beresford NA, Adam-Guillermin C, Bonzom J, Garnier-Laplace J, Hinton TG, Lecomte C, Copplestone D, Della-Vedova C & Ritz C (2012) Response to authors' reply regarding "Abundance of birds in Fukushima as judged from Chernobyl" by Moller et al. (2012). Commentary on: TA Mousseau, AP Moller, K Ueda, 'Reply to "Comment on "Abundance of birds in Fukushima as judged from Chernobyl" by Moller et al. (2012)", Environmental Pollution 169 (2012), pp. 137-138. Environmental Pollution, 169, pp. 139-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2012.05.013

Article

Exposure of burrowing mammals to 222Rn

Beresford NA, Barnett CL, Vives i Batlle J, Potter ED, Ibrahimi Z, Barlow TS, Schieb C, Jones DG & Copplestone D (2012) Exposure of burrowing mammals to 222Rn. Science of the Total Environment, 431, pp. 252-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.05.023

Article

Effects of chronic exposure in populations of Koeleria gracilis Pers. from the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, Kazakhstan

Geraskin SA, Oudalova AA, Dikarev VG, Dikareva NS, Mozolin EM, Hinton TG, Spiridonov SI, Copplestone D & Garnier-Laplace J (2012) Effects of chronic exposure in populations of Koeleria gracilis Pers. from the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, Kazakhstan. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 104, pp. 55-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.09.015

Article

The estimation of absorbed dose rates for non-human biota: an extended intercomparison

Vives i Batlle J, Beaugelin-Seiller K, Beresford NA, Copplestone D, Horyna J, Hosseini A, Johansen M, Kamboj S, Keum D, Kurosawa N, Newsome L, Vandenhove H, Ryufuku S, Vives Lynch S, Wood MD & Yu C (2011) The estimation of absorbed dose rates for non-human biota: an extended intercomparison. Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 50 (2), pp. 231-251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-010-0346-5

Article

Radionuclide transfer to reptiles

Wood MD, Beresford NA, Semenov DV, Yankovich TL & Copplestone D (2010) Radionuclide transfer to reptiles. Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 49 (4), pp. 509-530. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-010-0321-1

Article

Predicting the radiation exposure of terrestrial wildlife in the Chernobyl exclusion zone: an international comparison of approaches

Beresford NA, Barnett CL, Brown J, Cheng J, Copplestone D, Gashchak S, Hosseini A, Howard BJ, Kamboj S, Nedveckaite T, Smith JT, Vives i Batlle J, Vives Lynch S & Yu C (2010) Predicting the radiation exposure of terrestrial wildlife in the Chernobyl exclusion zone: an international comparison of approaches. Journal of Radiological Protection, 30 (2), pp. 341-373. https://doi.org/10.1088/0952-4746/30/2/S07

Article

Protection of the environment from ionising radiation in a regulatory context-an overview of the PROTECT coordinated action project

Howard BJ, Beresford NA, Andersson P, Brown J, Copplestone D, Beaugelin-Seiller K, Garnier-Laplace J, Howe P, Oughton D & Whitehouse P (2010) Protection of the environment from ionising radiation in a regulatory context-an overview of the PROTECT coordinated action project. Journal of Radiological Protection, 30 (2), pp. 195-214. https://doi.org/10.1088/0952-4746/30/2/S01

Article

Protection of the environment from ionising radiation in a regulatory context (protect): proposed numerical benchmark values

Andersson P, Garnier-Laplace J, Beresford NA, Copplestone D, Howard BJ, Howe P, Oughton D & Whitehouse P (2009) Protection of the environment from ionising radiation in a regulatory context (protect): proposed numerical benchmark values. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 100 (12), pp. 1100-1108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.05.010

Article

Assessing radiation impact at a protected coastal sand dune site: an intercomparison of models for estimating the radiological exposure of non-human biota

Wood MD, Beresford NA, Barnett CL, Copplestone D & Leah RT (2009) Assessing radiation impact at a protected coastal sand dune site: an intercomparison of models for estimating the radiological exposure of non-human biota. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 100 (12), pp. 1034-1052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.04.010

Article

Inter-comparison of models to estimate radionuclide activity concentrations in non-human biota

Beresford NA, Barnett CL, Brown J, Cheng J, Copplestone D, Filistovic V, Hosseini A, Howard BJ, Jones SR, Kamboj S, Kryshev AI, Nedveckaite T, Saxen R, Sazykina T, Vives i Batlle J, Vives Lynch S, Yankovich TL, Yu C & Olyslaegers G (2008) Inter-comparison of models to estimate radionuclide activity concentrations in non-human biota. Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 47 (4), pp. 491-514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-008-0186-8

Article

An international comparison of models and approaches for the estimation of the radiological exposure of non-human biota

Beresford NA, Balonov MI, Beaugelin-Seiller K, Brown J, Copplestone D, Hingston JL, Horyna J, Hosseini A, Howard BJ, Kamboj S, Nedveckaite T, Sazykina T, Vives i Batlle J, Yankovich TL, Yu C & Olyslaegers G (2008) An international comparison of models and approaches for the estimation of the radiological exposure of non-human biota. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 66 (11), pp. 1745-1749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2008.04.009

Article

The ERICA Tool

Brown J, Alfonso B, Avila RM, Beresford NA, Copplestone D, Prohl G & Ulanovsky AV (2008) The ERICA Tool. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 99 (9), pp. 1371-1383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.01.008

Article

Estimating the exposure of small mammals at three sites within the Chernobyl exclusion zone - a test application of the ERICA Tool

Beresford NA, Gashchak S, Barnett CL, Howard BJ, Chizhevsky I, Stromman G, Oughton D, Wright SM, Maksimenko A & Copplestone D (2008) Estimating the exposure of small mammals at three sites within the Chernobyl exclusion zone - a test application of the ERICA Tool. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 99 (9), pp. 1496-1502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.03.002

Article

Inter-comparison of absorbed dose rates for non-human biota

Vives i Batlle J, Balonov MI, Beaugelin-Seiller K, Beresford NA, Brown J, Cheng J, Copplestone D, Doi M, Filistovic V, Golikov V, Horyna J, Hosseini A, Howard BJ, Jones SR, Kamboj S, Kryshev AI, Nedveckaite T, Prohl G, Sazykina T, Ulanovsky AV, Vives Lynch S, Yankovich TL, Yu C & Olyslaegers G (2007) Inter-comparison of absorbed dose rates for non-human biota. Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 46 (4), pp. 349-373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-007-0124-1

Article

Seasonal variations in activity concentrations of Tc-99 and Cs-137 in the edible meat fraction of crabs and lobsters from the central Irish Sea

Copplestone D, Jackson D, Hartnoll RG, Johnson MS, McDonald P & Wood N (2004) Seasonal variations in activity concentrations of Tc-99 and Cs-137 in the edible meat fraction of crabs and lobsters from the central Irish Sea. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 73 (1), pp. 29-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2003.06.001

Conference Paper (published)

Regulatory guidance in England and Wales to protect wildlife from ionizing radiation

Zinger-Gize I, Copplestone D & Williams CF (2003) Regulatory guidance in England and Wales to protect wildlife from ionizing radiation. In: Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation: The Development and Application of a System of Radiation Protection for the Environment. International Symposia on Ionising Radiation, 17. Third International Symposium on the Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation (SPEIR 3), Darwin, Australia, 22.07.2002-26.07.2002. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency, pp. 196-202. http://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/csp-17_web.pdf

Conference Paper (published)

The use of biomarkers in the assessment of biological damage in the lugworm (Arenicola marina) and the lobster (Homarus gammarus) due to environmental contamination

Hingston JL, Copplestone D, McDonald P & Parker TG (2003) The use of biomarkers in the assessment of biological damage in the lugworm (Arenicola marina) and the lobster (Homarus gammarus) due to environmental contamination. In: Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation: The Development and Application of a System of Radiation Protection for the Environment. International Symposia on Ionising Radiation, 17. Third International Symposium on the Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation (SPEIR 3), Darwin, Australia, 22.07.2002-26.07.2002. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency, pp. 60-68. http://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/csp-17_web.pdf

Article

Generic performance assessment for a deep repository for low and intermediate level waste in the UK - a case study in assessing radiological impacts on the natural environment

Jones SR, Patton D, Copplestone D, Norris S & O'Sullivan P (2003) Generic performance assessment for a deep repository for low and intermediate level waste in the UK - a case study in assessing radiological impacts on the natural environment. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 66 (1-2), pp. 89-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0265-931X%2802%2900118-2

Conference Paper (published)

The FASSET radiation effects database - A demonstration

Copplestone D, Zinger-Gize I & Woodhead DS (2003) The FASSET radiation effects database - A demonstration. In: Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation: The Development and Application of a System of Radiation Protection for the Environment. International Symposia on Ionising Radiation, 17. Third International Symposium on the Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation (SPEIR 3), Darwin, Australia, 22.07.2002-26.07.2002. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency, pp. 78-86. http://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/csp-17_web.pdf

Conference Paper (published)

A method of impact assessment for ionising radiation on wildlife

Jones SR, Copplestone D & Zinger-Gize I (2003) A method of impact assessment for ionising radiation on wildlife. In: Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation: The Development and Application of a System of Radiation Protection for the Environment. International Symposia on Ionising Radiation, 17. Third International Symposium on the Protection of the Environment from Ionising Radiation (SPEIR 3), Darwin, Australia, 22.07.2002-26.07.2002. Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency, pp. 248-256. http://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/csp-17_web.pdf

Conference Paper (published)

Impact assessment of ionising radiation on wildlife: An interim methodology for the UK regulator

Jones SR, Zinger-Gize I & Copplestone D (2002) Impact assessment of ionising radiation on wildlife: An interim methodology for the UK regulator. In: Radiological Protection of the Environment, the Path Forward to a New Policy?: NEA Forum in Collaboration with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) : Taormina, Sicily, Italy 12-14 February 2002. Nuclear Energy Agency. Radiological Protection of the Environment, the Path Forward to a New Policy?: NEA Forum in Collaboration with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), Taormina, Sicily, Italy, 12.02.2002-14.02.2002. Paris: OECD Publishing, pp. 149-156. http://www.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/display.asp?K=5LMQCR2K579N&DS=Radiological-Protection-of-the-Environment-The-Path-forward-to-a-New-Policy

Research programmes

Research centres/groups