RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION INTRODUTION Radiation And Radioactivity: The application of radioactive elements in nuclear weapons, X-rays, MRI and other medical equipment causes their exposure to human beings. The deposition of these radioactive gases in water bodies also cause radioactive contamination. Radiation is the transport of energy through space. Two types of radiation. - Ionizing radiation - Non ionizing radiation Sources of radioactive pollution Natural sources of radiation: Natural sources of radiation are mentioned below: In natural sources of radioactive pollution, atomic radioactive minerals are one among them. Cosmic rays possess high energy ionizing electromagnetic radiation. Another source of radioactive radiation is naturally occurring radioisotopes. Radioisotopes are found in soil in small quantity. Radioactive elements like radium, thorium, uranium, isotopes of potassium and carbon occur in lithosphere Anthropogenic sources of radiation Human activities mentioned below include in sources of radioactive pollution: Nuclear tests Nuclear reactors Diagnostic medical applications Nuclear Wastes Nuclear explosions Nuclear metal processing Nuclear Reactor Accidents Almost 99 such nuclear accidents have been occur through out worldwide. 56 of 99,have been occurred only in USA. Kyshtym, Russia (former Soviet Union) – 29,september,1957 (INES Level 6) 200 people died on direct radiation and almost 8000 people died in 32 years of this nuclear accidents Major nuclear accidents Three Mile Island, United States – 28 March, 1979 (INES Level 5) one of the elements of the power plant’s system malfunctioned Chernobyl, Ukraine (former Soviet Union) – 26,april,1986 (INES Level 7) A series of events led to the explosion of the reactor number four at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Fukushima, Japan –11,march 2011 (INES Level 7) 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan. The resulting tsunami (49 feet tall) hit the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant 51 and experienced meltdown NUCLEAR BOMBS August 6, 1945, Hiroshima directly killing an estimated 80,000 people. By the end of the year, injury and radiation brought total casualties to 90,000–140,000 On August 9, 1945, Nagasaki Almost 75,000 people died and more affected by radiation. Radiation Health Effects Radionuclides are carcinogens and at high doses can also cause rapid sickness and death. The health effects of exposure to radiation depend on many factors. the amount of energy it deliver the length of exposure time the organs and tissues exposed characteristics of the exposed person How does radiation injure people? High energy radiation breaks chemical bonds. This creates free radicals, like those produced by other insults as well as by normal cellular processes in the body. The free radicals can change chemicals in the body. These changes can disrupt cell function and may kill cells.