Impact of radioactivity:
Contaminations of the world in which we live and of the things on which we rely are major problems. For example, the Disi aquifer in Jordan has recently been discovered to be 30x more radioactive as the WHO – Worldwide Health Organization – deems safe for human consumption. This was caused by natural uranium and thorium whose decay produces radium-226 and radium-228, very dangerous carcinogens with half-lives of 1,600 years and six years, respectively. Regarding Disi, someone who drinks two liters of water a day is exposed to 10 – 15 times as much as considered safe; even more problematic, these conditions likely apply to all the sandstone aquifers in the region and thus all things that use that water (produce that may be imported or exported, for example) spreads contaminants. Furthermore, uranium mines (especially on indigenous reservations) often contaminate water sources and soil. |
Map of 32 abandoned uranium mines in the Lukachukai Mountains, AZ, Navajo Nation.
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Human radiation is characterized in three ways: body exposure due to close proximity to a source, external contamination – when the products of the plant land on humans exposing skin or organs), and internal – which can happen when inhaled. The radioactivity can vary based on the half-life – which is the time it takes for a radioactive isotope to decay to half of its original value and therefore toxicity–, nature as gaseous or solid, relationship to the food chain, dose rate, type of radiation rays (gamma – deeply penetrating – vs beta – more surface), even the spread of radioactive dust on clothing. When exposed to radiation, DNA is damaged which can lead to dysfunction or death of the cells.
There are two major outcomes of radiation, one of which is acute radiation sickness, which generally affects those who are VERY close to the high levels of radiation, like Chernobyl plant workers, as opposed to the general public. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headache, and diarrhea and can start minutes to days after exposed. After the initial reaction, symptoms come and go and additional symptoms include seizure, coma, and skin damage. Depending on the dose rate, it can be treated, but in higher levels of cellular damage, more extreme methods of treatment may be required, such as controversial bone marrow transplants. Generally, mortality occurs due to bone marrow failure, which leads to infections and internal bleeding.
There are two major outcomes of radiation, one of which is acute radiation sickness, which generally affects those who are VERY close to the high levels of radiation, like Chernobyl plant workers, as opposed to the general public. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headache, and diarrhea and can start minutes to days after exposed. After the initial reaction, symptoms come and go and additional symptoms include seizure, coma, and skin damage. Depending on the dose rate, it can be treated, but in higher levels of cellular damage, more extreme methods of treatment may be required, such as controversial bone marrow transplants. Generally, mortality occurs due to bone marrow failure, which leads to infections and internal bleeding.
The other outcome, which affects the general population more so, is increased cancer rates and risks, mainly with thyroid cancer, which comes from iodine-131. Luckily, the half-life is only eight days, but it is wise to avoid local produce and water to avoid ingestion. Doses of potassium iodide are also beneficial if taken very quickly after ingestion.
Despite official reports that reactor meltdowns don’t have a huge effect on the population, some stories from populations affected prove otherwise. Here’re some stories about Three Mile Island, a meltdown in PA in 1979.
Despite official reports that reactor meltdowns don’t have a huge effect on the population, some stories from populations affected prove otherwise. Here’re some stories about Three Mile Island, a meltdown in PA in 1979.
Chart from http://www.no-nukes.org/nukewatch/summer99/isotopes.html of half-lives of common radioactive isotopes.
All types of radiation occur due to the effort of an unstable atom to stabilize. They either have too much energy or mass or both and must expel it to stabilize.
- Alpha radiation occurs when an atom gives off a particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons; it is not able to penetrate skin, but it can cause serious damage of ingested.
- Beta radiation happens when an electron or positron are emitted from an atom; while it can be stopped by plastic or paper, it can penetrate skin a little, but internal ingestion is still a larger threat.
- Gamma radiation is the most threatening of the basics, and it is an energy photon instead of a particle that is emitted. X-Rays are comparable, but they originate from the electron cloud and are longer wavelength with lower energy.
- Also, neutron radiation is a free neutron emitted due to nuclear fission and can travel very far. They are usually absorbed by a stable atom, thereby making it unstable. Thus, neutron radiation an actually turn other materials radioactive.