Radioactive Pollution: We must all be aware of tragic events such as the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings, as well as the Chernobyl tragedy, which happened on April 26, 1986. Do you believe that radioactive elements may be classified as pollutants as well? Will the environment be contaminated as a result of the excessive use of radioactivity?

Radioactive contamination does, in fact, contaminate the ecosystem. The spontaneous emission of protons (alpha particles), electrons (beta particles), and gamma rays (short wave electromagnetic waves) caused by the dissolution of some elements’ atomic nuclei is known as radioactivity. These pollute the environment with radioactivity. Let us continue reading to learn more about the consequences and causes of radioactive pollution.

What is Radioactive Pollution?

Living organisms are continuously exposed to a variety of radiations called background radiations. If the level of radioactive radiation increases above a certain limit, it causes harmful effects to living beings. This harmful level of radiation emitted by radioactive elements is called radioactive pollution.

The effect of radiation on human health was first demonstrated and detected in the early \(1900\) Century when the workers of certain Uranium miners were found to suffer from skin burns and cancer.

Fig: Radioactive Pollution

Types of Radiations

Non-ionizing Radiations

1. They affect only those components which absorb them and have low penetrability.
2. They include short-wave radiation such as ultraviolet rays, which forms a part of solar radiation.
3. They damage eyes which may be caused by reflections from coastal sand, snow (snow blindness), directly looking towards the sun during an eclipse. 
4. They cause injury to the cells of skin and blood capillaries producing blisters.

Ionising Radiations

1. They have high penetration power and cause the breakage of macromolecules. They are often lethal.
2. They include X-rays, Cosmic rays and Atomic Radiations (radiations emitted by radioactive elements).
3. The molecular damage may produce short-range (immediate) or long-range (delayed) effects.
4. Short-range effects include burns, impaired metabolism, dead tissues and death of the organisms.
5. Long-range effects are mutations, increased incidence of tumors and cancer, shortening of life-span and developmental changes.
6. The mutated gene can persist in living organisms and may affect their progeny. 
7. The actively dividing cells such as Embryo, foetus, cells of the skin, intestinal lining, bone marrow and gamete forming cells are more sensitive to radiations.
8. Some species of animals and plants preferentially accumulate specific radioactive materials. For example, oysters deposit \(^{65}{\rm{Zn}},\) fish accumulate \(^{55}{\rm{Fe}},\) marine animals selectively deposit \(^{90}{\rm{Sr}}.\)

Types of Radiation Particles

There are three types of major radiation particles, namely:

1. Alpha Particles- They can be blocked by a piece of paper and human skin. They are helium nuclei \(\left( {{}_2^4{\rm{He}}} \right).\) They are the least harmful to living objects.
2. Beta Particles- They can penetrate through the skin, while can be blocked by some pieces of glass and metal. They are designated as \(\left( {{}_{ – 1}^0\beta } \right)\) and are negatively charged.
3. Gamma Rays- They can penetrate easily to human skin and damage cells on their way through. They are the most dangerous rays of any radioactive element which is lethal.

Effects of Radioactive Radiation on Living Beings

Type of Radiation	Effect on the Body
\({\rm{\alpha – }}\)particles	Generally, they cannot penetrate the skin. But if their source is inside the body, they can cause damage to bones or lungs.
\({\rm{\beta – }}\)particles	It can penetrate the skin but cannot damage the tissues. They can cause damage to the skin and eyes (cataract).
\({\rm{\gamma – }}\)radiation	It can easily penetrate the body and pass through it. They cause damage to cell structure, cancer.
\({\rm{X – }}\)rays	It can travel very far and pass through the body tissues except for bones. They can cause damage to the cells.

Sources/Causes of Radioactive Pollution

There are two types of sources of Radioactive Pollution, namely:

Natural Sources of Radiation

1. Cosmic rays are high energy ionizing electromagnetic radiation and originate from the stars in our galaxy by virtue of nuclear reactions primarily in their cores. The cosmic rays are constantly reaching the Earth from outer space.
2. Naturally occurring radioisotopes such as Radon\(^{222}\) found in soil in small quantities is another source of radioactive radiations.
3. Rock, soil, living cells may contain certain radioactive nuclei as their constituent, like \({{\rm{C}}^{{\rm{14}}}},\) Thorium\(^{232}\), \({{\rm{K}}^{{\rm{40}}}},\) etc.

Anthropogenic Sources of Radiation

 The following human activities add to the source of radioactive pollution:

1. Diagnostic Medical Applications: Radiations are employed for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. \({\rm{X – }}\)rays are used in general radiology and \({\rm{CT}}\) scan. Gamma rays are used in the treatment of cancer. In all these procedures, we are exposed to varying doses of radiation.
2. Nuclear Tests: Nuclear explosion tests, especially when carried out in the atmosphere, are a major cause of radiation pollution.
3. Nuclear Reactors: Radiations may leak from nuclear reactors and other nuclear facilities even when they are operating normally. It is often feared that even with the best design, proper handling and techniques, some radioactivity is routinely released into the air and water.

Fig: Nuclear Reactor

4. Nuclear Explosions: Nuclear explosions are a serious source of radiation hazard. The effects of atomic explosions in Nagasaki and Hiroshima are still not forgotten.

Fig: Nuclear Explosions

5. Nuclear Wastes: When the Uranium\(^{235}\) nucleus split in a nuclear reactor, they break into fission products which are also highly radioactive. Since one Uranium atom splits into two radioactive products, there is a doubling of the number of radioactive atoms on the Earth.

Fig: Nuclear Waste

6. Nuclear Material Processing: Many radioactive minerals are processed to extract radioactive metals. Several compounds of radioactive elements are also produced and processed, for various uses. All those who handle these materials are at a greater risk of man-made radioactive pollution.

Fig: Nuclear Material

Effects of Radioactive Pollution

The effects of radioactive pollution depend on:

1. Strength of the radiation involved.
2. The rate of diffusion and deposition of the radioactive pollutant in the given environmental conditions.
3. The half-life of the radioactive pollutant.
4. The tenure for which the radioactive pollutant was exposed to the environment.

The effects of radioactive pollution are as follows:

1. Radioactive pollution has the capacity to destroy an animal or plant cell and even alters the cell. Thus can cause diseases like cancer or even death.
2. It may result in the genetic mutation affecting not only the living organism but can also result in defective and diseases in newborn babies.
3. Exposure to radiation can result in cancer.
4. It may also result in the burning effect; it may also result in blistering, redness of the skin and even damage to the tissue of the skin.
5. It may result in soil damage as well as the plant and can have the capacity to leave the soil infertile.

Solutions to Control Radioactive Pollution

The following preventive measures should be adopted to reduce radioactive pollution:

1. Atomic explosions should not be carried out in the atmosphere.
2. In nuclear reactors, closed-cycle cooling systems may be employed, so that no radiation leakage through coolant can take place.
3. Radioactive wastes generated by nuclear reactors or from nuclear weapons programmes must be disposed of in a manner that will do the least harm.
4. Production and use of radioisotopes should be minimum and only for essential use because radioisotopes once produced cannot be destroyed by any means except by the passage of time.
5. Fission reactions should be minimized.
6. Industrial wastes contaminated with radionuclides are disposed of carefully in specially built tanks.
7. Working places where radioactive emissions are possible should have high chimneys and good ventilation systems.

Summary

The physical contamination of living beings and their surroundings is referred to as radioactive pollution. It occurs as a result of the release of radioactive substances into the environment during nuclear explosions and nuclear weapons testing, nuclear weapon development and decommissioning, radioactive mineral mining, radioactive waste processing and disposal, and nuclear power plant accidents.

The rapidly expanding applications of radioactive materials and of nuclear energy must inevitably lead to a vast increase in radioactive pollution of the atmosphere unless effective preventive measures are taken without delay. Such measures, which are essential for safeguarding the health of both radiation workers and the population at large, must be conceived as part of a programme for the control of air pollution in general.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Radioactive Pollution

Q.1. What causes radioactive pollution?
Ans: The causes of radioactive pollution are Uranium, Radium, Strontium, Cesium, Tritium, or some other radioactive elements that enter the atmosphere and reach the Earth’s surface after nuclear tests or with certain kinds of industrial waste.

Q.2. What is radioactive pollution and its effects?
Ans: Living organisms are continuously exposed to a variety of radiations called background radiations. If the level of radioactive radiation increases above a certain limit, it causes harmful effects to living beings. This harmful level of radiation emitted by radioactive elements is called radioactive pollution.
The effects of radioactive pollution are as follows:
1. The diseases include blood in the cough.
2. Ulcer.
3. Swelling of bone joints.
4. Skin, Lung, and Bone Cancer.
5. The poor vision problems.

Q.3. What are the types of radioactive pollution?
Ans: There are two types of radioactive pollutants, depending on the sources. Natural radioactive pollution occurs spontaneously in nature, while man-made radioactive pollution occurs due to various anthropogenic activities which involve radio-nuclei.

Q.4. How can we prevent radioactive pollution?
Ans: The following preventive measures should be adopted to reduce Radioactive Pollution:
Nuclear devices or \({\rm{E – }}\)waste should be exploded underground.
Contaminants may be employed to decrease radioactive emissions.
Production of radioisotopes should be minimized.
Use of high chimney and ventilations at the working place where radioactive contamination is high.

Q.5. How do you cleanse your body of radiation?
Ans: Washing with water and soap removes additional radiation particles from the skin. Taking a bath with organic leaves like Eucalyptus, tulsi, etc., seems to be protective against radiation particles from the skin.

We hope you find this detailed article on radioactive pollution and its effects on our environment useful. If you have any doubts or queries on this topic, feel to ask us in the comment section. We will be more than happy to assist you.