Anand Raja’sSeminar on

Nuclear hazards

Definition:Risk or danger to human health or the environment posed by radiation emanating from the atomic nuclei of a given substance, or the possibility of an uncontrolled explosion originating from a fusion or fission reaction of atomic nuclei.

NUCLEAR HAZARDS

Radioactive substances are present in nature

They undergo natural radioactive decay in which unstable isotopes spontaneously give out

Fast moving particles, high energy radiations or both, at a fixed rate until a new stable isotope is formed

The isotopes release energy either in the form of

Gamma rays ( high energy Electromagnetic radiation)

Alpha particles & beta particles (ionization particles)

Alpha particles: fast moving positively charged particles

Beta particles: high speed negatively charged electrons

These ionization radiations have variable penetration power

• Natural sources:Cosmic rays from outer space ,Radioactive Radon-222 ,Soil, rocks, air, water & food

• Anthropogenic sources:Nuclear power plants ,Nuclear accidentsX-rays , Diagnostic kits , Test laboratories

Sources of radioactivity

Effects of radiations

Genetic damage: is caused by radiations

This induce mutations in the DNA, there by affectingGenes & chromosomes

The damage is often seen in the offsprings and may be transmitted up to several generations

Somatic damage: includes

burns, miscarriages, eye cataract &

cancer of bone, thyroid, breast, lungs, skin

Control of nuclear pollution

• Sitting of nuclear power plant should becarefully done after studying long term andshort term effects

• Proper disposal of wastes from laboratory involving the use of radioisotopes should be

done.