Nuclear Pollution Explained

Any kind of undesirable or unwanted adverse effect caused to the environment due to the radioactive substances or any form radiations is called nuclear pollution. This type of pollution has the ability to affect almost all the life forms which might be present in the vicinity. The range of its adverse impacts can be from human to planktons; biggest to smallest of creatures, none are spared.

Nuclear or radioactive pollution is caused primarily due use of both, naturally occurring and as well as the artificially manufactured radioactive materials. Radioactive materials and substances can be understood as those which have the ability to emit high energy particles. The energy particles constitute of alpha, beta and gamma rays. These substances are very unstable in nature which are constantly emitting these rays and particles so that they are able to gain some stability. This stability is rarely achieved thus the process of radiation is continuous with emissions happening always.

Radioactive Pollution is a physical pollution that can be related to all major life supporting systems such as that of air, soil and water. It has widespread and far reaching impacts on all the important factors related to life. Radioactive or nuclear pollution is a type of pollution which stands out from any other form of pollution taking place because of the nature of contamination that is done by this pollution. Radioactivity can be related to the phenomenon of the emissions that happens from the energy from radioactive isotopes. These isotopes are unstable isotopes like that of Uranium – 235 & 239, Radium – 226 and more. ‘Radioactive pollution’ is the emission of energy from these radioactive substances into the environment.

The radiations that are let out are the reasons for causing numerous mutations in the cells and genes. These can cause cancer. Also the extent and dosage of the radiation that has been in taken is the determinant of degree of lethality or how fatal it is. The major source of this cause is that of Nuclear Power Plants. In these plants if there are traces and radioactive particles left in the water being drained out and released then it has the potential of causing nuclear pollution. All the emissions of radiations can also lead to causing nuclear pollution.

Nuclear pollution is one the most dangerous and hazardous in nature. This is caused as a result of nuclear explosions which are being constantly performed during the conduction of nuclear tests. The nuclear tests are being carried out so that there can be better invention of nuclear weaponry. All the explosions that are used to experiment releases of around 15 – 20% radioactive material to the stratosphere itself. Even though the radioactive particles are injected to the stratosphere but they don’t stay there. On entering that layer they again fall back to the earth’s atmosphere due to gravity. Though this fall back might not be a constant and immediate action, it might take around six months to several years to reach back into the atmosphere once again. A minimum of 5% of the radioactive particles in the stratosphere enter the lowest layer of the atmosphere, i.e., the troposphere.

The tiniest particle of the radioactive material is recognized as fallout. The fallout is found to be settled on the leaves of plants and trees. These leaves are consumed by the herbivorous animals grazing around. This is how the radioactive particles then end up entering the ecosystem. Humans aren’t spared as well from this. They consume these particles when it is transferred and moved within the food chain.

The consumption of these particles gives rise to serious and fatal health issues and also severe extreme diseases. When the radioactive particles are ingested this can lead to cancer and genetic mutation in humans. The fallout doesn’t enter food chain only through leaves. The particles also fall into the oceans and seas and gets accumulated there. Again when these particles affect the marine organisms and sea life inversely the humans also get equally impacted.

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