Radiation
Radiation is energy travelling through space. Nuclear energy's particular type of radiation is 'ionizing' radiation, which means that the radiation has enough energy so that during an interaction with an atom, it can remove tightly bound electrons from the orbit of an atom, causing the atom to become charged or ionized. An unstable nucleus emits excess energy as radiation in the form of gamma rays or fast-moving sub-atomic particles. Ionising radiation, such as occurs from uranium ores and nuclear wastes, is hazardous at high levels. Typical dosage recorded in the Chernobyl workers who died within a month measures at 6 000 millisierverts, providing a fatal dose in just under one minute, compared to a chest x-ray which measures at 0.10 millisierverts.
If the radioactive source is inside the body:
If the radioactive source is outside the body:
If the radioactive source is inside the body:
- Alpha radiation is the most dangerous because it is easily absorbed by cells
- Beta and gamma radiation are not as dangerous because they are less likely to be absorbed by a cell and will usually just pass right through it
If the radioactive source is outside the body:
- Alpha radiation is not as dangerous because it is unlikely to reach living cells inside the body
- Beta and gamma radiation are the most dangerous sources because they can penetrate the skin and damage the cells inside
When radiation collides with molecules in living cells it can damage them. If the DNA in the nucleus of a cell is damaged, the cell may become cancerous. The cell then goes out of control, divides rapidly and causes serious health problems. The greater the dose of radiation a cell gets, the greater the chance that the cell will become cancerous.
Why do we need to contain the radiation?
In the aftermath of the accident, 237 people suffered from acute radiation sickness. Acute radiation syndrome (ARS), also known as radiation poisoning, is a number of health effects which occur within 24 hours of exposure to high amounts of ionising radiation. The radiation causes cellular degradation due to destruction of cell walls and other molecular structures within the body and it is this destruction that causes the symptoms. The symptoms can begin within one or two hours and may last for several months.
Side Effects of Ionising Radiation:
Shortly after the radiation leaks from Chernobyl occurred, the trees in the woodlands surrounding the plant were killed by high levels of radiation. This region came to be known as the "Red Forest" because the dead trees turned a bright ginger color. The trees were eventually bulldozed and buried in trenches.
Side Effects of Ionising Radiation:
- Hypothyroidism - the radioactive iodine often kills an excessive amount of thyroid cells, leaving the thyroid unable to produce enough hormone
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Nausea
- Swollen salivary glands - caused by iodine absorbed by the salivary glands, though stimulating saliva flow a day after treatment
Shortly after the radiation leaks from Chernobyl occurred, the trees in the woodlands surrounding the plant were killed by high levels of radiation. This region came to be known as the "Red Forest" because the dead trees turned a bright ginger color. The trees were eventually bulldozed and buried in trenches.
As the radiation is continually spreading throughout Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, we need to stop it from harming not only the local citizens, but also the environment. The Chernobyl accident's severe radiation effects killed 28 of the site's 600 workers in the first four months after the event. As of 2006, over 10 000 different cases of Thyroid cancers have been in treatment caused from the harmful threats of radiation. By 2065, this number is set to increase to over 35 000 cases with different types of cancer. Large amounts of iodine-131 were released into the atmosphere after the explosion, and children were exposed by consuming locally produced milk and vegetables.