RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION

LEKSHMI ROHINIID NO: 2011510021

WWHAT IS RADIOACTIVE POLLUHAT IS RADIOACTIVE POLLUTIONTION??

Radioactive pollution can be defined as the emission of high energy particles or radioactive substances into air ,water or land due to human activities in the form of radioactive wasteProduction of nuclear fuelNuclear power reactorsUse radio nuclides in industries for various applicationsNuclear tests carried out by defense personnelDisposal of nuclear wasteUranium mining

Radioactive pollution that is spread through earth’s atmosphere is called falloutThe best example of fallout is d nuclear bomb attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, japan in 1945 by united states of America during world war 2

Radioactive pollution is the increase in natural background radiation emerging from the activities of human beings involving the use of naturally occurring or artificially produced radioactive materials.Radioactive substances are those which have the ability to emit high energy particles like alpha and beta particles and gamma rays. Radioactive substances are unstable in nature and are continuously emitting these particles in order to gain some stability. Radioactive pollution is not a constant or regular phenomenon and hence the duration and frequency of pollution will vary with time and conditions. The three major types of conditions exist. (i) Continuous pollution: This type of condition exists in Uranium mines, nuclear reactors and laboratories where the humans are under continuous exposure to radioactive contaminants. (ii) Accidental pollution: This type of condition exists during accidental exposure to radiations by virtue of equipment failure, radiation leak, faulty protective equipment etc; and (iii) Occasional pollution: This condition exists during isolated experiment or test of nuclear substance.

Nuclear waste comes from a number of sources:Operations conducted by nuclear power stations produce radioactive waste. Nuclear waste may generate low to medium radiation over long period of times. The radioactivity may contaminate and propagate through air, water, and soil as well. The main issue is the fact that nuclear waste cannot be degraded or treated chemically or biologically. Nuclear-fuel reprocessing plants in northern Europe are the biggest sources of man-made nuclear waste in the surrounding ocean. Radioactive traces from these plants have been found as far away as Greenland. Mining and refining of uranium and thorium. Mining of radioactive ores (such as uranium and phosphate ores) involve the crushing and processing of radioactive ores and generate radioactive by-products. Nuclear fuel cycle (used in many industrial, medical and scientific processes).

SSOOUURRCCEESS

The sources of radiation pollution involve any process that emanates radiation in the environment. The most common ones that can pose moderate to serious health risks include:Nuclear weapons – probably the highest amounts of human-induced radiation pollution have been generated in the mid twenty century through various experimental or combat nuclear detonations (that ended the Second World War). Nuclear fuel cycle (used in many industrial, medical and scientific processes). Defense weapon production – may also release radioactivity from the handled radioactive materials (usually of high health risks). However, unless accident occurs, the current standards will not allow the release of any significant amount of radiation. Nuclear accidents – an already classic example of such accident is the nuclear explosion, 1986 at a former Soviet nuclear power plant from Chernobyl and explosion, 1979 at Three Mile Island nuclear-power generating plant near Harrisburg, PA. The effects are still seen today. Even accidents from handling medical nuclear materials or wastes could have radiation health effects on workers.

EFFECTSEFFECTSRadioactive substances are among the most toxic substances known. Marie Curie, the Nobel laureate for discovery of radioactivity in 1903, became the victim of radioactive pollution and died of leukemia. The effect of radioactive pollution was noted in the early twentieth century (1909).The minor who were working in uranium mines suffered from skin burn and cancer.

Some of the major biochemical effects are well known in history during second world war in Japan(1945) many people were died due to radioactivity of the atom(atomic explosion)Another prominent radioactive disaster was in 1984 Chernobyl, where an atomic power station was met with accident.

The effects of radioactivity generates damage to gene pool, the genetics of all living species.Genetic damage from radiation effects are over life time and generations.

Low levels of radiation exposure on a small portion of the body may just affect the cell membranes and cause mild skin irritations.Other immediate effects of short span exposure of nuclear radiation are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of hair and nails, bruises owing to subcutaneous bleeding etc.

High radiation exposure have much acute toxicity and can quickly kill the victim. The victim declines in vitally and dies from anemia, infection, and hemorrhage.

Delayed effects of radiation include cataracts, leukemia, malignant tumors, cardio vascular disorders, premature aging and reduced life span.

The following preventive measures should be followed to control radioactive pollution.(i) Prevention of leakage of radioactive elements from the nuclear reactos.(ii) Proper storage and disposal of nuclear wastes.(iii) Regular monitoring and high risk analysis.(iv) Global understanding about nuclear expossure

CCONTROL OF RADIOACTIVE POONTROL OF RADIOACTIVE POLLUTIONLLUTION

RRADIOACTIVE POADIOACTIVE POLLUTION IN INDILLUTION IN INDI

AAIndian Government policies allow "permissible" levels of contaminated water to be released from nuclear power plants. But "permissible" does not mean that it is safe. Radiation is released from these plants in the form of liquid, gases, and solid radioactive wastes all of the time. There are nuclear power plants all over the country that have been leaking contaminated water since the 1990s. The worst is that it doesn't take a major disaster for these power plants to release radiation into the environment. These high levels of radiation can finds its way into the major rivers of India. With the major rivers being so important to the people, it is very dangerous when the radiation is in the water.

Radioactive materials can be very dangerous to the health of many people if it gets into the environment. If it gets into the air, it can travel several hundred miles, which in turn can cause many people to get sick, and can also cause cancer in the future. If the radiation gets into the ground, it can make the soil very contaminated. This can cause crops to go bad, and would cause farmers to not be able to use the land for a very long time until all the radiation is gone. If the radiation somehow is able to get into the water supplies, this could contaminate the drinking water for a good portion of the country which would make many people very sick. Many people use the water to drink, bathe in, and to wash clothes, so if radiation gets into the water it could potentially harm a big percentage of the population in India.

IINDIANDIA: T: TOXICOXIC H HOTSPOTOTSPOT OFOF U URANIUMRANIUM & & NUCLENUCLE

ARAR WASTESWASTES

India has developed nuclear warheads which can be launched on strategically and tactically vital targets from land, sea and air. She is also holding over 100 nuclear bombs and conducted 17 missile tests this year to prove her supremacy in Asia.Notably, India is running 22 nuclear, chemical and Biological plants for hegemonic design in addition of spending huge amount on arms and aircraft purchases’ deals with U.S. and Russia.But unfortunately, Indian top brass failed to take measures of stopping gas leakage, uranium theft cases and disposal of nuclear wastes. In fact, self-styled ‘Shining India’ is portraying a false image of exemplary patriotism, largest democracy and prosperity, whereas the UN reports reveal

NNUCLEAR UCLEAR COLLOSUS COLLOSUS

IN IN INDIAINDIA

IINDIANDIA''SS GENERATIOGENERATIONN OFOF CHILDRENCHILDREN CRIPCRIPPLEDPLED BYBY URANIUMURANIUM

WASTEWASTE

PPUUNNJJAABB

According to the Indian media, some scientists were of the opinion that all the three major types of toxicity —chemical, radiation and biological — were rampant in Punjab.

“Their heads are too large or too small, their limbs too short or too bent. For some, their brains never grew, speech never came and their lives are likely to be cut short”: these are the children it appears that India would rather the world did not see, the victims of a scandal with potential implications far beyond the country's borders.

in the Punjabi cities of Bathinda and Faridkot knew something was terribly wrong when they saw a sharp increase in the number of birth defects, physical and mental abnormalities, and cancers. They suspected that children were being slowly poisoned.

a top German laboratory revealed that hair samples of 80% of 149 neurologically-disabled children, mainly from Malwa region, had high levels of uranium,

The children had massive levels of uranium in their bodies, in one case more than 60 times the maximum safe limit

an Observer investigation has now uncovered disturbing evidence to suggest a link between the contamination and the region's coal-fired power stations. It is already known that the fine fly ash produced when coal is burned contains concentrated levels of uranium and a new report published by Russia's leading nuclear research institution warns of an increased radiation hazard to people living near coal-fired thermal power stations.

The test results for children born and living in areas around the state's power stations show high levels of uranium in their bodies. Tests on ground water show that levels of uranium around the plants are up to 15 times the World Health Organisation's maximum safe limits. Tests also show that it extends across large parts of the state, which is home to 24 million people.

The victims are being treated at the Baba Farid centers for special children in Bathinda – where there are two coal-fired thermal plants – and in nearby Faridkot. It was staff at those clinics who first voiced concerns about the increasing numbers of admissions involving severely handicapped children. They were being born with hydrocephaly, microcephaly, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome and other complications. Several have already died.

India's reluctance to acknowledge the problem is hardly unexpected: the country is heavily committed to an expansion of thermal plants in Punjab and other states. Neither was it any surprise when a team of scientists from the Department of Atomic Energy visited the area and concluded that while the concentration of uranium in drinking water was "slightly high", there was "nothing to worry" about. Yet some tests recorded levels of uranium in the ground water as high as 224mcg/l (micrograms per liter) – 15 times higher than the safe level of 15mcg/l recommended by the WHO. (The US Environmental Protection Agency sets a maximum safe level of 20mcg/l.)

Some scientists have proposed that the ground water may have been contaminated by contact with granite rocks that rise above the ground about 150 miles away to the south in the Tosham hills, in Haryana state. A continuation of these rocks is believed to run deep below the thick alluvial deposits that form the plains of Punjab.

FFACTACT"Natural radionuclides contained in coals concentrate in ash-and-slag wastes and gas-aerosol emissions as these coals are fired at TPSs, with the result that an elevated man-made radiation background builds up around TPSs,"

A previous report in the magazine Scientific American, citing

various sources, claimed that fly ash emitted by power plants

"carries into the surrounding environment 100 times more radiation

than a nuclear power plant producing the same amount of energy", adding: "When coal is burned into fly ash, uranium and thorium are concentrated at up to 10 times their original levels."

IINDIANDIA''SS URANIUMURANIUM MINESMINES EXPEXPOSEOSE VILLAGESVILLAGES TOTO RADIATIONRADIATION

JADUGODAJADUGODA

Uranium waste is pumped into this pond on UCIL's premises in Jadugoda

Just 40 years ago, Jadugoda was a quiet and lush green locality with no dust or radiation pollution. The people here lived a quiet rural life. But things changed when the Indian government started mining operations here in 1967

Radioactive waste generated by three nearby government-owned mines has caused serious health-related problems in Jadugoda. The mines belong to Uranium Corporation of India Limited - or UCIL. They employ 5,000 people and are an important source of income for villagers in this relatively remote area. But the waste has put 50,000 people, mostly from tribal communities, at risk.

A recent study of about 9,000 people in villages near the mines has documented cases of congenital deformities, infertility, cancer, respiratory problems and miscarriages.Nuclear scientist Sanghmitra Gadekar, who was responsible for conducting the survey on radioactive pollution in villages near the mines, says there was a higher incidence of miscarriages and still births.

“budha weeps in Jadugoda” is a vedio movie which received the grant prize in the global environment image festival 2000

IINDIANNDIAN PROGRAMMEPROGRAMME ONON RADIOACTIVERADIOACTIVE WAWA

STESTE MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre(BARC)Bhabha Atomic Research Centre(BARC)

Low and intermediate level wastes(i)delay and decay(ii)dilute and disperse(iii)con-centrate and contain

Low and intermediate level wastes1.Liquid waste Several processes such aschemical

precipitation, ion exchange, evaporation, reverse osmosis, areemployed

2.Solid waste Low active combustible wastes are incinerated and compactable wastes are reduced in volume by mechanical compaction. The final packaged conditioned waste is then disposed off in near surface disposal facilities

As a national policy, NSDF is co-located at each site of nuclear installations inIndia

3.Gaseous waste Specific absorbers are also used to remove volatile radionuclides like iodine, rutheniun etc.The off gaes are finally routed through high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA)

Heigh level waste1.Vitrification process2.Deep geological disposal3.Recycle and reuse

LL AWSAWS REGULATINGREGULATING NUCLEARNUCLEAR SCIENCSCIENCEE ANDAND RADIOLOGICALRADIOLOGICAL ACCIDENTSACCIDENTS ININ I INDIANDIA

1.Atomic energy act, 19622.Regulatory body ,constituent on nov 15 19833.Radiation protection rules, 19714.Atomic energy (safe disposal of radioactive waste) rules, 19875.Environmental protection act,19866.Indian penal code: section 2687.Criminal procedure code: section 133 to 144(1973)8.Civil procedure code: section 919.Law of torts

RR ADIOACTIVEADIOACTIVE W WASTEASTE M MANAGEMEANAGEMENTNT: I: INDIANNDIAN SENERIOSENERIORadioactive waste disposal practices have changed substantially over the last twenty years

Evolving environmental protection considerations have provided the impetus to improve disposal technologies, and, in some cases, CLEAN UP facilities that are no longer in use. Designs for new disposal facilities and disposal methods must meet environmental protection and pollution prevention standards that are stricter than were foreseen at the beginning of the atomic age.

Disposal of radioactive waste is a complex issue, not only because of the nature of the waste, but also because of the stringent regulatory structure for dealing with radioactive waste. India has achieved self-reliance in the management of all type of radioactive waste. Decades of safe and successful operation of our waste management facility stand testimony to international standards. An ongoing effort to upgrade technology to minimize radioactive discharge is also on.