Radioactive decay ppt
- 1. BIOLOGY Radioactive and Nuclear pollution Presented by: Vishva.j Yuvan pramesh.s
- 2. Session objectives ➢Introduction ➢Sources ➢Effects in humans ➢Effects on environment ➢Types of radioactive pollution ➢Prevention ➢Waste management
- 3. INTRODUCTION ➢ Radioactive or nuclear pollution is defined as the release of radiation from radioactive substances into the air ,water or earth by either human activities or naturally. ➢ The destruction caused by the radioactive materials is because of the emission of hazardous ionizing radiation . This is said to be radioactive decay. ➢ There is a instability of the particles present in the radioactive materials ,it can seriously affect and even destroy plants , animals and human life.
- 4. SOURCES OF RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION Natural sources ➢ The earth itself is a terrestrial radiation. ➢ Radioactive elements exists naturally in soil and rock . ➢ Water contains small amounts of dissolved Uranium , Thorium. ➢ All organic matter (both animals and plants ) contains radioactive carbon and potassium. Manmade source ➢ Nuclear explosions . ➢ Testing of nuclear weapons. ➢ Nuclear weapons production. ➢ Mining of radioactive ores ➢ Disposal of radioactive waste. ➢ Accidents at nuclear power stations.
- 6. EFFECTS OF RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION ➢ Radioactive pollution is the kind of pollution which is caused due to the radioactive decay of unstable heavy atoms nuclei. When their radiations are emitted , their exposure can cause damage and harm to the living cells as well as the environment. ➢ Radioactive 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 impact of radioactive pollution on human beings can vary from mild to fatal ; the magnitude of the adverse effects depends up on the level and duration of exposure to radioactivity.
- 7. EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT ➢ When soil is contaminated by radioactive substances, the harmful substances are transferred into the plants growing on it. ➢ It leads to genetic mutation and affects the plant's normal functioning. Some plants may die after such exposure, while others may develop weak seeds. ➢ Eating any part of the contaminated plant, primarily fruits, poses serious health risks. Since plants are the base of all food chains, their contamination can lead to radioactive deposition all along the food web. ➢ Similarly, when radioactive waste is washed up in a water source, it can affect the entire aquatic food web.
- 8. TYPES OF RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION ➢ Continuous pollution : This type of condition exists in uranium mines , nuclear reactors , test labs etc. where the woman under continuous exposure to radioactive contaminants and protective clothing is required to avoid exposure . ➢ Accidental pollution : This type of condition exist during accidental exposure to radiations by virtue of equipment failure , radiation leak , faulty protection equipment etc. ➢ Occasional pollution : This condition exists during isolated experiment or test of nuclear substance.
- 9. PREVENTION OF RADIOACTIVE DECAY ➢ Nuclear devices should be exploded under ground . ➢ Contaminants may be employed to decrease the radioactive emissions . ➢ Production of radioisotopes should be minimised . ➢ Extreme care should be exercised in the disposal of industrial waste contained with radionuclide . ➢ Use of high chimney and ventilations at the working place where radioactive contamination is high . ➢ In nuclear reactors , closed cycle system with gaseous coolants of very high purity may be used to prevent extraneous activation products. ➢ Fission reaction should be minimised . ➢ In nuclear mines , wet drilling may be employed along with under ground drainage.
- 10. WASTE MANAGEMENT • Henceforth it is important to manage the waste properly • The threat of radioactive waste can be minimized to a great degree, or even completely negated, if it is stored for an appropriate time before being dumped. • As explained earlier, any radioactive substance naturally undergoes radioactive decay until a nonradioactive isotope of the element, or a different, nonradioactive element is formed. The time required to achieve a nonradioactive byproduct varies with every radioactive element. Till then, these materials have to be kept in an isolated condition, so that the environment is not exposed to it.
- 11. WASTE MANAGEMENT • Various processes have been put forth to reduce the radioactivity of the stored byproducts. Some of the most promising methods are vitrification(forming a mixture of the radioactive waste and glass and storing it in steel containers), reusing the radioactive waste until it becomes sufficiently benign (although it is not feasible right now, research is being done in the field), and storing spent nuclear fuel in dry casks after it has been treated in spent fuel pools for a long period, at least a year.
- 12. THE END Thank you for spending your prec Time with us!