Depleted Uranium Research Paper

It is now known that radium, shown in figure 4, is a potent carcinogen (a substance the cause’s cancer (Wilbraham, Staley, Marta, & Waterman, 2005)). It emits a form of ionizing radiation which “includes electromagnetic radiation (e.g., gamma rays and X-rays) as well as particles (e.g., alpha particles, beta particles, high-speed neutrons, high-speed electrons, high-speed protons, etc.)” (National Library of Medicine, n.d.). Acute studies have been done on the effects of radium exposure on the human body by organizations like the Geneva World Health Organization, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man. As a result of their findings, The National Library of Medicine states that sufficient evidence has been provided showing that prolonged exposure to Raduim-224, Radium-226,

It is thought that the fabrication of a radioactive material into weapon grade status is one of the major reasons why these types of weapons are not so common. However, what is common are the potential materials used in an RDD, primarily in other nations. From 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010, 110 nations reported 222 incidents that had occurred, 90% of which occurred overseas. The 10% in the United States were all correlated with individuals trying to smuggle radioactive material into the

The Navy’s testing included napalm, a mixture of a gelling agent and petroleum or a similar fuel for use as an incendiary device; and depleted uranium, a radioactive strain of uranium with a lower content of a fissile isotope U-235, substances which the Navy originally denied using. In 1999, the Navy admitted that it tested 14 napalm bombs on Vieques in 1993 and that depleted uranium (DU) tipped ammunition was first testing in Vieques 1980. Between 300 and 800 DU weapons were tested during the Gulf War. Because of high temperatures, uranium is released in a radioactive cloud. A single particle of DU can be lodged in the human lung, where it will give off eight hundred times the radiation considered safe by US regulations. 3 DU exposure includes: reactive airway disease, neurological abnormalities, kidney stones, chronic kidney pain, rashes, vision degeneration, leukemia, lymphoma, birth defects, and gastrointestinal

Nuclear bombs are fatal weapons engendering explosions that produce fireballs, shockwaves, and intense radiation and later causing a mushroom cloud to form. The mushroom cloud forms from vaporized debris and disperses that fall on earth causing environmental damage. As stated in the article published by Encyclopedia Britannica and written by Thomas B. Cochran, a consultant to the Natural Resources Defense Council, “In the explosion in Hiroshima...convection currents created by the explosion drew dust and other debris into the air, creating the mushroom-shaped cloud...radioactive debris was carried by winds high into the atmosphere, later to settle to Earth as radioactive fallout” (Cochran, 2016, p. 1). The detonation of nuclear bombs instills

There are many different types of nuclear energy. Radon is a radioactive element (Rn) that is incredibly dangerous. This toxic element has an atomic number of 86 and an atomic weight of 222. Radon is odorless and a colorless gas, but can also be a transparent liquid or a solid. Radon can be used in cancer treatment and spas for medical treatment. However, Radon is known as the second leading cause to lung cancer and exposure to Radon in your home can be deadly. It is incredibly important to test for Radon in your home because it is not always evident when it is there.

Radioactive contaminants found in the fallout are strontium-90 and plutonium-239. Exposure to the radioactive fallout during the first few weeks after the explosion may be lethal and increase risk of developing cancer. The radioactive energy of the fallout burns out and returns to normal levels over time. This may take several weeks, but typically should not last longer than 4 to 5 days. The immediate blast site may be uninhabitable for thousands of years. This is dependant on many variables such as weather, temperature, wind speed, and size of the

In 2004, the Army financed the removal of approximately 3,800 drums of depleted uranium and other waste materials. The process lasted between the years 2005 to 2007. Presently, it is owned by a private general contractor, Demaximis Inc., that’s main purpose is to stabilize the site.

Anything less may result in regret should a low-yield nuclear attack occur. With rules established to control of nuclear materials, like enriched uranium, it would appear on the surface all is safe. However, smuggling and theft of enriched uranium exist. According to Sokova, Potter, and Chuen (2007), trafficking of enriched uranium in Georgia has occurred multiple times. It is probable more smuggling and theft has occurred unknowingly. Sensors exist and work when knowing where the uranium is located but shielding the material is another possibility. According to (Richardt, Hülseweh, Sabath, and Niemeyer, 2013, Chapter 9), all radiation types can be shielded. Alpha is shielded by paper, Beta is shield by plastic, Gamma-Xrays are shielded by lead, and Neutron is shielded by concrete (Fig. 9.2). In (The ABC News Nuclear Smuggling Experiment, 2003), 15 pounds of depleted uranium metal were smuggled into the Unites States (para. 1). Although it was only depleted uranium, natural or weapon grade uranium can be

When uranium enters our body through inhalation, the uranium has the ability to dissolve within the lungs, which can lead the uranium to be transported by the blood to other parts of the body such as the spleen, brain, kidney, and other organs. Uranium can remain within the kidney and brain for a significant amount of time because of its high concentration, while remaining for a shorter period of time within the plasma. A previous study on the action of salt has lead researchers to discover that sodium bicarbonate and sodium citrate can lessen the toxicity of uranium. Citric acid and citrate salts have the ability to protect the body from uranium toxicity with possible side effects such as diarrhea and nausea. While researchers have tried to develop different methods to reduce or remove uranium toxicity, not all chelating compounds can treat uranium effects [3]. These researchers have found that some metals have many biological functions in contrast to uranium which has limited biological activity. Considering that many researches focus on the biological aspect to find ways to remove heavy metals such as uranium, this has led to the detection of the uranyl species and treatment of radioactive waste. Because of this few bacteria have the ability to reduce the oxidation state of uranium in salts such as soluble +6 oxidation to

Radiation exposure tends to fear the majority of the population, due to the fact that there is no safe level of radiation. Radiation protection is studied very carefully, and is an ongoing research due to the severity of the effects it has on the human body. Exposure to natural radiation and pollutants accompanied with PTSD experienced during a disaster is detrimental to unborn children during intrauterine development. However, with the evidence provided it is indistinguishable as to which cause actually effects the intrauterine development.

A recent study conducted by a team of international researchers found tiny particles containing uranium and other radioactive materials like technetium that were released by the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors. Prior to this study, it was believed that only volatile radioactive substances like isotopes of iodine were released into the atmosphere as a result of the disaster. The existence of these small, solid radioactive particles, which contain very long-lived radionuclides like uranium, could mean that the environmental impact of the disaster and the

Radium is naturally found in ores of uranium such as pitchblende. Radium is extracted from the waste of uranium processing. Ores containing radium are found in Canada, Australia, Zaire, and USA (Utah, New Mexico, and in the carnotite sands from Colorado). It is estimated that every square kilometer of soil contains about 1 g of

Uranium, named after the planet Uranus, is used more often than we think. It is one of the world’s most powerful element. Uranium is mainly as an energy source, but it can also be used in war. Thus meaning, this element can either help our future or ruin it.

Nuclear bombs are starting to become an issue in this day in age with uprising technology. Nuclear chemicals have always been a safety problem but with the growing number of plants it’s starting to become a higher risk. One of the alarming effects that nuclear plants are creating is radiation, radiation can create so many

The concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K are measured in the material collected from two locations. The collected materials are tested using gamma ray spectrometry. The activity concentration of the naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in building material it varies from 12.6 to 121.4, 13.6 to 142 and from 69.5 to 620.6 Bqkg_1, respectively. The radium equivalent activity, the absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose and hazard index is also calculated