The Effects Of Soil Radioactivity On The Levels Of The Environment

Hazardous materials can be silent killers, almost every household or workplace contains various harmful substances therefore it is important to have the basic knowledge of these contaminants, where to find them, and what to do if exposed. Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral that is used in a number of different materials. Asbestos is not a concern if left undisturbed; however renovation, reconstruction or demolition can disturb these materials and release asbestos fibers into the air. Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and become trapped in lung tissue which increases the risk for several serious diseases. Asbestos is a well recognized health hazard and is highly regulated.

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,

Over the next several years, (during the 1920s) many of the factory workers became very ill and exhibited symptoms such as severe anemia, extreme joint pain, and disintegrating jaws (Carter, 2007, p. 2). Radium is an incredibly unstable element, and thus it has a very short half-life. A half-life is the time it takes for half the original amount of the element to decay to another element, and because Radium-226 (its most common isotope) has a half life of only 1600 years, it is highly radioactive . Additionally, radium’s chemical properties resemble those of calcium, so when the young factory workers ingested the element, it made its way into their bones, where it would then decay and release alpha particles (large particles emitted from helium atoms), gamma rays (high speed light radiation) and beta particles (fast moving electrons) into nearby bones (Quigley, 2002). This ultimately caused extreme bone decay, as well as bone cancers in many instances. Because of this, radium can be classified as a carcinogen. Although alpha particles are not strong enough to penetrate flimsy substances such as paper, they are dangerous when ingested because tissue inside the body can receive high levels of ionizing radiation. As this reaction is taking place, alpha particles are being emitted as a helium atom gains two new protons (thus increasing its atomic number), and the atom’s mass subsequently increases by

Unlike its partner in crime toxic waste, nuclear waste gets most to the publicity and is more likely to be talked about on the news. Nuclear or radioactive waste is anything that has been exposed the radioactive rays. The big three are Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Alpha rays cannot penetrate the skin but are very dangerous to one's lungs. Beta rays can be blocked by aluminum foil, and even thick clothing. Gamma rays although the worst, are the type of ray that most people are exposed too. Because of its ability to to pass through many materials, it is used in x-rays. Notice at the dentist, when you take x-rays your are alone in a room. Hopefully if you have good dentist, they will cover you with a thick heavy lead vest to block the rays, and they will also leave the room so they aren't exposed either. X-rays and MRI’s however emit low level gamma radiation. Places where gamma rays are threatening and can contaminate material can be found in nuclear power plants, hospitals, laboratories, and

A contractor is renovating an old building into apartments. As he tears down existing drywall he notices there is Asbestos inside the walls. Asbestos is very deadly when it is airborne and since this is intended to be a home for families with small children it must be removed. This research paper is going to talk about the hazards of Asbestos. It may cause and how to remove it and talk about what Asbestos is.

Iodine-131 is radioactive iodine with an eight day half-life, resulting in a large amount of absorption in the thyroid gland (Alcalay, 2011). Cesium-137 is similar to potassium with a 30 year half-life which concentrates in muscle, and is found in contaminated soil and food grown in these areas (Alcalay, 2011). Strontium-90 is similar to calcium, with a 28 year half-life which concentrates in bone, soil and ground water (Alcalay, 2011). Plutonium-239 is deemed as one of the greatest toxins found on earth with a half-life of 24,000 years (Alcalay, 2011). If strontium-90 is absorbed it is known to cause cancer and now it is, unfortunately, in the soil and ground water of the Marshall Islands (Alcalay,

Several possible health effects are associated with human exposure to radiation from uranium. All uranium isotopes mainly emit alpha particle and so, they have little penetrating ability. Because of how little penetrating ability the have, the main radiation hazard from uranium I caused when uranium compounds are ingested or

Can be traced back to experiments made soon after the discovery of x-rays (1895), when it was shown that exposure to radiation produced cutaneous burns. The use of radiation continues today as a treatment for cancer in radiation therapy. Henri Becquerel discovered after multiple experiments that it was the material itself that gave off the rays. Later on Marie Curie named it radioactivity. She found out the elements which are thorium, polonium, and radium. Radiation was really helpful during World War 1. During that time, people found out that radiation materials that are high can be extremely dangerous. People can die because of radiation, because of radiation exposure. That was proven with, “Radium Girls”. In 1993, it provided a wealth of information on the long-term effect of radiation exposure. The case also provoked drastic changes in both the fields of workplace safety & liability, and the field of Health Physics, dealing with the health effects and safety issues involved in working with radioactive materials. The Manhattan Project that had a bomb involved, led to the long-term radiation exposure.

radiation, like old nuclear bomb sites, stay away from pesticides that are bad for the

Asbestos is a natural occurring fibrous matter that was used in insulation materials used in homes built between 1950 and 1990. Asbestos is an extremely strong, fire resistant, and durable material which can be found in any older building such as schools, hospitals, commercial buildings, and residential buildings throughout North America. However, the problem with asbestos is not it’s durability or function, rather its hazardous health effects. Asbestos can cause serious impact on a person’s health and cause of a variety of diseases. While, asbestos that lies dormant may not necessarily be hazardous to your health, when it is moved, broken apart, or destroyed, it’s tiny fibers can be inhaled or ingested; placing you at high risk for asbestos related diseases. Unfortunately asbestos cannot always be detected using an untrained eye because it is often mixed with other building materials. Some of the common uses of asbestos in the past included; spray fireproofing, mechanical insulation, linoleum, floor tiles, drywall taping compounds, and cement water pipes. Our staff is specially trained to detect, remove, and dispose of this harmful product, taking every precaution to make sure that we get all of the asbestos out of

Background: The Ottawa Radiation Areas, located in LaSalle County, Illinois, consists of 16 areas, contaminated by radioactive materials. The 16 areas are scattered throughout the city of Ottawa as well as locales outside the city. They've been added to the National Priorities List (NPL) as one site, because they are contaminated by the same wastes, involve the same potentially responsible parties (PRPs), and require cleanup activities for the same media. It's believed that the contamination originated from the processing of wastes and demolition debris from the Radium Dial Co. from 1918 to 1936 and Luminous Processes, Inc. from 1937 to 1978. These businesses produced luminous dials for clocks and watches, using radium-based paint.

Natural Radioactivity some say is a result of a nuclear reaction, which occurs spontaneously. It is the process of Natural Radioactive Decay in which their nucleus breaks apart, undergoing nuclear decay. This happens because the force that usually holds the nucleus together with the protons and neutrons repelling one-another is not able to do its job. So the nucleus breaks apart undergoing nuclear decay. All radiation exists in nature and is found in soil, rocks, water, air and vegetation. The biggest source of Natural Radioactivity is airborne radon, which is inhaled at a dose of 1.26 mSv/a per year. Radon is quite deadly and is the reason over 3,000 deaths every year from lung cancer.

The samples were observed and tested after waiting 24 hours from when the exposure was stopped. The results showed that Cell-cycle control and DNA repair was damaged due to the radiation. It was also observed that early stages of cancer had formed in the tissue, and there is a high percentage that there could be cardiovascular dysfunction if the tissue was inside of a human. When to the samples exposed to X-rays, the Radon-exposed samples showed more irregularities. Table 1. Illustrates the viability (“ability of a thing (a living organism, an artificial system, an idea, etc.) to maintain itself or recover its potentialities.” (Google Search,

8. Radon can also dissolve in drinking water and people drink the water which can increase the chance for getting sick

There are many advantages and disadvantages to the use of radioactive elements in medicines. Some advantages include the fact that