Overview
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Radioactive pollution is a grave issue that poses a significant threat to the environment and human life. This piece will delve into the causes, effects, and examples of radioactive pollution.
Radioactive pollution is the accidental presence or introduction of radioactive substances in the environment, leading to levels of radioactivity that are harmful to life. This pollution is dangerous due to the release of ionizing radiation, which can cause severe damage to tissues and genetic material in cells.
Radioactive pollution can originate from two sources:
Natural radioactivity is present in our environment, with radioactive elements like uranium and thorium found in rocks and soil. Surprisingly, living organisms, including humans, contain radioactive isotopes such as carbon-14, produced by cosmic rays.
Human-induced radioactivity results from nuclear weapons testing or accidents at nuclear power plants. In such situations, all life forms near the nuclear event get contaminated with radioactive by-products and residues of nuclear fuel. This contamination can present as radioactive dust or particles on various surfaces.
The Three Mile Island accident and the Mayak nuclear facility accident are examples of incidents that led to radioactive pollution. Other instances include:
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