Radiation might be deadly harmful for all living creatures, be it humans, animals or plants. In this article, we will briefly explain the main hazards of radiation and some of its benefits.
Radiation is bad for the environment. It is a fact that few of us would doubt. Yet in the area of the Chernobyl disaster that took place 35 years ago, wildlife is thriving. Doctors use small doses of radiation to cure tumors and cancer. Food manufacturers expose their products to a tiny level of radiation to sterilize them. In this article, we will get to know how exactly the radiation affects the environment and human health.
The Detrimental Impact of Power Plants
When power plants are not monitored properly, the environment might suffer from two liquid by-products: strontium-90 and tritium. The former resembles calcium: when ingested, it deposits in teeth and bones. This creates oncological risks for people and humans. The latter is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. It is harmless in small quantities — you can find it, for instance, in luminous paints or exit signs. If ingested, it might slightly increase the risk of developing cancer in organs and soft tissues. Large quantities of this substance can contaminate water systems.
But even if the plant functions as intended and there are no emergencies, it still emits a lot of carbon dioxide. To prevent overheating, all plants are equipped with huge cooling systems. They pull water from a river or an ocean and then return it. Hot water kills fish that are used to colder temperatures.
The Effects of Radiation on Humans and Animals
After being exposed to large amounts of radiation for a long time, people are diagnosed with radiation sickness. Its symptoms include fever, nausea and headaches. Besides, the person might develop cancer. Next generations of humans and animals might suffer from birth defects.
The mechanism of these damages relies on the ionizing particles. Each of them is powerful enough to displace electrons in an atom, damaging the tissues and the DNA. The radiation dosage of ionizing particles is measured with Sv units, which stands for Sieverts.
What Happens to Soil and Plants
Just like animals and humans, plants are prone to mutations caused by radiation. Radioactive material can inhibit their growth. If this material seeps into the soil, it might prevent the plants from absorbing nutrients. They might remain forever infertile.
After the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, 125,000 square miles in the Ukraine and Russia were exposed to radiation. Over the next few weeks, the reproductive tissues of the plants were damaged just as severely as if a hydrogen bomb had been tested in the area. However, the scientists were surprised to see how quickly the trees recovered: it took them just three years to retrieve their reproductive abilities. Moreover, by today the Chernobyl forest has turned into a wildlife refuge where plants and animals thrive. Yet people still avoid settling there because the area remains contaminated. The radioactive material has just begun to reach its half-life.
This example does not mean that experts overestimate the hazards of radiation. The Chernobyl biodiversity changed completely. Within days of disaster, many plants died and the soil of the forest could not support life. The area was filled with Cesium-137 and Iodine-131. These radioactive materials made coniferous trees red. The immediate damage after the disaster was very pronounced.
In 2011, a similar accident happened in Japan at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Approximately 313 square miles of land were affected by the radiation — and a considerable part of this land was agricultural. The plants become infertile and not fit for consumption. The irradiated soil could not produce new crops. This led to a food crisis in the country. The Japanese had to import products and rely on aid from abroad. Besides, the sandy soil in the Fukushima area could not absorb radiation just as efficiently as the soil in the Chernobyl forest. Probably, the Japanese nature will take more time to recover. The sum that the government would need to spend on decontaminating the area exceeds $13 bln.
The Unexpected Effect of Radiation on Food
After reading the passages above, one might think that food becomes not fit for consumption after being subjected to nuclear radiation. This statement is true only if the radiation dosage is high. But if it is tiny, it would kill only bacteria but would not harm animals or humans. The food will become sterile, the risks of spoilage will be reduced to a minimum.
For food irradiation, specialists use only gamma rays. They carry no neutrons that could make food radioactive. The actual foodstuff never contacts the source of gamma radiation. This method enables us to decrease the usage of preservatives and pesticides. It maximizes the extension of the product’s shelf life. This is especially important for food export when products need to be transported over long distances. Minute dosage of radiation lowers the risks of transporting invasive species to another country through the food.
The Mixed Blessing of Radiation Therapy
Small doses of radiation can destroy cancer cells and reduce tumor growth. For this, specialists employ charged particles, gamma rays or X-rays. The radiation selectively damages the cancer cell’s DNA so that they cannot grow or replicate anymore. Once these cells begin to degrade, the natural defenses of the patient’s body start to naturally destroy them.
But this is a risky method. If the radiation affects not only cancer cells but also other tissues of the body it will destroy them as well. This is why the doctor directs a pin-point laser at a very precise angle. Plus, it is highly important to control the dosage of the radiation. If it is too high, it might become detrimental or even fatal to a human’s body.
Conclusion
The radiation is extremely dangerous and can kill living creatures. Only when used in tiny doses and with strict observance of safety precautions it can bring benefits for people, animals and plants. Yet mankind cannot stop using nuclear energy because it is powerful and relatively budget-friendly. Only professionals of the highest level should take the responsibility of dealing with this technology, meticulously following security instructions.
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