JIMMA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF

AGRICULTURE AND VETERINARY MEDICINE

RADIATION HAZARD AND ITS CONTROL

BY:
GIRMA DUBALE

COURSE :MIVP 711

JIMMA, ETHIOPIA
NOVEMBER, 2018
 presentation outlines

1. Introduction
2. Definition and concept of radiation hazard
3. Source of radiation
4. Exposure
5. Impact of radiation hazard
6. Control
 INTRODUCTION

Radiation and radioactivity is present all the time, and has existed
on the earth long before life emerged.

Indeed, they were present in the universe long before the earth
itself existed.

Ionising radiation has since the origin of life been part of the
natural environment surrounding all living matter on Earth.

All life is dependent on small doses of electromagnetic radiation.

For example, photosynthesis and vision use the suns radiation

 INTRODUCTION

 Ionizing radiation is a powerful tool finding increasing

applications in almost all walks of life in

 agricultural,

 medicine,

 industry and basic research.

 INTRODUCTION

 People and wildlife are continuously exposed to radiation that may be

of:-
 natural origin (e.g. cosmic radiation and radiation emanating from
bedrock) or
 introduced in the environment as modern societies have developed
and a range of human activities have expanded.
 The greatest amount of radiation received by the world’s population
comes from natural sources.
 Definition and concept of radiation

Radiations

Radiation is an energy form travelling through space (radiant energy) in

a wave pattern and can be either naturally occurring (e.g. from the sun or
rocks) or produced by man made objects (e.g. microwaves and television
sets).

Waves produced by different sources distinguishes the different types

and functionality of radiation, with high frequency radiation of UV, X-
rays and gamma rays posing the most significant risk to human health
 Definition and concept of radiation

Ionizing Radiation
Radiation capable for producing ions when interacting with matter – in
other words enough energy to remove an electron from an atom.

Sources – x-rays, radioactive material produce alpha, beta, and gamma

radiation, cosmic rays from the sun and space.

Radioactive Material
– Either natural or created in nuclear reactor or accelerator
– Radioactive material is unstable and emits energy in order to
return to a more stable state (particles or gamma-rays)
Half-life – time for radioactive material to decay by one-half
 Definition and concept of radiation

Non-Ionizing Radiation
Any type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough energy
to ionize an atom is called non-ionizing radiation.
 Non-ionizing radiation, such as that from microwaves, does not
produce ions but can create heat under moist conditions and is
routinely used for purposes such as cooking and re-heating of foods.
 Electric power, radio and television, microwaves, and light have
lower energies. They cause molecules to move, but they cannot
structurally change the atoms in those molecules.
 Definition and concept of radiation

Hazards: source or condition with a potential to cause harm (man and

environment) and property or a combination

Risk : is the probability of an incident and its impact

 Knowledge of hazards & risk important in deciding its management

Discharges : means planned and controlled releases into the

environment, as a legitimate practice, within limits authorized by the
regulatory body, of liquid or gaseous radioactive materials that originate
from regulated nuclear facilities during normal operation
 SOURCE OF RADIATION

1. Natural sources
 cosmic radiation or terrestrial radiation.

Cosmic Radiation
 Just under half of man’s exposure to external natural radiation comes
from cosmic rays.
 originate deep in interstellar space
 some are released from the sun during solar flares.

 Irradiate the earth and interact with the atmosphere to produce further
types of radiation and radioactive materials.
 SOURCE OF RADIATION

Terrestrial Radiation

 Accounts for over three-quarters of the overall dose from natural

sources of radiation.
 Three main types

1. Rocks and minerals.

2. Radon and its decay products.

3. Activity in food.
 SOURCE OF RADIATION

 The main sources of radiation in rocks are Potassium-40 and the two
series of radioactive elements that come from
– the decay of Uranium-238 and
– Thorium-232.
 ash from the burning of coal for energy are sometimes quite high in
radioactivity.
 Phosphate, in fertilizer or in supplements for livestock feed can also
contribute a small amount to an individual’s dose from natural
sources.
 Radon concentrates in indoor air when buildings are, by and large,
closed space
 SOURCE OF RADIATION

Lead-210 and Polonium-210 concentrated in fish and shellfish.

 Persons who eat a large amount of seafood are getting a higher
dose from this source of natural radiation than those who don’t.

2.Man-made sources
Sources includes
 medical sources

 nuclear fallout
 consumer products
Sources of Radiation
 Exposure to ionizing radiation

 Radiation exposure

• Internal exposure to ionizing radiation occurs when a

radionuclide is inhaled, ingested or otherwise enters into the
bloodstream (for example, by injection or through wounds).
• External exposure may occur when airborne radioactive
material (such as dust, liquid, or aerosols) is deposited on skin
or clothes.
 Categories of exposure
 Occupational exposures
– a result of working directly with radiation
 Medical exposure
exposure incurred by patients as part of their medical or dental
diagnosis or treatment.
 Public exposure
– covers all exposures of people other than occupational exposure
and medical exposure.
– Exposures of the embryo or foetus of pregnant workers are
considered to be public exposures
 Environmental exposure
– exposure of wildlife to all radiation sources resulting from human
activities.
 Radiation Exposure
Chronic Radiation Exposure
 involves low levels of ionizing radiation over a long period of
time.
 possible effects: increased risk of developing cancer and cataracts.
Acute Radiation Exposure
 is the result of a large dose in a short period of time.
 possible effects:
– lowering of the white blood cell count
– nausea and vomiting
– diarrhea
– loss of appetite
– reddening of the skin
– fatigue
– hair loss
– possible sterility
 Radiation hazards
 Ultraviolet radiation hazards
 Common sources: sun, UV lamps (‘black lights’), welder’s arc
 Some devices may emit only a small amount of visible light while
emitting intense UV radiation
 Especially dangerous to the eyes since they do not dilate readily in
response to UV -- retinal burns
 Photosensitization to UV can occur from certain dermal chemicals
and oral drugs (e.g. antibiotics)
 Causes premature aging of the skin and skin cancer.
 Radiation hazards
 LASER HAZARDS
LASER = Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
 Especially hazardous due to very narrow beam which can be very
intense
 Lens of eye may concentrate energy onto retina by another
100,000 times
 Radio-frequency and Microwave Hazards
Biological effects to man uncertain
 Suggestion of sterility problems, birth defects and cataracts from
microwave
 Pacemakers are effected by microwaves
 Infrared Hazards
– Major effect is burns
 Biological effects

 The potential biological effects and damages caused by radiation

depend on the conditions of the radiation exposure.

It is determined by
1.quality of radiation
2. quality of radiation
3.received dose of radiation
4. exposure conditions (spatial distribution
 Biological effects

 Radiation can cause immediate effects (radiation sickness), but also long
term effects which may occur many years (cancer) or several generations
later (genetic effects).

 Biological effects of radiation result from both direct and indirect action
of radiation.

 Direct action is based on direct interaction between radiation particles

and complex body cell molecules, (for example direct break-up of DNA
molecules)

 Indirect action is more complex and depends heavily on the energy loss
effects of radiation in the body tissue and the subsequent chemistry.
 Biological effects

 Radiation deposits energy into the body tissue by energy loss effects
 Energy loss causes ionization and break-up of simple body molecules

• OH radical attacks DNA-molecule

• Resulting biological damage depends on the kind of alteration and can
cause cancer or long-term genetic alterations
 Biological effects

 There are many biological effects a high dose of radiation can

cause:
 survivors of the atomic bomb detonations at Hiroshima and
Nagasaki
 medical exposure to patients (in particular in the early forties
and fifties)
 evaluations of populations with high occupational exposure
 evaluations of populations with high radiation background (high
altitude)
 Biological effects

 Radio sensitivity describes how sensitive a given cell is to radiation

damage.

 Cells considered most radiosensitive:

– cells of the unborn child

– blood and blood-producing organs
– reproductive cells

– digestive tract cells

– immature white blood cells
 Environmental effects

 Environmental effects may include:

– increased morbidity (or reduced fitness) of individuals within

populations
– increased mortality

– reduced reproductive success (reduced number of offspring caused

by reduced fertility or other factors)
– subtle effects including mutations and effects on ecosystem
functions that are currently the subject of much research.
Environmental effects
Environmental effects
 CONTROL OF RADIATION HAZARD

The basic measures in radiation protection

– shortening time of exposure to contaminants;
– preventing surface contamination;
– preventing inhalation of radioactive materials in air; and.

– preventing ingestion of contaminated foodstuffs and drinking

water.
 CONTROL OF RADIATION HAZARD

Ionizing radiation General precautions

Confine radioactive chemicals to small areas which are posted
Cover bench tops with plastic-backed absorbent material
Use trays to catch spills
Wear gloves to protect hands and lab coat to catch splatters
Dispose of contaminated clothes appropriately

Radiation monitoring devices

Film badges – after the fact measurement, developed weekly or monthly
Geiger counter – best for high energy beta, gamma
Scintillation counter – used for wipe surveys
 CONTROL OF RADIATION HAZARD

Control of Discharges
To ensure that:
adequate criteria for discharges are established by the Regulatory
Body.
discharges into the environment from authorized sources are
properly controlled
in addition, optimized within public dose constraints, and
an environmental monitoring programme is established. To provide
information for the public.
 CONTROL OF RADIATION HAZARD

Contamination Monitoring
 Levels of radiation have to be routinely monitored both within and
around all controlled and supervised areas to check for:
– Presence of enhanced levels of radiation exposure
– Leakage from source housings, waste storage containers etc.
– Presence of contamination on surfaces from use of unsealed
radioactive material
– Presence of airborne contamination resulting from the release of
gaseous materials
 CONTROL OF RADIATION HAZARD

 “Radioactive waste” radioactive material in gaseous, liquid or solid form for

which no further use is foreseen by a natural or legal person, and which is

controlled as radioactive waste by a regulatory body under the legislative and

regulatory framework.

 “Clearance” Removal of radioactive material or radioactive objects within

authorized practices from any further regulatory control by the regulatory
body.

• According to radionuclide specific clearance levels derived and

approved by the regulatory body;

• To minimize the volume of untreated waste to be stored

 Radiation exposure prevention

Reducing Exposure
 Time
– Reduce the spent near the source of radiation.

 Distance
– Increase the distance from the source of radiation.

 Shielding
– Place shielding material between you and the source of radiation.
 CONTROL OF RADIATION HAZARD

Binding International Legal Instruments

 Convention on Nuclear Safety
• to establish and maintain effective defenses in nuclear
installations against potential radiological hazards
– Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the
Safety of Radioactive Waste Management
• to ensure that during all stages of spent fuel and radioactive
waste management there are effective defenses against
potential hazards
 Other related environment convention
• London Convention (forbid waste disposal at sea)
• OSPAR Convention (discharges control)
• HELCON Convention (reduction of pollution)
• ESPOO Convention (EIA)
 .

THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
PRECIOUS ATTENTION