Radioactive Pollution

Sources
Natural Sources
• Cosmic rays from space and terrestrial radiations from radio-
nuclides present in earth’s crust such as radium-224, uranium-238,
thorium-232, potassium-40, carbon-14, etc
• Some species of animals and plants preferentially accumulate
specific radioactive materials
• For example, oysters deposit 65Zn, fish accumulate 55Fe, marine
animals selectively deposit 90Sr (Strontium)
Sources (continued)

Artificial Sources
• Accidents in nuclear power plants and nuclear waste.
• Nuclear weapon testing and explosion (Nuclear fallout). The fall Out
contains radioactive substances such as strontium-90, cesium-137,
iodine-131, etc.
• Uranium mining and mining of other radioactive material like thorium
Uranium contamination is well observed in India.
• Radiation therapy and direct exposures to radiation for diagnostic
purposes (e.g. X-rays), chemotherapy etc.
• The slow nuclear radiations can emanate from a variety of sources
viz. nuclear reactors, laboratories, hospitals, and direct exposures to
X-rays etc.
Effects of radioactive pollution
• The quick devastating and immediate effects of nuclear
radiations are well known as witnessed following Hiroshima
and Nagasaki in Japan during world war II
• Continued small dose exposure to nuclear radiation can
cause childhood leukemia, miscarriage, underweight
babies, infant deaths, increased susceptibility to AIDS
and other immune disorders and increased criminalities
• Underground bomb testing releases radiations in very small
doses of radicals that pollutes water and soil
Effects of radioactive pollution (continued)

• This radioactive water is taken by plants through roots. The

radioactivity enters food chain when such plants are eaten by
animals and humans. Such radioactivity has been detected
even in the milk
• Radiation, that is given off by nuclear waste is extremely
damaging to biological organisms, because it causes
mutations to occur at a very high rate
• At high doses, nuclear radiation is lethal but at lower doses, it
creates various disorders, the most frequent of all being
cancer
Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing radiations

• Ionizing radiations cause ionization (one or more electrons are

pealed out from the outer shells of an atom) of atoms and molecules
of the medium through which they pass
• Electromagnetic radiations such as short wavelength ultra violet
radiations (UV), X-rays and gamma rays and energetic particles
produced in nuclear processes, electrically charged particles like
alpha and beta particles produced in radioactive decay and
neutrons produced in nuclear fission, are highly damaging to living
organisms
• The ions produced in water molecules, for example, can induce
reactions that can break bonds in proteins and other important
molecules
Ionizing radiations (Continued)

• When a gamma ray passes through a cell, the water molecules

near the DNA might be ionized and the ions might react with the
DNA causing it to break
• They can also cause chemical changes by breaking the chemical
bonds, which can damage living tissues
• Short range effects include burns, impaired metabolism, dead
tissues and death of the organisms
• Long range effects are mutations increased incidence of tumors
and cancer, shortening of life-span and developmental changes
Biological damage due to ionizing radiations

Biological Damage Due to Ionizing Radiations

• Large amounts of radiation can kill cells that can dramatically
affect the exposed organism as well as possibly its offspring
• Affected cells can mutate and result in cancer. A large enough
dose of radiation can kill the organism
• Radiation damage can be divided into two types: (a) somatic
damage (also called radiation sickness) and (b) genetic
damage
• Somatic damage refers to damage to cells that are not
associated with reproduction
Biological damage due to ionizing radiations (continued)

• Effects of somatic radiation damage include reddening of the

skin, loss of hair, ulceration, fibrosis of the lungs, the
formation of holes in tissue, a reduction of white blood cells,
and the induction of cataract in the eyes. This damage can
also result in cancer and death
• Genetic damage refers to damage to cells associated with
reproduction. This damage can subsequently cause genetic
damage from gene mutation resulting in abnormalities.
Genetic damages are passed on to next generation
 Non-ionising radiations
• Non-ionizing radiations are constituted by the electromagnetic
waves at the longer wavelength of the spectrum ranging from
near infra-red rays to radio waves
• In a microwave oven the radiation causes water molecules in
the cooking medium to vibrate faster and thus raising its
temperature
• They may damage eyes which may be caused by reflections
from coastal sand, snow (snow blindness) directly looking
towards sun during eclipse
• They injure the cells of skin and blood capillaries producing
blisters and reddening called sunburns
Preventive/Control Measures
• Prevention is the best control measure as there is no cure available
for radiation damage.
• Worldwide monitoring of radiation leakage should be a priority.
• Proper technologies should be developed to prevent contamination
of water and soil by radioactive waste and radioactive materials.
• More avenues for safe disposal of radioactive must be worked out.
• Regular monitoring through frequent sampling and quantitative
analysis in domestic nuclear establishments.
• Appropriate steps should be taken to protect from occupational
exposure.
• Gradually decreasing the share of nuclear power is a necessity.
• World must unite to ban production and use of nuclear weapons.
 Impact Of Radiation From Mobile Phone Towers
The radiation that comes from mobile tower radiation is non-ionizing radiation.
Health Impacts
• Every antenna on cell phone tower radiates electro-magnetic radiation
(power).
• One cell phone tower is being used by a number of operators, more the
number of antennas more is the power intensity in the nearby area.
• The power level near towers is higher and reduces as we move away.
• EMR may cause cellular and psychological changes in human beings due to
thermal effects that are generated due to absorption of microwave radiation.
• The exposure can lead to genetic defects, effects on reproduction and
development, Central Nervous System behavior etc.
• EMR can also cause non thermal effects which are caused by radio frequency
fields at levels too low to produce significant heating and are due to movement
of calcium and other ions across cell membranes.
• Such exposure is known to be responsible for fatigue, nausea, irritability,
headaches, loss of appetite and other psychological disorders.
• The current exposure safety standards are purely based on the thermal effects
considering few evidences from exposure to non-thermal effects.
EFFECTS OF PESTICIDES AND ITS CONTROL
What are Pesticides?
 Pesticides are chemical substances that are meant to kill pests

 In general, a pesticide is a chemical or a biological agent such as a virus,

bacterium, antimicrobial, or disinfectant that deters, incapacitates, kills,
pests. (কীটনাশক হল একটি রাসায়নিক বা জৈবিক এজেন্ট যেমন ভাইরাস, ব্যাকটেরিয়া,
অ্যান্টিমাইক্রোবিয়াল বা জীবাণুনাশক যা কীটপতঙ্গকে প্রতিরোধ করে, অক্ষম করে
এবং/অথবা মেরে ফেলে।)
 The most commonly applied pesticides are insecticides to kill insects,
herbicides to kill weeds, rodenticides to kill rodents, and fungicides to
control fungi, mould, and mildew (a thin whitish coating consisting of
minute fungal growth, growing on plants or damp organic material)
TYPES OF PESTICIDES
Pesticides are classified in many ways. However, the commonly classification
strategies are-

1 Grouped by types of pests they kill

2 Based on biodegradability
3 Based on chemical composition

1 Grouped by types of pests they kill

Insecticides – insects
Herbicides – plants
Rodenticides – rodents (rats & mice)
Bactericides – bacteria
Fungicides – fungi
Larvicides – larvae
TYPES OF PESTICIDES
2 Based on biodegradability
 Biodegradable: The biodegradable kind is those which can be broken
down by microbes and other living beings into harmless compounds
 Persistent: While the persistent ones are those which may take months
or years to break down

3 Based on chemical composition

Another way to classify these is to consider those that are chemical forms
or are derived from a common source or production method

 Organophosphate: affect the nervous system by disrupting the enzyme

that regulates a neurotransmitter.
 Carbamate: similar to organophosphorus pesticides, but the enzyme
effects are usually reversible
3 Based on chemical composition (continued)

 Organochlorine insecticides: many countires banned due to their

health and environmental effects and their persistence (e.g., DDT,
chlordane, and toxaphene)
 Pyrethroid: These are a synthetic version of pyrethrin, a naturally
occurring pesticide, found in chrysanthemums(Flower)
 Sulfonylurea herbicides: The sulfonylureas herbicides have been
commercialized for weed control such as pyrithiobac-sodium, terbacil,
rimsulfuron, azimsulfuron, and amidosulfuron
 Biopesticides: the biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived
from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain
minerals
Examples of pesticides

 Examples of pesticides are fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides

 Examples of specific synthetic chemical pesticides are glyphosate,
Acephate, Deet, Propoxur, Dursban, DDT, Diazinon, Metaldehyde, Boric
Acid, Malathion, etc.

Benefits of pesticides

 The major advantage of pesticides is that they can save farmers

 Controlling pests and plant disease vectors
 Controlling human/livestock disease vectors and nuisance organisms
 Controlling organisms that harm other human activities and structures
EFFECTS OF PESTICIDES
Because pesticides are toxic, they are also potentially hazardous to humans,
animals, other organisms, and the environment. Therefore, people who use
pesticides or regularly come in contact with them must understand the relative
toxicity, potential health effects, and preventative measures to reduce exposure
to the products they use.

Acute Toxicity and Acute Effects

• Acute toxicity of a pesticide refers to the chemical’s ability to cause injury to a
person or animal from a single exposure, generally of short duration. The
harmful effects that occur from a single exposure by any route of entry are
termed “acute effects.” The four routes of exposure are dermal (skin),
inhalation (lungs), oral (mouth), and the eyes. Acute toxicity is determined by
examining the dermal toxicity, inhalation toxicity, and oral toxicity of test
animals. In addition, eye and skin irritation are also examined
Chronic Toxicity and Chronic Effects
• The chronic toxicity of a pesticide is determined by subjecting test animals to
long-term exposure to the active ingredient.
• Any harmful effects that occur from small doses repeated over a period of
time are termed “chronic effects.”
• Suspected chronic effects from exposure to certain pesticides include birth
defects, toxicity to a fetus, production of benign or malignant tumors, genetic
changes, blood disorders, nerve disorders, endocrine disruption, and
reproduction effects.
• The chronic toxicity of a pesticide is more difficult than acute toxicity to
determine through laboratory analysis.
Ways to Minimize Pesticide Impact
The following are several practices which reduce the potential for pesticides to cause
environmental damage or water contamination-

Integrated Pest Management:

Follow integrated pest management (IPM) principals. IPM doesn't rely solely
on chemicals for pest control. Biological control, cultural practices, and timely
chemical applications are used to obtain the necessary level of control.
Pesticides are the last line of defense and are used only when pest levels are
causing sufficient damage to offset the expense of the application

Prevent backsiphoning and spills:

Never allow a hose used for filling a spray tank to extend below the level of
the water in the tank. Contain all spills as quickly as possible and handle
according to label directions. Use anti-siphon devices in the water line. They
are inexpensive and effective
Ways to Minimize Pesticide Impact (continued)
 Consider weather and irrigation plans:
Application just before rainfall or irrigation may result in reduced efficacy if the
pesticide is washed off the target crop, resulting in the need to reapply the pesticide.
Heavy rainfall may also cause pesticide-contaminated runoff at the application site.
 Pesticide use and storage:
Always read and follow the label directions on the pesticide container. Avoid mixing
pesticides near wells or other sources of water. Store all pesticides safely, and
according to legal requirements.
 Dispose of pesticide and chemical wastes safely:
Dispose of excess chemical and pesticide containers in accordance with label
directions. Triple-rinse empty pesticide containers (use this water in the spray tank),
punch holes in containers, and dispose of them at approved waste disposal sites.
 Leave buffer zones around sensitive areas
Read the pesticide label for guidance on required buffer zones around water,
buildings, wetlands, wildlife habitats and other sensitive areas.
 Reduce off-target drift
Never begin an application when wind or temperature favours pesticide drift to an off
target area. Use appropriate spray pressure and nozzle selection to minimize drift.
 Application equipment:
Maintain all application equipment in good working order and calibrate it regularly