Radioactive Wastes and Pollution

It is the pollution caused by radioactive elements in air or water. They can create unhealthy and life-threatening situations if these radioactive wastes aren’t disposed of properly. The effects of nuclear pollution can be severe and may cause several diseases in human beings or animals. 

Radioactive waste is the hazardous waste released in an environment which has radioactive elements present in it. The causes of radiation pollution are usually by-products created from nuclear technology processes adapted in factories. These can be harmful materials for a living being and are excreted generally from medical labs and power plants. Such wastes contain elements like uranium, radon, potassium, etc. and can be hazardous when reacted with other elements of the environment. 

Types of Radioactive Pollution: A Global Concern for Humans Beings

These can be segregated into three types:

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1. Very low-level Waste – It includes the weakest of what is radioactive waste. created during demolishing materials such as plaster, brick, valve, pipes, concrete, etc. 

2. Low-level Waste – These include the wastes disposed of in hospitals and industries and are short-lived radioactive material. The sources of radiation pollution are emitted from various low-level radioactive materials like cotton, rags, paper, tools, etc. These wastes are usually burned when disposed of. 

3. Intermediate Level Waste – This type of pollution is on an intermediate level as high-level radioactive elements create them. Therefore, these materials are buried while disposing of them for the prevention of contamination. 

4. High-level Waste – These high-level types of radioactive waste are emitted by the burning of Uranium in the nuclear reactor. Such wastes produced are very hot and radioactive and hence need shielding and cooling operations. 

Prevention of Radioactive Pollution

Once you know what radioactive pollution is, you must look for preventive measures so that a clean and pollution-free environment can be achieved. Some precautionary measures to minimize the effects of radiation pollution is given below:

• One should never mix radioactive wastes with non-radioactive pollutants.

• Order radioactive materials in limited quantities only as per requirement.

• Ensure to develop a process that helps take control of radioactive Pollution by reducing the production of wastes. 

• Use reagents that are capable of reducing the toxicity of waste and its volume before disposal. Try to replace radioactive substances with short-lived radioactive elements. 

Multiple-Choice Questions 

1. When Talking about what is Radioactive Pollution, it is the Pollution caused by 

1. Visible light.

2. Microwaves solely.

3. Ionizing radiation. 

4. Non-ionizing radiation. 

2. Choose the Right one in the Context of Radioactive Pollution. 

1. Not dangerous.

2. Usually, man-made. 

3. Generally caused by radon gas. 

4. Always nature occurring.

3. Choose the Primary Sources of Radioactive Pollution.

1. Sunlight.

2. Volcanoes.  

3. Nuclear power plant. 

4. Choose the Appropriate Medical Condition which can be Caused due to Extreme Exposure to Radioactive Pollutants. 

1. Blood pressure. 

2. Mutation.

3. AIDS. 

4. Kidney stone

5. Choose the Radioactive Element which can cause Thyroid Gland Cancer. 

1. C - 12

2. U - 235

3. U - 238

4. I - 131