RADIOACTIVE POLLUTANTS
➢ Radiation is a phenomenon which involves movement of energy through space.
➢ A number of atoms possess the ability to emit radiations.
➢ This cause radioactive pollution.
➢ The phenomenon is termed as radioactivity.
➢ No physical, chemical or biological process can influence, reduce or terminate these
emissions from a radioactive element as it is the state of atomic nuclei which is
responsible for the phenomenon.
RADIOACTIVITY AND RADIATIONS
➢ There are some combinations of neutrons and protons in nucleus of an element.
➢ Stable nuclei do not emit radiations or loss nuclear particles and energy.
➢ But unstable ones loss electrons or protons or neutrons and emit electromagnetic
radiations.
➢ It is the emission of these particles and energy as electromagnetic radiations which
causes the nuclei of atom to acquire a stable state.
➢ The stable state accompanied by change in the number of protons and the element
transmutates or decays into another element.
TYPES OF RADIATIONS
Emission of Alpha- Particles: Emission of alpha- particles takes place in radioactive
isotopes of heavy elements such as 92U238, 88R226, etc.
Alpha- particles are Helium nuclei and their emission causes the number of protons
and neutrons to change.
The element move a little lower down the periodic table, that is, it will change into
another element with the lower atomic number.
Emission of Beta- Particle: It is the electron only.
Emission of beta- particles involves reduction in the neutrons.
A neutron splits to produce an electron and a proton.
The element moves a little higher up in the periodic table, that is, changes into another
element with the higher atomic number.
Emission of High Energy Electromagnetic Radiations: These high energy
electromagnetic radiations always appear either alpha or beta particles are given out
and transmutation of atoms is in progress.
These rays, such as X-rays and gamma rays have a very high penetrating power.
HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION
➢ Major hazards are:
1. No physical, chemical or biological process influenced the process of
radioactive emission.
2. The un-stable nuclei have to decay and acquire a stable state.
3. A number of radioactive isotopes have a very long half life.
4. This makes these radioactive wastes almost a permanent hazard for the
biosphere.
5. Nucleic acids absorb these radiations.
➢ Radiation is a phenomenon which involves movement of energy through space.
➢ A number of atoms possess the ability to emit radiations.
➢ This cause radioactive pollution.
➢ The phenomenon is termed as radioactivity.
➢ No physical, chemical or biological process can influence, reduce or terminate these
emissions from a radioactive element as it is the state of atomic nuclei which is
responsible for the phenomenon.
RADIOACTIVITY AND RADIATIONS
➢ There are some combinations of neutrons and protons in nucleus of an element.
➢ Stable nuclei do not emit radiations or loss nuclear particles and energy.
➢ But unstable ones loss electrons or protons or neutrons and emit electromagnetic
radiations.
➢ It is the emission of these particles and energy as electromagnetic radiations which
causes the nuclei of atom to acquire a stable state.
➢ The stable state accompanied by change in the number of protons and the element
transmutates or decays into another element.
TYPES OF RADIATIONS
Emission of Alpha- Particles: Emission of alpha- particles takes place in radioactive
isotopes of heavy elements such as 92U238, 88R226, etc.
Alpha- particles are Helium nuclei and their emission causes the number of protons
and neutrons to change.
The element move a little lower down the periodic table, that is, it will change into
another element with the lower atomic number.
Emission of Beta- Particle: It is the electron only.
Emission of beta- particles involves reduction in the neutrons.
A neutron splits to produce an electron and a proton.
The element moves a little higher up in the periodic table, that is, changes into another
element with the higher atomic number.
Emission of High Energy Electromagnetic Radiations: These high energy
electromagnetic radiations always appear either alpha or beta particles are given out
and transmutation of atoms is in progress.
These rays, such as X-rays and gamma rays have a very high penetrating power.
HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH RADIOACTIVE POLLUTION
➢ Major hazards are:
1. No physical, chemical or biological process influenced the process of
radioactive emission.
2. The un-stable nuclei have to decay and acquire a stable state.
3. A number of radioactive isotopes have a very long half life.
4. This makes these radioactive wastes almost a permanent hazard for the
biosphere.
5. Nucleic acids absorb these radiations.
