Mitigating Radioactive Contamination: Safeguarding the Environment

Abstract

Radioactive Contamination of Environment One can define radioactive contamination as the unintended/undesirable presence of radioactive substances in the environment like on surfaces, within liquids, gases, or solids (Osimobi, Avwiri, and Agbalagba, 2018). The radioactive exposure to the environment contaminates the touched surfaces, water, air, buildings, plants, soil, animals, and people. It is imperative to note that regardless of the nature of an ionizing radiation-related incident, irradiation, external contamination with radioactive materials, and internal contamination with radioactive materials become realized. Internal contamination occurs when people breathe or swallow radioactive materials. It can also occur through an open wound which enables radioactive materials to become quickly absorbed in the body through the skin. Though some radioactive materials become eliminated through sweat, blood, feces, and urine, some stay in the body and remain deposited in various body organs. External contamination occurs when radioactive materials contact a person's skin, cloth, or hair. Some of these radioactive materials come in dust, liquid, or powder. Unfortunately, externally contaminated people can become internally contaminated if the radioactive materials come into contact with their bodies. Depositing radioactive materials in or on an object or person excellently defines radioactive contamination. It releases radioactive materials into the environment that causes contaminations on surfaces, plants, buildings, people, animals, and soil. Last but not least, radiation exposure comes when radioactive materials release a form of energy that travels in waves or particles, exposing such a person to high levels of radiation. Ionizing and non-ionizing radiations serve as the main types of radiation that prove harmful to humans and other organisms. Human activities that increase the natural levels of radiation serve as the primary origin of radioactive pollution. Paying close attention to the United States, it is clear that the populace remains exposed to about 350 millirems of ionizing radiation annually. 82% comes from natural resources, with an anthropogenic source associated with human activities taking the rest (Laraia, 2015). Radon gas is the primary natural source of radiation, with medical x-rays and nuclear medicines leading to human-related activity sources. Though radioactivity from nuclear weapons testing and nuclear power plants makes up less than 0.5% of total radiation contamination, their presence and effects on the atmosphere take over a hundred years to clear (Laraia, 2015). To this effect, the need to monitor and control any human activity that can enhance levels of radioactive substances in the environment serves as a potential remedy to the radioactive contamination problem. Unfortunately, many times, people expose the environment to radioactive contamination without any notice, thus the need to remain vigilant and cautious on the daily activities that humans engage with to ascertain activities that can harm the environment at current and in the future. Genetic mutations and cell damage are significant effects of exposure to radioactive waste. According to (Soliman et al., 2020), exposure to ionization radiation has adverse effects on human health. It is imperative to note that ionization radiation has sufficient energy to affect atoms in the living cells. To this effect, such exposure damages the cells' genetic material (DNA strands) though human body cells prove potentially repairs such damages. The level and type of radiation that an organism becomes exposed to determine the extent of variation for the genetic mutation that such an organism experience. Radioactive contamination distorts present cells and may result in irreversible destructions to various tissues and organs. However, suppose the unaffected cells do not promptly and effectively repair the damaged cells. In that case, the damaged cell may die or become cancerous, which is a severe health threat to the affected human. Death and permanent diseases are...