Radioactive pollution occurs when radioactive materials are released into the environment through natural processes like radioactive decay of elements in the Earth's crust, interaction of cosmic rays in the atmosphere, and background radioactivity in seawater. Anthropogenic sources of radioactive pollution include nuclear weapons testing, nuclear waste disposal, operations of nuclear power plants, and improper storage and disposal of radioactive materials. The radioactive pollution can enter the food chain and pose health risks to organisms and humans through ingestion of contaminated food and water over time. Proper methods for disposing, storing, labeling and reusing radioactive waste, banning nuclear weapons tests, utilizing alternative energy sources, and individual precautions can help reduce radioactive pollution.

1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural
University,Pusa
College of Fisheries, Dholi
Radioactive Pollution
AEM-321
Presented by:- Aditya Raj
Batch:- 2020-24 (6th sem.)

2. Introduction
 Radioactive pollution occurs when radioactive materials
are deposited in the atmosphere or environment,
especially when their presence is accidental and presents
an environmental threat due to radioactive decay.
 The destruction caused by the radioactive materials is
from the emission of hazardous ionizing radiation
(radioactive decay) like beta or alpha particles, gamma
rays, or neurons into the environment.

4. Radioactive Pollution
Radioactivity can occur in one of two ways:-
1)Naturally radioactivity
2)Anthopogenicity
 Natural radioactivity,
More than 60 radionuclides occur naturally on earth
which are derived from various sources.

5. Solid Earth Radionuclides
 These are created during the formation of the
earth.
 Since then, radioactivity decay processes have lead
to the formation of daughter products some of
which are U238, Th232 and K40.
 About 32 radioisotopes are known to be derived
from these sources.
 The radioisotopes formed in this fashion are
transported to the ocean during the normal
weathering process.

6. Radionuclides from Cosmic Rays
High energy subatomic particles entering
the earth atmosphere from space interacts
with atoms in the air.
For example the nuclei of nitrogen and
oxygen react with cosmic rays and produce
radionuclides such as C14 and tritium.
The radioisotopes formed in this way can be
in gaseous form and they enter the
environment through rain.

7. Background Radioactivity in the Sea
Seawater is naturally radioactive largely due to
K40, but also contains decay products of
thorium and receives continuous input of
tritium through the radioactivity of about 12.6
Bq/l.
Marine sands have a radioactivity of 200-4000
Bq/kg and marine sediments have a
radioactivity of 700-1000 Bq/kg.
In parts of the world there are instances of
marine sand having high levels radioactivity.
The best known examples are Kerala in
southwest coast of India and Rio-de-jeniero in
Brazil.

8. Anthropogenic activity
 Radiation from “Fallout” from Nuclear Tests
 The nuclear explosions carried out for bomb testing or
for beneficial uses such as for mining, excavation of
harbours and canals release huge quantity of radioactive
elements into the environment.
 After explosion, larger particles will reach the earth 's
surface within few hours, but small particles will remain
in the atmosphere for a long time and come to surface by
rainfall or snow.
 These small particles will strongly adhere to the leaves of
vegetation from where they pass on to the herbivores
and finally to the man through milk or meat.

9. Radiation from Nuclear Waste Disposal
Nuclear waste dumping within the land or in the
ocean leads to radiation pollution.
For example the nuclear waste dumped into the
Pacific, a short distance off the coast of San
Francisco by United States between 1946 and 1965
the drums broke open and the waste entered the
food chain in a matter of few decades.
Radiation irradiated the small plankton on which
small fish feeds on and these small fishes are food
for the large fishes which will be eaten by the
human beings.
 In food chain dilution does not occur, but the
concentration of toxic substances occurs.

10. Radiation from Nuclear and Thermal Power
Stations
The present day nuclear power plants use the
energy released from the fission of nuclear fuels.
The most common fuels used for fission are
uranium, thorium, and plutonium.
The spent material obtained from the reactors
after useful utilization is reprocessed for the
recovery of unburned uranium, plutonium and
some other important isotopes.
In the entire nuclear fuel cycle(operation from
mining of fuel to its final disposal) at most of all
stages liquid, gaseous and solid radioactive
wastes are released, which have a tremendous
potential to contaminate the environment.

11. Solutions to Radioactive Pollution
1. Proper Method of Disposing of Radioactive
Waste
2. Proper Labeling
3. Banning of Nuclear Tests
4. Alternative Energy Sources
5. Proper Storage
6. Reusing
7. Precautions at the Personal Level