The document discusses environmental pollution and its causes, types, and effects. It defines environmental pollution as an undesirable change in the environment that harms plants and animals. The three main types of pollution are air, water, and soil pollution. Pollution occurs when the concentration of pollutants from human activities exceeds natural levels. If the soil or water becomes polluted, it can harm ecosystems and human health. Air pollution in particular leads to respiratory diseases and global warming. The document outlines various sources of pollution and methods for controlling pollution.

1. Environmental Pollution
AECC-I
Unit 1

2. Environmental Pollution
The environment is defined as the surroundings of a
physical system that may interact with other systems
by exchanging mass and energy. All the living beings
and the non-living things fall under natural
environment. The environment is the surrounding
that we live in, and so it is our responsibility to
protect it from any destruction. Environmental
pollution is one of the greatest problems that human
society is facing today. Air, water, and soil form the
three basic areas of environmental pollution.

3. When there is an undesirable change in the
surrounding that has harmful effects on plants and
animals, it leads to environmental pollution. A pollutant is
a substance that causes pollution. We can have pollutants
in liquid, solid or gaseous form. A substance becomes a
pollutant when its concentration is greater than the
natural abundance and this increase in concentration is
either due to human activities or natural phenomenon.
There are pollutants which can be degraded and rapidly
broken down by natural processes similar to the
degradation of vegetables. We also have pollutants which
take decades to degrade, once released cannot be easily
removed. For example, DDT, plastic materials, heavy
metals and nuclear waste.

4. Effects of Environmental Pollution:
It has been seen that pollutants originate at a point and are then
transported to other places by the action of wind or water. Some
pollutants are dumped into the soil by human beings. This leads to air,
water and soil pollution respectively. If the soil is polluted, the useful
microorganisms in it will die and the fertility of soil will be lost. The
production of crops will decrease. If the soil is not fertile; it will have a
harmful impact on the human society. Similarly, if water is polluted
then we have to purify it before drinking. Purification needs resources.
Lastly, if air is polluted, respiration will become an issue and survival of
life will be under threat. Air pollution leads to many respiratory
diseases and harms the human body.
We can conclude by saying that environmental pollution will
affect the life on earth and should be reduced as far as possible. We
harm the nature and in turn, nature will harm us more. This should be
stopped, our survival depends on this environment so care should be
taken and its balance should be maintained.

5. Sources of Pollution:
Environmental pollution is mostly due to direct or
indirect human activities, arising out of the built-world
created by humans.
There are six major sources of environmental pollution:
1. Industrial sources
2. Agricultural sources
3. Biogenic sources
4. Anthropogenic sources
5. Unnatural sources
6. Extra-terrestrial sources.

6. The relative importance of each one of these sources
depends on the site-specific situation. For instance in cities,
anthropogenic sources are the major contributors while in rural
areas, agricultural sources significantly add to pollution.
Types of Pollution:
The environmental pollution may be categorized into six major
groups:
1. Air/atmosphere pollution
2. Water pollution
3. Land/soil pollution
4. Noise pollution
5. Thermal pollution
6. Radioactive pollution.

7. Nature of Pollutants:
The pollutants that occur in the environment may be
chemical, biological and physical in their nature.
Chemical pollutants:
Gaseous pollutants (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide), toxic
metals, pesticides, herbicides, hydrocarbons, toxins, acidic
substances, carcinogens.
Biological pollutants:
Pathogenic organisms, products of biological origin.
Physical pollutants:
Heat (thermal), sound, odours, radiation and radioactive
substances.

8. What is Air Pollution?
Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or
biological change in the air. It is the contamination of
air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which affects
plants, animals and humans drastically.
There is a certain percentage of gases present in
the atmosphere. An increase or decrease in the
composition of these gases is harmful to survival. This
imbalance in the gaseous composition has resulted in
an increase in earth’s temperature, which is known as
global warming.

9. Types of Air Pollutants
There are two types of air pollutants:
Primary Pollutants
The pollutants that directly cause air pollution
are known as primary pollutants. Sulphur-dioxide
emitted from factories is a primary pollutant.
Secondary Pollutants
The pollutants formed by the intermingling and
reaction of primary pollutants are known as
secondary pollutants. Smog, formed by the
intermingling of smoke and fog, is a secondary
pollutant.

10. Causes of Air Pollution
Following are the important causes of air pollution:
Burning of Fossil Fuels
The combustion of fossil fuels emits a large amount of sulphur dioxide.
Carbon monoxide released by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels
also results in air pollution.
Automobiles
The gases emitted from vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, cars, buses, etc.
pollute the environment. These are the major sources of greenhouse
gases and also result in diseases among individuals.
Agricultural Activities
Ammonia is one of the most hazardous gases emitted during
agricultural activities. The insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers emit
harmful chemicals in the atmosphere and contaminate it.

11. Factories and Industries
Factories and industries are the main source of carbon
monoxide, organic compounds, hydrocarbons and chemicals.
These are released into the air, degrading its quality.
Mining Activities
In the mining process, the minerals below the earth are
extracted using large pieces of equipment. The dust and
chemicals released during the process not only pollute the air,
but also deteriorate the health of the workers and people living
in the nearby areas.
Domestic Sources
The household cleaning products and paints contain toxic
chemicals that are released in the air. The smell from the newly
painted walls is the smell of the chemicals present in the paints.
It not only pollutes the air but also affects breathing.

12. Effects of Air Pollution
The hazardous effects of air pollution on the environment include:
Diseases
Air pollution has resulted in several respiratory disorders and
heart diseases among humans. The cases of lung cancer have increased
in the last few decades. Children living near polluted areas are more
prone to pneumonia and asthma. Many people die every year due to
the direct or indirect effects of air pollution.
Global Warming
Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, there is an imbalance
in the gaseous composition of the air. This has led to an increase in the
temperature of the earth. This increase in earth’s temperature is
known as global warming. This has resulted in the melting of glaciers
and an increase in sea levels. Many areas are submerged underwater.

13. Acid Rain
The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases such as
nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides in the air. The water droplets
combine with these pollutants, become acidic and fall as acid rain
which damages human, animal and plant life.
Ozone Layer Depletion
The release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and hydro
chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is the major cause of depletion
of the ozone layer. The depleting ozone layer does not prevent the
harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the sun and causes skin diseases
and eye problems among individuals.
Effect on Animals
The air pollutants suspend on the water bodies and affect the
aquatic life. Pollution also compels the animals to leave their habitat
and shift to a new place. This renders them stray and has also led to
the extinction of a large number of animal species.

14. Air Pollution Control
Following are the measures one should adopt, to control air pollution:
Avoid Using Vehicles
People should avoid using vehicles for shorter distances. Rather, they
should prefer public modes of transport to travel from one place to
another. This not only prevents pollution, but also conserves energy.
Energy Conservation
A large number of fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity.
Therefore, do not forget to switch off the electrical appliances when
not in use. Thus, you can save the environment at the individual level.
Use of energy-efficient devices such CFLs also controls pollution to a
greater level.
Use of Clean Energy Resources
The use of solar, wind and geothermal energies reduce air pollution at
a larger level. Various countries, including India, have implemented the
use of these resources as a step towards a cleaner environment.

15. Other air pollution control measures include:
1. By minimizing and reducing the use of fire and fire products.
2. Since industrial emissions are one of the major causes of air pollution, the pollutants can
be controlled or treated at the source itself to reduce its effects. For example, if the
reactions of a certain raw material yield a pollutant, then the raw materials can be
substituted with other less polluting materials.
3. Fuel substitution is another way of controlling air pollution. In many parts of India, petrol
and diesel are being replaced by CNG – Compressed Natural Gas fueled vehicles. These
are mostly adopted by vehicles that aren’t fully operating with ideal emission engines.
4. Although there are many practices in India, which focus on repairing the quality of air,
most of them are either forgotten or not being enforced properly. There are still a lot of
vehicles on roads which haven’t been tested for vehicle emissions.
5. Another way of controlling air pollution caused by industries is to modify and maintain
existing pieces of equipment so that the emission of pollutants is minimized.
6. Sometimes controlling pollutants at the source is not possible. In that case, we can have
process control equipment to control the pollution.
7. A very effective way of controlling air pollution is by diluting the air pollutants.
8. The last and the best way of reducing the ill effects of air pollution is tree plantation.
Plants and trees reduce a large number of pollutants in the air. Ideally, planting trees in
areas of high pollution levels will be extremely effective.

16. Water is one of the most vital natural resources on
earth and has been around for a long time. In fact, the
same water which we drink has been around in one form
or the other since the time of the dinosaurs.
The earth has more than two-thirds of its surface
covered with water. This translates to just over 1 octillion
litres (1,260,000,000,000,000,000,000 litres) of water
distributed in the oceans, rivers, lakes and streams.
However, less than 0.3% is accessible for human
consumption. As commercialization and industrialization
have progressed, that number continues to dwindle down.
Furthermore, inefficient and outdated practices, lack of
awareness and a plethora of other circumstances have led
to water pollution.

17. What is Water Pollution?
Water pollution can be defined as the
contamination of water bodies. Water pollution is
caused when water bodies such as rivers, lakes,
oceans, groundwater and aquifers get
contaminated with industrial and agricultural
effluents.
When water gets polluted, it adversely
affects all lifeforms that directly or indirectly
depend on this source. The effects of water
contamination can be felt for years to come.

18. Sources Of Water Pollution
The key causatives of water pollution in India are:
1. Urbanization.
2. Deforestation.
3. Industrial effluents.
4. Social and Religious Practices.
5. Use of Detergents and Fertilizers.
6. Agricultural run-offs- Use of insecticides and
pesticides.

20. One of the primary causes of water pollution is the
contamination of water bodies by toxic chemicals. As seen in
the example mentioned above, the dumped plastic bottles,
tins, water cans and other wastes pollute the water bodies.
These result in water pollution, which harms not just humans,
but the whole ecosystem. Toxins drained from these
pollutants, travel up to the food chain and eventually affect
humans. In most cases, the outcome is destructive to only
local population and species, but it can have an impact on a
global scale too.
Nearly 6 billion kilograms of garbage is dumped every
year in the oceans. Apart from industrial effluents and
untreated sewage, other forms of unwanted materials are
dumped into various water bodies. These can range from
nuclear waste to oil spills – the latter of which can render vast
areas uninhabitable.

21. Effects Of Water Pollution
The effect of water pollution depends upon the type of pollutants and its
concentration. Also, the location of water bodies is an important factor to determine the
levels of pollution.
1. Water bodies in the vicinity of urban areas are extremely polluted. This is the result of
dumping garbage and toxic chemicals by industrial and commercial establishments.
2. Water pollution drastically affects aquatic life. It affects their metabolism, behaviour,
causes illness and eventual death. Dioxin is a chemical that causes a lot of problems
from reproduction to uncontrolled cell growth or cancer. This chemical is
bioaccumulated in fish, chicken and meat. Chemicals such as this travel up the food
chain before entering the human body.
3. The effect of water pollution can have a huge impact on the food chain. It disrupts the
food-chain. Cadmium and lead are some toxic substances, these pollutants upon
entering the food chain through animals (fish when consumed by animals, humans)
can continue to disrupt at higher levels.
4. Humans are affected by pollution and can contract diseases such as hepatitis through
faecal matter in water sources. Poor drinking water treatment and unfit water can
always cause an outbreak of infectious diseases such as cholera, etc.
5. The ecosystem can be critically affected, modified and destructured because of water
pollution.

22. Control Measures of Water Pollution
Water pollution, to a larger extent, can be controlled by a variety
of methods. Rather than releasing sewage waste into water bodies, it is
better to treat them before discharge. Practising this can reduce the
initial toxicity and the remaining substances can be degraded and
rendered harmless by the water body itself. If the secondary treatment
of water has been carried out, then this can be reused in sanitary
systems and agricultural fields.
A very special plant, the Water Hyacinth can absorb dissolved
toxic chemicals such as cadmium and other such elements. Establishing
these in regions prone to such kinds of pollutants will reduce the
adverse effects to a large extent.
Some chemical methods that help in the control of water
pollution are precipitation, the ion exchange process, reverse osmosis,
and coagulation. As an individual, reusing, reducing, and recycling
wherever possible will advance a long way in overcoming the effects of
water pollution.

23. What is Soil Pollution?
Soil pollution refers to the contamination of
soil with anomalous concentrations of toxic
substances. It is a serious environmental concern
since it harbours many health hazards. For
example, exposure to soil containing high
concentrations of benzene increases the risk of
contracting leukaemia.

24. It is important to understand that all soils
contain compounds that are harmful/toxic to
human beings and other living organisms.
However, the concentration of such substances in
unpolluted soil is low enough that they do not
pose any threat to the surrounding ecosystem.
When the concentration of one or more such
toxic substances is high enough to cause damage
to living organisms, the soil is said to be
contaminated.

25. The root cause of soil pollution is often one of the
following:
•Agriculture (excessive/improper use of pesticides)
•Excessive industrial activity
•Poor management or inefficient disposal of waste
The challenges faced in soil remediation
(decontamination of soil) are closely related to the
extent of soil pollution. The greater the
contamination, the greater the requirement of
resources for remediation.

26. What are the Pollutants that Contaminate Soil?
Some of the most hazardous soil pollutants are xenobiotics
– substances that are not naturally found in nature and are
synthesized by human beings. The term ‘xenobiotic’ has
Greek roots – ‘Xenos’ (foreigner), and ‘Bios’ (life). Several
xenobiotics are known to be carcinogens. An illustration
detailing major soil pollutants is provided below.
The different types of pollutants that are found in
contaminated soil are listed in this subsection.
Heavy Metals
The presence of heavy metals (such as lead and mercury,
in abnormally high concentrations) in soils can cause it to
become highly toxic to human beings. Some metals that
can be classified as soil pollutants are tabulated below.

28. These metals can originate from several sources such as mining
activities, agricultural activities, electronic waste (e-waste), and medical
waste.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (often abbreviated to PAHs) are
organic compounds that:
1. Contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms.
2. Contain more than one aromatic ring in their chemical structures.
Common examples of PAHs include naphthalene, anthracene,
and phenalene. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been
linked to several forms of cancer. These organic compounds can also
cause cardiovascular diseases in humans.
Soil pollution due to PAHs can be sourced to coke (coal)
processing, vehicle emissions, cigarette smoke, and the extraction of
shale oil.

29. Industrial Waste
The discharge of industrial waste into soils can result in soil pollution. Some common soil
pollutants that can be sourced to industrial waste are listed below.
• Chlorinated industrial solvents
• Dioxins produced from the manufacture of pesticides and the incineration of waste.
• Plasticizers/dispersants
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
The petroleum industry creates many petroleum hydrocarbon waste products.
Some of these wastes, such as benzene and methylbenzene, are known to be carcinogenic
in nature.
Pesticides
Pesticides are substances (or mixtures of substances) that are used to kill or inhibit the
growth of pests. Common types of pesticides used in agriculture include:
• Herbicides – used to kill/control weeds and other unwanted plants.
• Insecticides – used to kill insects.
• Fungicides – used to kill parasitic fungi or inhibit their growth.

30. What are the Processes that Cause Soil Pollution?
Soil pollution can be broadly classified into two categories –
• Naturally caused soil pollution
• Anthropogenic soil pollution (caused by human activity)
Natural Pollution of Soil
In some extremely rare processes, some pollutants are naturally
accumulated in soils. This can occur due to the differential deposition
of soil by the atmosphere. Another manner in which this type of soil
pollution can occur is via the transportation of soil pollutants with
precipitation water.
An example of natural soil pollution is the accumulation of
compounds containing the perchlorate anion (ClO4–) in some dry, arid
ecosystems. It is important to note that some contaminants can be
naturally produced in the soil under the effect of certain environmental
conditions. For example, perchlorates can be formed in soils containing
chlorine and certain metals during a thunderstorm.

31. Anthropogenic Soil Pollution
Almost all cases of soil pollution are anthropogenic in nature. A variety of human activities can
lead to the contamination of soil. Some such processes are listed below.
• The demolition of old buildings can involve the contamination of nearby soil with asbestos.
• Usage of lead-based paint during construction activities can also pollute the soil with hazardous
concentrations of lead.
• Spillage of petrol and diesel during transportation can contaminate soils with the hydrocarbons found
in petroleum.
• Activities associated with metal casting factories (foundries) often cause the dispersion of metallic
contaminants into the nearby soils.
• Underground mining activities can cause the contamination of land with heavy metals.
• Improper disposal of highly toxic industrial/chemical waste can severely pollute the soil. For example,
the storage of toxic wastes in landfills can result in the seepage of the waste into the soil. This waste
can go on to pollute groundwater as well.
• Chemical pesticides contain several hazardous substances. Excessive and inefficient use of chemical
pesticides can result in severe soil pollution.
• Sewage produced in urbanized areas can also contaminate soil (if not disposed of correctly). These
wastes may also contain several carcinogenic substances.
Other forms of waste that can pollute soil include nuclear waste, e-waste, and coal ash.

32. What are the Negative Consequences of Soil Pollution?
Soil pollution harbours a broad spectrum of negative consequences that
affect plants, animals, humans, and the ecosystem as a whole. Since children
are more susceptible to diseases, polluted soil poses a greater threat to
them. Some important effects of soil pollution are detailed in this
subsection.
Effects on Human Beings
Soil contaminants can exist in all three phases (solid, liquid, and gaseous).
Therefore, these contaminants can find their way into the human body via
several channels such as direct contact with the skin or through the
inhalation of contaminated soil dust.
The short term effects of human exposure to polluted soil include:
• Headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
• Coughing, pain in the chest, and wheezing.
• Irritation of the skin and the eyes.
• Fatigue and weakness.

33. A variety of long-term ailments have been linked to soil
pollution. Some such diseases are listed below.
• Exposure to high levels of lead can result in permanent
damage to the nervous system. Children are particularly
vulnerable to lead.
• Depression of the CNS (Central Nervous System).
• Damage to vital organs such as the kidney and the liver.
• Higher risk of developing cancer.
It can be noted that many soil pollutants such as
petroleum hydrocarbons and industrial solvents have been
linked to congenital disorders in humans. Thus, soil
pollution can have several negative effects on human
health.

34. Effects on Plants and Animals
Since soil pollution is often accompanied by a decrease in the availability of nutrients, plant life ceases to
thrive in such soils. Soils contaminated with inorganic aluminium can prove toxic to plants. Also, this type
of pollution often increases the salinity of the soil, making it inhospitable for the growth of plant life.
Plants that are grown in polluted soil may accumulate high concentrations of soil pollutants through a
process known as bioaccumulation. When these plants are consumed by herbivores, all the accumulated
pollutants are passed up the food chain. This can result in the loss/extinction of many desirable animal
species. Also, these pollutants can eventually make their way to the top of the food chain and manifest as
diseases in human beings.
Effects on the Ecosystem
• Since the volatile contaminants in the soil can be carried away into the atmosphere by winds or can
seep into underground water reserves, soil pollution can be a direct contributor to air and water
pollution.
• It can also contribute towards acid rain (by releasing huge quantities of ammonia into the atmosphere).
• Acidic soils are inhospitable to several microorganisms that improve soil texture and help in the
decomposition of organic matter. Thus, the negative effects of soil pollution also impact soil quality and
texture.
• Crop yield is greatly affected by this form of pollution. In China, over 12 million tons of grain (worth
approximately 2.6 billion USD) is found to be unfit for human consumption due to contamination with
heavy metals (as per studies conducted by the China Dialogue).

35. How can Soil Pollution be Controlled?
Several technologies have been developed to tackle soil remediation.
Some important strategies followed for the decontamination of
polluted soil are listed below.
• Excavation and subsequent transportation of polluted soils to remote,
uninhabited locations.
• Extraction of pollutants via thermal remediation – the temperature is
raised in order to force the contaminants into the vapour phase, after
which they can be collected through vapour extraction.
• Bioremediation or phytoremediation involves the use of
microorganisms and plants for the decontamination of soil.
• Mycoremediation involves the use of fungi for the accumulation of
heavy metal contaminants.

36. What Is Radioactive Pollution?
DEFINITION
Radioactive Pollution is defined as the increase in the natural
radiation levels caused by human activities. It is estimated that about
20% of radiation we are exposed to is due to human activities. The
human activities that can release radiation involve activities with
radioactive materials such as mining, handling and processing of
radioactive materials, handling and storage of radioactive waste, as
well as the use of radioactive reactions to generate energy (nuclear
power plants), along with the use of radiation in medicine (e.g. X-rays)
and research. But what about microwaves, cell phones, radio
transmitters, wireless devices, computers, and other common
commodities of today’s life?

37. When we think of radiation, we imagine bombs and nuclear
explosions. While these are serious sources of high levels radiation (of
high energy), there are many other sources that are much more
common, practically ubiquitous, that generate low levels of radiation
and which basically remain unnoticed. How many of us think for
example of cellular phones as a source of radiation? And yet, the cell
phones, cell phone towers, cordless phones, as well as TVs, computers,
microwave ovens, broadcast antennas, military and aviation radars,
satellites, and wireless internet are all sources of radiation. And so are
the common medical X-Rays. Considering this, the picture of radiation
pollution significantly expands. From a few explosions and nuclear
accidents happening relatively rarely in faraway places, the picture of
radiation pollution expands to a complex matrix covering all the Earth
and thus involving all of us everywhere! In this context, we could ask
ourselves: is radiation really so bad? Yet, if it were, wouldn’t we all be
dead or sick by now?!

38. Radiation is essentially energy that travels and spreads out as it
goes. This is referred to as electromagnetic radiation. Examples include
visible light, radio waves, microwaves, infrared and ultraviolet lights, X-
rays, and gamma-rays. The differences between these various types of
radiation consist of some physical properties such as energy, frequency,
and wavelength. Thus, there are a variety of electromagnetic radiations.
This means that any and all these types of radiation can generate
radiation pollution if they are enhanced by human activities. However, the
magnitude of the pollution generated varies, with higher-risk pollution
generated by radiation of higher energy such as gamma-rays regardless of
exposure time. This radiation is generated through detonation of nuclear
weapons or in power plants. Therefore, the meaning of radiation pollution
is that, while there are ubiquitous sources of radiation, it is mostly the
high-energy radiation that causes radiation pollution, carrying serious
health risks (such as cancer or death). This is why we will focus on sources
for high health-risk radiation when discussing the causes of radioactive
pollution and its effects. However, the other types of radiation (in low
doses over longer time) may still cause health problems, including
neurological, reproductive, and cardiac dysfunctions.

39. Types of Radioactive Pollution
Based on the frequency with which it occurs, radioactive pollution can
be continuous, occasional or accidental.
Continuous pollution
Continuous radioactive pollution is the type of pollution constantly
coming from uranium mines, nuclear reactors, and test laboratories, where
the radioactive contaminants are always present.
Occasional pollution
Occasional radioactive pollution is the type of pollution that occurs
during nuclear tests or during experimental tests on radioactive substances.
Accidental pollution
Accidental radioactive pollution is the type of pollution that occurs
when certain experiments involving dangerous substances fail, and the
substances used for experimentation get out of control.

40. Examples of Radioactive Contaminants
Radioactive materials are those materials or elements that emit
radiation, thus they are not stable and get transformed into other
radioactive or non-radioactive materials. The harm that they can cause
depends on the radioactive elements and their half time function (the
time needed for their concentration to be reduced to half due to
radioactive decay processes). Basically, the higher the half-time, the
lower the effects on human health. Radioactive elements with a short
and very short half-time pose a serious threat to human health
because of their hazardous effects. Most of the radioactive materials
have half-lives of hundreds of thousands of years and, once generated,
may persist in the environment for a very long time.
Many radioactive elements (materials) are naturally present in
the environment. Most of them are used in nuclear power plants, and
as basic components of nuclear weapons. Examples of this type of
materials are:

41. CAESIUM-137: Used for radiation therapy in medicine (to treat cancer).
STRONTIUM-90: Used for thermoelectric generators and portable
power sources for space vehicles, weather stations etc.
PLUTONIUM-238: Used as a heat source for radioisotope
thermoelectric generators.
URANIUM-235: Used as fuel for nuclear reactors.
Other examples of radioactive elements include:
CHROMIUM-51: Used as traceable radiation that can indicate various
medical parameters.
COBALT-57 & 60: Used in nuclear medicine.
CALCIUM-47: Used in biomedical research.

42. The Effects of Radioactive Pollution
Depending on the amount of radiation to which we are exposed and the
sensitivity of each exposed person, the effects of radioactive pollution can vary
significantly between individuals. While the exposure to high amounts of radiation
generates almost immediately chronic diseases, cancer or even sudden death in
rare cases of extreme pollution, small amounts of radiation can cause diseases that
are not so serious and develop over the course of time. The risk of developing
cancer increases with the dose of radiation, but lower doses of radiation can also
cause cancer after years of exposure.
Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.!
(please note that the risk of developing lung cancer increases with smoking). Also,
the exposure to other similar radioactive materials can generate neurological,
reproductive or heart problems. These may or may not be followed by cancer. If the
parents are exposed to radiation before or during pregnancy, genetic birth defects
and retardation may occur in the fetus.
Genetic inheritance plays an important role in how sensitive an individual
may be to radiation-based pollution. However, any amount of radiation may cause
cancer, and any exposure to radiation may cause some health risks. Thus, it is
always safer to minimize as much as possible the exposure to radiation!