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Radioactive contamination, also called radiological pollution, is the deposition of, or presence of radioactive substances on surfaces or within solids, liquids, or gases (including the human body), where their presence is unintended or undesirable (from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) definition). [3]
It is a result of many activities, including nuclear medicine, nuclear research, nuclear power generation, nuclear decommissioning, rare-earth mining, and nuclear weapons reprocessing. [1] The storage and disposal of radioactive waste is regulated by government agencies in order to protect human health and the environment.
The distribution coefficient K d is the ratio of the soil's radioactivity (Bq g −1) to that of the soil water (Bq ml −1). If the radioactivity is tightly bonded to by the minerals in the soil then less radioactivity can be absorbed by crops and grass growing in the soil. Cs-137 K d = 1000; Pu-239 K d = 10000 to 100000; Sr-90 K d = 80 to 150
Radioactive waste is generated from the nuclear weapons program, commercial nuclear power, medical applications, and corporate and university-based research programs. [1] Some of the materials LLW consists of are: "gloves and other protective clothing, glass and plastic laboratory supplies, machine parts and tools, and disposable medical items ...
Nuclear power plants in normal operation emit less radioactivity than coal power plants. [69] [70] Unlike coal-fired or oil-fired power generation, nuclear power generation does not directly produce any sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, or mercury (pollution from fossil fuels is blamed for 24,000 early deaths each year in the U.S. alone [71 ...
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause harm. [1] Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants.
The amount of radiation in radioactive materials may not be safe for living organisms, [35] so it is important for all nuclear pollution to be removed. Nuclear waste naturally remains hazardous for hundreds of years, [36] but when processed with geomelting, radioactive materials are immobilized. [37]
Environmental harmful product dumping (“environmental dumping”) is the practice of transfrontier shipment of waste (household waste, industrial/nuclear waste, etc.) from one country to another. The goal is to take the waste to a country that has less strict environmental laws , or environmental laws that are not strictly enforced.