Nuclear hazards

The discovery of nuclear reactions need not bring about the destruction of mankind any more than the discovery of matches-ALBERT EINSTEIN

NUCLEAR ENERGY
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Changes can occur in the structure of the nuclei of atoms. These changes are called nuclear reactions. Energy created in a nuclear reaction is called nuclear energy or atomic energy.

Nuclear energy is produced in two different ways, in one, large nuclei are split to release energy. In the other method, small nuclei are combined to release energy. It is produced naturally and in man-made operations under human control. ` Naturally: Some nuclear energy is produced naturally. For example, the Sun and other stars make heat and light by nuclear reactions. ` Man-Made: Nuclear energy can be man-made too. Machines called nuclear reactors, parts of nuclear power plants, provide electricity for many cities. Manmade nuclear reactions also occur in the explosion of atomic and hydrogen bombs.

Use and misuse of nuclear energy

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Nuclear energy is widely used in production of electricity and nuclear radiations are widely used in fields of medicine and agriculture too.
During World War II bombs dropped in 1. Hiroshima U-235,dropped on 6th August 1945. 2. Nagasaki U-238,dropped on 9th August 1945.

MISUSE OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

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Application of nuclear energy in submarines

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Uses diesel engines that requires air for combustion while travelling on surface of water Uses battery-powered motors while diving Consumes a very little amount of fuel

View of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after nuclear bomb

WHY IS NUCLEAR ENERGY CONSIDERED AS A HAZARD?

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It is basically considered as an hazard due to the misunderstanding or lack of knowledge in the following four cases: ` A wide spread and exaggerated fear of the huge amount of radiation released ` A highly distorted picture of nuclear reaction and nuclear accidents ` Unjustified fear of disposal of nuclear wastes ` Failure to understand the quantify risks in nuclear reactions

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

Though nuclear power has significant benefits, some serious incidents have changed attitude of people towards the nuclear power plants. Nuclear energy has following dark sides: ` Nuclear weapons : The nuclear weapons have devastating implications. The atom bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki can never be forgotten. These bombs killed numerous people and destroyed everything. A nuclear explosion (i) produces tremendous heat (ii) gaseous matter rising up like a cloud, dispersing radioactive materials and causing pollution of air, water and soil. ` Disasters: Use of nuclear energy can result in major disasters. One of these is Chemobyl Disaster of 1986 in east while USSR. The nuclear reactor caught fire and resulted in world's worst nuclear accident that took 10 days to control the runaway reaction. Thousands of people died immediately, 24,000 people received high doses of radiations. After ten years of the incident (1996) it was found that increased rate of thyroid cancer in children was one of the long term effects. Fused fingers (monodactyly) to form a paddle and more than 5 digits (polydactyly) in hands and feet were the other genetic defects observed in Chemobyl. ` Other effects: There are many more kinds of damages from nuclear accidents and use of nuclear energy. The most common and long term effect of radiations is the mutation, leading to abnormalities in the off springs. Leukemia and breast cancer are the two common types of cancers linked to exposure to radiations. The disposal of the nuclear waste is another major problem.

Nuclear hazards to the environment

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Human bodies, as well as materials, including buildings are seriously affected by nuclear radiations. In general the ill effects produced by nuclear weapons are of two types: (i) Somatic and (ii) Genetic NUCLEAR GENETIC EFFECTS RADIATIONS

SOMATIC EFFECTS
More dreadful than somatic effects causes minute changes in the gene which may causes deformations in the body and it may be carried out from generations to generations

Causes several diseases like cancer, TB and l pollutes air water and land

If all the nuclear weapons in the world were used, then all the humanity would most likely be destroyed. Later, the world would go into what is called "Nuclear Winter". Global temperature would drop significantly, as well as the amount of sunlight received by the earth. The combination of radioactivity, lack of food, and lowering temperatures cause a Nuclear Holocaust, with the chances of humans surviving very low.

disposal of nuclear waste

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Nuclear waste pollution is caused by ionizing radiations. Atom bomb explosion, nuclear power plant accident, etc. are nuclear hazards. It is a radioactive pollution. It is caused by radioactive substances called radioactive isotopes or radionuclides. Eg. Uranium. A radioactive isotope is an element. It is made up of many atoms. The nucleus of a radioactive isotope is unstable. Hence it undergoes spontaneous decomposition. During decomposition the nucleus throws out a stream of protons. The throwing of protons by an atomic nucleus is called radioactive decay

Getting into the details!

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Particulate matters that release during radioactive decay. ` Alpha rays ` Beta rays ` Gamma rays ` Neutrons ` Protons All these radiations cause ionizing effect and are called ionizing radiations. Alpha, beta and protons cause direct effects whereas gamma and neutron radiations cause indirect effects. Beta radiations cause internal effects by penetrating in the tissue of human skin whereas gamma rays cause internal and external effects due to its more penetrating energy.

Deaths per 1,000MW nuclear plant per year of operation due to wastes
Source Nuclear: -- high-level waste -- radon emissions -- low-level waste -- total Coal: -- air pollution -- radon emissions -- cancer-causing chemicals -- total Solar photovoltaics: -- coal for materials -- cadmium sulfide (if used) -- total 0.8 0.8 1.6 3.7 80 83.7 25 0.11 0.5 25.61 25 30 70 125 0.0001 -0.0650 0.0001 -0.0648 0.02 -450 0.0004 -450 Next 500 years Millions of years

Ionising Radiation Health Effects

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Radioactive pollution causes holocaust. It is the mass extermination of human beings by fire. It is a nuclear hazard. In Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 3 lakhs and 40,000 people were killed during these two atom bomb explosion. Atom bomb explosion liberates enormous heat due to atomic fission reactions. This heat melts even stones and metals. Hence man, animals and plants are burnt to death. The Chernobyl atomic power plant accident caused the death of 2000 people. Radiations cause gene mutations and chromosomal aberrations. This leads to genetical defects in future generation. Stillbirths - Birth of dead babies. congenital deformities - Defects in new born babies. Microcephaly - Abnormal small head in babies. Destruction of cities. Destruction of animals and plants. Some effects of ionising radiation are dose dependent and only occur if dose received is above certain level: ` Radiation sickness, skin burns or cataracts Other effects are not dose dependent. Any exposure to radiation may cause the effect. However, likelihood of harm increases at higher levels of exposure: ` Cancer, Genetic defects

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ionizing radiations penetrate into the body and cause ionization of molecules in cells. These cells cannot function normally and die. It causes radiation sickness. It is characterized by reddened and accelerated skin, loss of hair, nausea, anemia, etc. Continuous exposure of a person with radiation may lead to cumulative radiation damage and death. Cataract in the eye. Damage to liver, spleen, thyroid, etc. Reduced fertility. Carcinoma (cancer).Leukemia (Blood cancer),Thyroid cancer and Bone cancer. Tissue necrosis. General malaise (discomfort) Nausea and vomiting. Inhibition of mitosis (cell division). Leucopenia (diminished level of lymphocytes and granulocytes). Septicemia - Blood poisoning due to the presence and persistence of pathogenic micro-organisms or their toxins in the blood. Anemia, Inhibition of enzyme secretion and Mental retardation. Population and ecosystem are destroyed.

Control of Nuclear Waste Pollution:` ` `

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It can be controlled by following methods: Glass spectacles:- Use of spectacles will protect the eyes from ultraviolet light because ultra violet light cannot penetrate the glass. Exposure to Visible light :- Visible light neutralizes UV damage considerably. Therefore exposing the UV radiation affected persons to sunlight can treat him. Insulation of Reactors:- Radioactive isotopes are used as fuels in the atomic power plants. So the reactors must be enclosed in broad concrete walls to prevent the radiations to come out. The water, used in the reactor as coolant, also must be kept in safe concrete walls. Waste Disposal:- Radioactive wastes must be stored in underground tanks where they gradually decay in a harmless manner. Protective Garments:- Workers in atomic power plant and other industries using radioactive materials should wear protective garments and should be screened from radioactive materials by radiation resistant walls or cases. Radiation Indicators:- The workers, should wear radiation indicators to know the total amount of radiation to which they have been exposed. Atomic bomb explosion must be stopped.

Instruments used for nuclear control

control rods. Used in nuclear reactors for controlling rate of fission of uranium and plutonium

plutonium oxide container Used for disposition of dangerous plutonium

One Loop of a PWR

Nuclear power plant instrumentation and control (I&C) consists of hardware that controls and ensures the safety of nuclear power plants by acquiring data from sensors monitoring the status of process variables such as temperature, pressure, and level; conditions and isolates these sensor signals; displays and processes the sensor data on recorders, indicators, and the plant computer; and issues commands to controllers, safety logic circuitry, or safety actuation systems. The I&C systems of nuclear power plants depend primarily on the measurement of process temperature, pressure, level, and flow, and to a lesser extent on the monitoring of neutron flux. These measurements are made using numerous sensors installed in the plants primary and secondary systems or loops. The primary system carries highly pressurized water through the nuclear reactor core. As its temperature increases near the core, it causes water flowing through an adjoining secondary feed water loop to turn into steam, which drives the plants generators.

AWDREY (ATOMIC WEAPONS DETECTION RECOGNITION AND ESTIMATION OF YIELD)USED IN COLD WAR FOR DETECTION OF ANY NUCLEAR EXPLOSION

BOMB -POWER INDICATOR- (BPI)

RECORDS THE POSITION OF NUCLEAR DETONATION

Sources of information: http://www.scitopics.com/Instrumentation_and_Control_in_Nuclear_Power_Plants.html http://www.tutorvista.com/science/nuclear-hazards-to-the-environment http://www.tutorvista.com/biology/nuclear-waste-pollution http://www.tutorvista.com/chemistry/nuclear-radiation-exposure http://russp.org/BLC-4.html