Presented by:Nethravathi R

GN113011III sem MSc.Genetics

DOS in Zoology

Impact of Radiation pollution on HUMAN Health

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND MANAGEMENTENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND MANAGEMENTSeminar on

Open elective paper

DOS in Environmental Science

29th Nov 2014

RADIATIONRADIATIONRadiation is the complete process in which energy is emitted in the form of particles or waves from a particular source, transmitted through an intervening medium or space, and absorbed by biotic & abiotic components of the environment.

TYPES OF RADIATIONTYPES OF RADIATION

WHAT IS RADIATION POLLUTION?WHAT IS RADIATION POLLUTION? Radiation pollution is caused by radioactive substances which

emit invisible radiation released in the environment through human activities.

Radiation is a fact of life - all around us, all the time

The radiation pollution causes are various human activities, that add to natural radiation background (radiation produced everywhere in the Universe in absence of human activities).

Radioactive pollution of the atmosphere can be defined as any undesirable change in the atomsphere due to increase in the natural background of radiation arising out of human activities involving the use of naturally occuring or artifically produced radioactive substances.

SOURCES OF RADIATION POLLUTIONSOURCES OF RADIATION POLLUTION

1. Nuclear explosions and detonations of nuclear weapons2. Defense weapon production 3. Mining4. Nuclear accidents5. research procedures and wastes6. medical procedures and wastes7. nuclear power plants8. TVs9. computers10. radio waves11. cell-phones …..

Nuclear explosionNuclear explosion

Nuclear power plantNuclear power plant

Procedures

Nuclear weapons Nuclear weapons

Uranium miningUranium mining

CONTINUOUS CONTINUOUS RADIATION RADIATION POLLUTIONPOLLUTION

OCCASIONAL OCCASIONAL RADIATION RADIATION POLLUTIONPOLLUTION

TYPES OF RADIATION POLLUTIONTYPES OF RADIATION POLLUTIONTYPES OF RADIATION POLLUTIONTYPES OF RADIATION POLLUTION

ACCIDENTAL ACCIDENTAL RADIATION RADIATION POLLUTION POLLUTION

Eg: Workers in radioactive reactors

Eg: explosion of reactor

Eg:Natural disaster

INSTANTANEOUS INSTANTANEOUS EFFECTEFFECT

DELAYED DELAYED EFFECT EFFECT

IMPACT OF RADIATION POLLUTION IMPACT OF RADIATION POLLUTION ON HUMAN HEALTHON HUMAN HEALTHIMPACT OF RADIATION POLLUTION IMPACT OF RADIATION POLLUTION ON HUMAN HEALTHON HUMAN HEALTH

PROLONGED PROLONGED EFFECT EFFECT • IMMEDIATE EFFECT

• LONGER EFFECT

• NO SYMPTOMS • ADVERSE EFFECT

Eg:hiroshima and nagasaki  (August 1945)killed at least 129,000 people

Eg:hiroshima and nagasaki  Effecting 3rd generation

Eg:Cancer

DOSE OF DOSE OF RADIATION RADIATION OBSERVED OBSERVED

BY THE BODYBY THE BODY

SENSITIVITY SENSITIVITY OF THE OF THE PERSONPERSON

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE IMPACT FACTORS INFLUENCING THE IMPACT OF RADIATION POLLUTION ON OF RADIATION POLLUTION ON

HUMAN HEALTHHUMAN HEALTH

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE IMPACT FACTORS INFLUENCING THE IMPACT OF RADIATION POLLUTION ON OF RADIATION POLLUTION ON

HUMAN HEALTHHUMAN HEALTH

DURATION DURATION OF OF

EXPOSUREEXPOSURE

FIRST MEDICAL FINDINGSFIRST MEDICAL FINDINGS

First skin-burn attributed to radiation - 1901

First radiation induced leukemia described -1911

First publication describing “a clinical syndrome due to atomic bomb” - 1946

RADIATION AND HUMAN CELLRADIATION AND HUMAN CELL

Primary target for cell damage from ionizing radiation is deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in chromosomes of cell’s nuclei

3)Cell survives but mutated

Stoch.effect

1) Mutation repaired

UNVIABLE CELL

VIABLE CELL

2) Cell dies

Effects of Radiation on the Human BodyEffects of Radiation on the Human Body

(1) HairThe losing of hair quickly and in clumps occurs with radiation exposure at 200 rems or higher

(2) BrainSince brain cells do not reproduce, they won't be damaged directly unless the exposure is 5,000 rems or greater. Like the heart, radiation kills nerve cells and small blood vessels, and can cause seizures and immediate death.

(3) ThyroidThe certain body parts are more specifically affected by exposure to different types of radiation sources. The thyroid gland is susceptible to radioactive iodine. In sufficient amounts, radioactive iodine can destroy all or part of the thyroid. By taking potassium iodide, one can reduce the effects of exposure.

(5) HeartIntense exposure to radioactive material at 1,000 to 5,000 rems would do immediate damage to small blood vessels and probably cause heart failure and death directly.

(6) Gastrointestinal TractRadiation damage to the intestinal tract lining will cause nausea, bloody vomiting and diarrhea. This is occurs when the victim's exposure is 200 rems or more. The radiation will begin to destroy the cells in the body that divide rapidly. These including blood, GI tract, reproductive and hair cells, and harms their DNA and RNA of surviving cells.

(7) Reproductive TractBecause reproductive tract cells divide rapidly, these areas of the body can be damaged at rem levels as low as 200. Long-term, some radiation sickness victims will become sterile.

4) Blood SystemWhen a person is exposed to around 100 rems, the blood's lymphocyte cell count will be reduced, leaving the victim more susceptible to infection. This is often refered to as mild radiation sickness.

Severe Mental RetardationSevere Mental RetardationA study of about 1,600 children exposed in-utero at

Hiroshima and Nagasaki to various radiation doses and at various developmental stages:excess mental retardation was at a maximum between 8 and 15

weeksRisk: 0.05% per mSv (8-15 weeks)

CANCERCANCER

CHERNOBYL EXPERIENCECHERNOBYL EXPERIENCEAcute Radiation Syndrome and Radiation burns (ARS)

26.04.198626.04.1986

at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine

HEREDITARY EFFECTSHEREDITARY EFFECTSIn the absence of human data

the estimation of hereditary effects are based on animal studies

Risks to offspring following prenatal exposure:Total risk = 0.0003 -

0.0005% per mGy to the first generation

Constitutes 0.4-0.6% of baseline frequency

(UNSCEAR 2001 Report Hereditary Effects of Radiation)

TYPICAL EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON TYPICAL EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON EMBRYOEMBRYO

Death of the embryo or fetusInduction of;

1. malformation2. growth retardation3. functional disturbance4. cancer

Factors influencing the probability of effects1. Dose for embryo or fœtus2. Gestation status at the

time of exposure

QUESTIONNAIREQUESTIONNAIRE