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Effects of Nuclear Radiation on the Environment

Effects to the Environment

Source

A nuclear radiation spill or accident can contaminate an area with radioactive dust for thousands of years. Through wind and water travel, these dust particles can spread to contaminate every aspect of an environment, from sediment, to water supply, to the air living things breath. Radiation cannot be made un-radioactive, it must decay. The length of time that an area is contaminated with radiation is dependent on what type of radiation the area is contaminated with and what the half life of that radiation is. A typical nuclear power accident would release the following radionuclides.4

Effects on Agriculture

Radiation does not have a very severe impact on plants themselves, as it would require an exposure to thousands of rem to inhibit the growth of plants or to stop seed germination. Radiation in agriculture is more dangerous to the humans, or animals, that eat the agriculture. Radiation can be taken up by plants eaten by livestock and passed through to humans that consume their meat or milk. Humans can also be directly affected by plant uptake of radioactive products by eating radioactive vegetables. Some common radioactive particles found in vegetables are Iodine-131, Cesium-137, and Strontium-90.

Effects on Forests

Radioactive particles are usually higher in forests than open agricultural fields because the trees act as a canopy that let the particles fall in, and then retain them. Then organic material on the forest floor (mosses, lichens, mushrooms, etc.) take up the radioactive particles. Radioactive particles in extreme amounts have been known to kill trees. These radioactive trees then fall to the forest floor, further leading to the radioactivity of the forest floor.

Effects on Water Bodies

Whether by the air, discharge, or direct deposit, radioactive particles often find themselves in bodies of water. Once in water, these particles tend to accumulate in the bottom sediments of bodies of water, thus contaminating aquatic plants and fish living in that environment. This water contamination can get back to humans either directly through drinking water or indirectly through irrigation systems, or eating contaminated fish.5

Effects on Animals

Radiation has similar effects on all mammals. So the effects felt by mammals would be similar to those effects felt by humans. Birds are less susceptible to radiation, as they are only likely to ingest it through food and water, and not through breathing.