Radionuclides
The fact of the matter is that naturally present radiation is everywhere, even in our own bodies - Katharine Shilcutt
image by: С. Лхагвасүрэн
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We all fear radiation yet life depends on it. We each are radioactive, living on a radioactive planet, in a radioactive solar system, in a radioactive universe, in a radioactive galaxy. We, and all living creatures, exist because plants and other organism use photosynthesis to capture photons, a basic unit radiation energy (light), produced by thermonuclear fusion within the Sun, and convert it chemical energy which drives our world.
Carbon dioxide and water are turned into the oxygen we breathe, the sugars we eat and the carbon the makes up our bodies. Think of photosynthesis as a giant power facility producing the equivalent of about 130 terawatts of energy each year, six times…
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Fact Sheet - Radionuclides
The more common, large-volume sources of radioactive wastes, however, are from uranium mining and use of nuclear reactors. Uranium-238, the most common isotope of uranium found in nature, will also naturally decay to radium-225, which has a half-life of 1,600 years. The latter will decay to radon gas, which poses an exposure risk in some areas of the world even in well-insulated homes. Other common (artificial and natural) radionuclides are cesium-137, strontium-90, cobalt-60, plutonium, technetium-99 and thorium.
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But until now few if any realized that the fracking/natural gas and the nuclear industry share the same dark secret that they both routinely release significant quantities of radioactive waste into the environment whose toxicological implications last for centuries, if not for thousands of years (e.g., 222radium's half-life is 1600 years).
Fukushima radionuclides in the NW Pacific, and assessment of doses...
Variations of Fukushima-derived radionuclides (90Sr, 134Cs and 137Cs) in seawater and biota offshore Fukushima and in the NW Pacific Ocean were investigated and radiation doses to the Japanese and world population from ingestion of seafood contaminated by Fukushima radionuclides were estimated and compared with those from other sources of anthropogenic and natural radionuclides.
How Fracking Is Exposing People to Radioactive Waste
“Radionuclides in these wastes are primarily radium-226, radium-228, and radon gas,” reports the Environmental Protection Agency. “The radon is released to the atmosphere, while the produced water and mud containing radium are placed in ponds or pits for evaporation, reuse, or recovery.”
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Radionuclides in Fracking Wastewater: Managing a Toxic Blend
Naturally occurring radionuclides are widely distributed in the earth’s crust, so it’s no surprise that mineral and hydrocarbon extraction processes, conventional and unconventional alike, often produce some radioactive waste.
Radionuclides in the Environment
Nuclear energy is the one energy source that could meet the world's growing energy needs and provide a smooth transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in the coming decades and centuries. It is becoming abundantly clear that an increase in nuclear energy capacity will, and probably must, take place. However, nuclear energy and the use of radionuclides for civilian and military purposes lead to extremely long-lived waste that is costly and highly problematic to deal with. Therefore, it is critically important ot understand the environmental implications of radionuclides for ecosystems and human health if nuclear energy is to be used to avoid the impending global energy crisis.
Radionuclides in the Ocean
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Therapeutic radionuclides in nuclear medicine: current and future prospects
The potential use of radionuclides in therapy has been recognized for many decades. A number of radionuclides, such as iodine-131 (131I), phosphorous-32 (32P), strontium-90 (90Sr), and yttrium-90 (90Y), have been used successfully for the treatment of many benign and malignant disorders.
Radiation: What It Is and What You Need to Know About It
We all fear radiation yet life depends on it. We each are radioactive, living on a radioactive planet, in a radioactive solar system, in a radioactive universe, in a radioactive galaxy. We, and all living creatures, exist because plants and other organism use photosynthesis to capture photons, a basic unit radiation energy (light), produced by thermonuclear fusion within the Sun, and convert it chemical energy which drives our world.
8 Foods You Didn't Know Are Radioactive
The fact of the matter is that naturally present radiation is everywhere, even in our own bodies. The average human is comprised, at least in part, of radionuclides like carbon-14 and uranium. So any fuss over foods that contain naturally occurring levels of radiation is just silly. But that doesn't mean it isn't interesting. Below are eight foods that are radioactive. Combine them all in one power-packed meal to gain superpowers! (Superpowers not guaranteed.)
EPA
Every radionuclide emits radiation at its own specific rate, which is measured in terms of “half-life. Some radionuclides have half-lives of mere seconds, but others have half-lives of hundreds or millions of years.
USGS
Many people might be surprised to learn that drinking-water sources, especially groundwater, can contain radioactive elements (radionuclides). Radionuclides in water can be a concern for human health because several are toxic or carcinogenic. Other radionuclides are useful tools for determining the age of groundwater in an aquifer or of sediment deposited at the bottom of a water body.
WellOwner.org
Radionuclides contaminating water is a developing issue. Radioactivity in ground water formerly was limited to natural causes such as radon, radium, or uranium. But releases from nuclear power plants and medical facilities have added the dimension of man-made radioactivity finding its way into drinking water sources.
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