There is panic across Japan, and in much of Asia, about the unfolding nuclear crisis in the island nation which was rocked last week by a disastrous quake and tsunami. People are worried about the radiation threat emanating from the damaged nuclear reactors in the Fukushima power plant. There are conflicting views about how murderous will be a possible reactor meltdown. Some have likened the crisis to the Chernobyl disaster while other see the threat less serious.
However, the everyday reality of mild-to-serious doses of harmful radiation that people everywhere in the world are exposed to pops into limelight only when a possible Armageddon shakes everyone up! Following is a sneak peek into some of the ways in which human beings are exposed to radiation in their everyday lives:
Here's what Health Physics Society says: Everything we encounter in our daily lives contains some radioactive material, some naturally occurring and some man-made: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the ground we walk upon, and the consumer products we purchase and use.
Radon, an invisible, odorless radioactive gas formed by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil, can pose serious health risk to human beings. Here's what Library Index says: "In addition to exposure through the air, humans can also contact radon in drinking water. Radon gas can dissolve and accumulate in groundwater such as that found in wells. The EPA estimates that only about 1 to 2 percent of radon comes from drinking water. However, ingesting radon-contaminated drinking water can lead to the development of internal-organ cancers, primarily stomach cancer—although the risk is smaller than that of developing lung cancer from radon released to the air from tap water."
Can we escape this? Not really. "Because it is naturally occurring, it cannot be entirely eliminated from homes." This gas seeps from underground rock into the basements and foundations of structures via cracks in foundations, pipes, and sometimes through the water supply. Because it is naturally occurring, it cannot be entirely eliminated from homes.
But there is a way to reduce risk from radon. Not all water contains radon. Surface waters—such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs—usually do not carry radon because the radon tends to evaporate before it has a chance to reach residences.
Underground sources such as groundwater, however, may contain radon.
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REUTERSMost residential smoke detectors contain a low-activity americium-241 source, according to Health Physics Society (HPS). "Alpha particles emitted by the americium ionize the air, making the air conductive. Any smoke particles that enter the unit reduce the current and set off an alarm."
REUTERSModern watches and clocks sometimes use a small quantity of hydrogen-3 (tritium) or promethium-147 as a source of light. Older (for example, pre-1970) watches and clocks used radium-226 as a source of light. If these older timepieces are opened and the dial or hands handled, some of the radium could be picked up and possibly ingested, according to HPS.
REUTERSCeramic materials like tiles and pottery often contain elevated levels of naturally occurring uranium, thorium, and/or potassium, it is reported. "In many cases, the activity is concentrated in the glaze. Unless there is a large quantity of the material, readings above background are unlikely. Nevertheless, some older (for example, pre-1960) tiles and pottery, especially those with an orange-red glaze (for example, Fiesta ware) can be quite radioactive."
REUTERSFood contains a variety of different types and amounts of naturally occurring radioactive materials. Although the relatively small quantities of food in the home contain too little radioactivity for the latter to be readily detectable, bulk shipments of food have been known to set off the alarms of radiation monitors at border crossings.
REUTERSSome brands of gas lantern mantles incorporate thorium-232. "In fact, it is the heating of the thorium by the burning gas that is responsible for the emission of light. Such mantles are sufficiently radioactive that they are often used as a check source for radiation detectors.
REUTERSCommercial fertilizers are designed to provide varying levels of potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen. Such fertilizers can be measurably radioactive for two reasons: potassium is naturally radioactive, and the phosphorous can be derived from phosphate ore that contains elevated levels of uranium, says HPS.
REUTERS
