May 28, 2021

As any normal human being, when we think of pollution, the first thing that comes into mind is air, water, and land pollution, not radioactive. What even is radioactive poisoning? Why don’t we hear about it? Well, even though it might sound shocking, radioactive pollution can be more dangerous than any other type of pollution known to man.

For instance, one of the most well known incidents in human history is the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, characterized by the expulsion of the radioactive isotope elements uranium and beryllium, two chemicals toxic to the environment and poisonous to humans. This disaster alone affected numerous European nations, killing people in the area and representing the dangerous effects of radioactive poisoning.

However, what characterizes radioactive pollution? As stated by the Journal of Pollution Effects and Control, radioactive pollution is the deposit of radioactive materials and particles into an environment, demolishing the living biosphere present. The main component of radioactive pollution are radionuclides; atoms made up of gamma rays and beta particles, also simply known as radioactive substances.

Additionally, radioactive pollution is usually caused by human activities, as 20% of all radioactive poisoning is due to mining, handling radioactive waste, and storing radioactive waste from nuclear plants. In our modern era, a high number of nations such as the United States, France, and China rely on sources of electricity from nuclear plants, as they are cheaper and functional. However, nuclear power companies forget to mention the effects of exposure to radioactive waste.

According to the Environmental Pollution Center, some dangerous effects of exposure to radioactive substances include neurological, reproductive, and cardiac issues. Also, the second leading cause of death in the United States today is lung cancer caused by exposure to radons.

Thus, radioactive pollution is just as threatening to Earth as is air, water, and land pollution, but is barely discussed as large corporations attempt to hide the reality behind their manufacturing systems. But, there is still hope, the hope that we can switch to renewable electricity.