Radioactive Pollution

Radioactivity is a phenomenon of spontaneous emission of proton (a-particles), electrons (ß-particles) and ?-rays (short wave electromagnetic waves) due to disintegration of atomic nuclei of some elements. These cause radioactive pollution. Radiations are of two types ionising and non-ionising. Non-ionising radiations affect only those components which absorb them and have low penetrability. Ionising radiations have high penetration power and cause breakage of macro molecules.

Man-made sources of radiation pollution are mining and refining of plutonium and thorium, production and explosion and nuclear weapons, nuclear power plants and fuels and preparation of radioactive isotopes.