Types and Effects of Radioactive Pollution

1.UV Rays. Short waves having wavelength 100-300 nm and having high energy UV rays of 260nm wavelength are most effective against DNA. It damages the cells of cornea leading to permanent blindness. It injures cells of germinative layer of skin and produces blisters and reddening of skin (skin cancer). Normally our skin possess pigmentation to protect against UV rays but some lack this pigmentation and are more probable cases. This state is called xeroderma pigmentosum. UV rays increase incidences of cancer and mutations in man.

2. Cosmic rays. They have radiations less than 0.001Å having high energy sufficient to disintegrate every organic compound on which they fall. But fortunately they are trapped in stratosphere and only a little amount reaches the earth.

Effects were noted in 1909 when uranium miners were found to suffer from sun burns and caner. High altitude plants have developed polyploidy as a protective mechanism against radiations. During a nuclear fall out immediate effect is through isotopic I-131 and Sr-90. Radioactive I-131 get concentrated in thyroid gland like ordinary iodine (I-127). It causes damage to WBCs, bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes etc.
It impairs eyesight and produces sterility, skin cancer and lung tumours. Radioactive Sr-90 is mistaken for calcium and enters bones to cause bone cancer e.g. Historic examples of heinous nuclear fall out are atomic bomb dropping at Nagasaki and Hiroshima (Japan, 1945)