Academic literature on the topic 'Health aspects of Radioactive substances in rivers'

AbstractMonitoring of radioactive materials has been reported in rivers and soil in Fukushima post the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. However, there are few reports on the influence of this event on bacteria in forest soils and rivers. Therefore, through amplicon sequencing of 16S rDNA we compared the bacterial flora in river sediment soils from Fukushima prefecture and from an area not exposed to radioactive contamination, Aomori prefecture. The bacterial composition in the Aomori prefecture soil and Fukushima soil were found to be very similar at the phylum level. However, Fukushima soil had significantly fewer Bacteroidetes than the Aomori soil (p = 0.014), while the content of Firmicutes and Latescibacteria (WS3) was significantly higher (p = 0.001, 0.013 respectively). However, no increase in the content of radioactive-resistant bacteria was observed. In future studies, it is necessary to standardise the conditions for soil collection to assess its content of radioactive substances.

The paper recent by indices of water quality and effects of eutrophication, Water is one of the most widely distributed substances across the world’s surface and is crucial for a variety of aspects of human health, development and well-being as well as for the functioning of natural ecosystems. Eutrophication is an environmental process enrichment of waters by inorganic nutrients, especially these nutrients are nitrogen and phosphors and results from primary productions. On the other hand, Pollution by eutrophication due to the problems in lakes, rivers and marine habitat. Water quality is important for our health and well-being, can be used for diffident purposes.

As the population grows and the uncontrolled industrialization, urbanization rises as well, it is high time we should give proper attention to the fact of river pollution in our country which is deploying harmful impacts both on human health and environmental, aquatic ecosystem. A plethora of studies have been done on different aspects of river water pollution. In this paper a thorough discussion regarding this fact has been presented compiling a number of important studies on it. Major causes behind this pollution have been mentioned widely, like improper management of industrial and sewage effluents. However, to detect this contamination in the major rivers of Bangladesh, various studies have been done to see the physicochemical properties of the water, such as pH, turbidity, color, odor, DO, TOD, COD, TSS, EC, dissolved metal, and other chemical and bacteriological substances etc. The microorganisms within the water are the prime sources to cause different water borne diseases like Diarrhea, Cholera, Scabies and Asthma. To find out the remedies to this problem, urgent emphasis should be given on preventive measures and to take appropriate steps to halt and improve the existing pollution of the rivers. A lot of water treatment systems are being practiced throughout the world to restore the health of the rivers as well as to reuse the waste water. Though the systems are not much popular in Bangladesh, the government should facilitates the practice of them extensively and strengthen the laws against environmental pollution.

AbstractTracer methods have been widely used in many fields of environmental and natural sciences, and also in human health sciences. In particular, tracers are used in the study of karst hydrogeology, typically focusing on phenomena such as sinkholes, sinking rivers and large karst springs. It is known that tracers have been used since antiquity. The aim of tracer tests has been to investigate underground flow paths, transport processes and water–rock interactions, and to get an insight into the functioning of a karst aquifer. In karst hydrogeology, tracer methods are the most important investigation tools beside conventional hydrological methods. In early times, tracer methods were applied only to investigate underground flow-paths. Later they were also used to elucidate transport processes associated with water flow, and today they are often the basis, together with detailed hydrological information, of groundwater protection investigations and aquifer modelling. Many substances (spores, microspheres, bacteriophages, salt tracers, fluorescent dyes, radioactive substances) have been investigated for their properties and potential usage in environmental investigations, in particular the often unknown and inaccessible underground systems of karst areas. A great number of analytical techniques is available. This includes instrumentation for laboratory applications and direct online, on-site or in-situ field measurements. Modern instruments have a high capability for data acquisition, storage and transmission in short intervals, as a basis for quantitative evaluation and modelling. This enables research on the hydrological and hydrochemical dynamics of aquifers and their response to different natural or anthropogenic impacts.

This report responds to a widely perceived need for professional advice on radiological protection measures to be undertaken in the event of a radiological attack. The report, which is mainly concerned with possible attacks involving “radioactive dispersion devices”, re-affirms the applicability of existing ICRP recommendations to such situations, should they ever occur. Many aspects of the emergency scenarios expected to arise in the event of a radiological attack may be similar to those that experience has shown can arise from radiological accidents, but there may also be important differences. For instance, a radiological attack would probably be targeted at a public area, possibly in an urban environment, where the presence of radiation is not anticipated and the dispersion conditions commonly assumed for a nuclear or radiological emergency, such as at a nuclear installation, may not be applicable. First responders to a radiological attack and other rescuers need to be adequately trained and to have the proper equipment for identifying radiation and radioactive contamination, and specialists in radiological protection must be available to provide advice. It may be prudent to assume that radiological, chemical, and/or biological agents are involved in an attack until it is proven otherwise. This calls for an “all-hazard” approach to the response. In the aftermath of an attack, the main aim of radiological protection must be to prevent the occurrence of acute health effects attributable to radiation exposure (termed “deterministic” effects) and to restrict the likelihood of late health effects (termed “stochastic” effects) such as cancers and some hereditable diseases. A supplementary aim is to minimise environmental contamination from radioactive residues and the subsequent general disruption of daily life. The report notes that action taken to avert exposures is a much more effective protective measure than protective measure the provision of medical treatment after exposure has occurred. Responders involved in recovery, remediation and eventual restoration should be subject to the usual international standards for occupational radiological protection, which are based on ICRP recommendations, including the relevant requirements for occupational dose limitation established in such standards. These restrictions may be relaxed for informed volunteers undertaking urgent rescue operations, and they are not applicable for voluntary life-saving actions. However, specific protection measures are recommended for female workers who may be pregnant or nursing an infant. The immediate countermeasures to protect the public in the rescue phase are primarily caring for people with traumatic injuries and controlling access. Subsequent actions include respiratory protection, personal decontamination, sheltering, iodine prophylaxis (if radioiodines are involved), and temporary evacuation. In the recovery phase, the relocation and resettlement of people may be needed in extreme cases. This phase may require remedial action, including cleanup, management of the resulting radioactive waste, management of any human remains containing significant amounts of radioactive substances, and dealing with remaining radioactive residues. The guidance given in relation to public protection is based solely on radiological protection considerations and should be seen as a decision-aiding tool to prepare for the aftermath of a radiological attack. It is expected to serve as input to a final decision-making process that may include other societal concerns, consideration of lessons learned in the past (especially these involving the public perception of the risks posed by radioactive contamination) and the participation of interested parties. A radiological attack could also be the cause of radioactive contamination of water, food, and other widely consumed commodities. This possible outcome is considered unlikely to lead to significant internal contamination of a large number of people owing to the large amounts of radioactive material that would be required to cause high levels of contamination of water, food, and other commodities. Nonetheless, the report recommends radiological criteria for restricting the use of commodities under such circumstances. The report concludes by reiterating that the response to radiological attacks should be planned beforehand following the customary processes for optimisation of radiological protection recommended by ICRP, and that optimised measures should be prepared in advance. Such plans should result in a systematic approach that can be modified if necessary to take into account the prevailing conditions and to invoke actions as warranted by the circumstances. Many potential scenarios clearly cannot induce immediate severe radiation injuries. Therefore, in order to prevent over-reaction, response measures prepared in advance should reflect the real expected gravity of the various possible scenarios.

From the days of primitive society, human and animals have used the resource of the earth to support life and to dispose waste. Rapid population growth and uncontrolled industrial development are seriously degrading the urban and semi-urban environment in many of the developing countries placing enormous strain on natural resources and undermining efficient and sustainable development. Industrial operations lead to considerable generation of hazardous waste and in rapidly industrializing countries such as India the contribution to hazardous waste from industries are largest. Hazardous waste genarations from industries is also critical due to their large geophysical spread in the country, leading to regionwide impacts. Due to liberalization policy the pace of industrialization has been accelerated, which has resulted in increasing amount of hazardous waste every year. This long with a growing amount of municipal solid waste due to rapid urbanization and inadequate policy and technological measures continues to remain a daunting issue of environmental concern to India. In this scenario the present paper discusses various aspects of hazardous industrial waste like its origin, distribution and environmental and health hazards. Hazardous waste from industrial sectors contains heavy metals, pesticides, radioactive materials and other chemicals, which are toxic, flammable, reactive, corrosive, or have explosive properties. Normally Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Boron etc are found in pulverized fly ash. Cement industries emit huge quality of fluoride into the environment. Large quantity of mercury emitted from caustic soda industries using mercury electrodes, from chemical industries, paper and pulp industries etc. Tin mines emit tin in the vicinity of the mines. The metals such as Cadmium, Lead, Chromium, Arsenic etc, if present in the body, are hazardous to the health. Presence of fluoride within the range of 0.5 to 1.5 ppm is very essential in water for health, if present in excess leads to Florosis. Fouride may cause harm not only through water but also through air by way of respiration and soil. In river estuaries, the concentration of metal traces will reach to a high degrees of contamination because of stagnant water, when industrial effluents are fed into rivers and streams. This paper throws light upon many more such factors and also suggest measures to control and manage hazardous waste.

Aim: The contemporary nature of terrorist attacks forces the rescue services to develop and enhance their operational potential to support the system which guarantees the safety of the civilians. The tasks of the State Fire Service (PSP) in Poland in the country’s anti-terrorist protection system indicate that these units play a key role in neutralizing the effects of terrorist attacks. The tasks of the formation include conducting rescue operations in the field of saving the lives and health of people and protection of property and environment in the situation of a sudden threat, as well as undertaking activities to identify threats, including contamination with chemical and radioactive substances, and conducting initial biological recognition activities. New tools and forms in terrorist threats require much broader skills and competences of PSP officers. Introducing full preparation of PSP officers to act during terrorist events may directly and indirectly strengthen the national anti-terrorist system. Methodology: A non-probabilistic research method with targeted selection using the PAPI (Paper And Pencil Interview) tool was applied. The study was conducted among the management of PSP. The survey involved thirty seven officers, thirty-two of whom were provincial commanders and/or their deputies, as well as officers performing management tasks. The remaining five respondents were officers holding managerial positions in the PSP Headquarters. Literature and legal regulations were reviewed and analysed. Results: In the study officers representing the commanding staff of the State Fire Service were included. A vast majority of the participants of this study claimed that terrorist threats in Poland are real. Which, in turn, resulted in the need to develop far reaching educational programs that adequately prepare fire-fighters to deal with terrorist threats and activities. Conclusions: State Fire Service officers are prepared to respond to many aspects of rescue operations, however, this continues to be an area of great research potential, where the focal point of discussion should focus on the improvement of all aspects of proper and effective response of the State Fire Service terrorist events. An innovative programme that addresses these concerns is the 3P model based on three domains: prevention, practice and psychotraumatology.

This report provides guidance on the application of the ICRP system of radiological protection to prolonged exposure situations affecting members of the public. It addresses the general application of the Commission's system to the control of prolonged exposures resulting from practices and to the undertaking of interventions in prolonged exposure situations. Additionally, it provides recommendations on generic reference levels for such interventions. The report also considers some specific situations and discusses a number of issues that have been of concern, namely: natural radiation sources that may give rise to high doses; the restoration and rehabilitation of sites where human activities involving radioactive substances have been carried out; the return to ‘normality’ following an accident that has released radioactive substances to the environment; and the global marketing of commodities for public consumption that contain radioactive substances. Annexes provide some examples of prolonged exposure situations and discuss the radiological protection quantities, radiation-induced health effects and aspects of the Commission's system of radiological protection relevant to prolonged exposure. Quantitative recommendations for prolonged exposures are provided in the report. They must be interpreted with extreme caution; Chapters 4 and 5 stress the upper bound nature of the following values: Generic reference levels for intervention, in terms of existing total annual doses, are given as <∼100 mSv, above which intervention is almost always justifiable (situations for which the annual dose threshold for deterministic effects in relevant organs is exceeded will almost always require intervention), and <∼10 mSv, below which intervention is not likely to be justifiable (and above which it may be necessary). Intervention exemption levels for commodities, especially building materials, are expressed as an additional annual dose of ∼1 mSv. The dose limit for exposures of the public from practices is expressed as aggregated (prolonged and transitory) additional annual doses from all relevant practices of 1 mSv. Dose constraints for sources within practices are expressed as an additional annual dose lower than 1 mSv (e.g. of ∼0.3 mSv), which could be ∼0.1 mSv for the prolonged exposure component. An exemption level for practices is expressed as an additional annual dose of ∼0.01 mSv.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive element in the 238U decay series that is found in high concentrations in certain geological formations such as Caves. Exposure to high concentrations of radon has been positively linked to the incidence
of lung cancer. This study used Electret ion chambers and the RAD7 continuous radon monitor to measure radon concentrations in the Cango Caves in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Measurements were taken during summer i.e. February 2004 and March 2005. The results for the radon activity concentrations range from the minimum of
about 800 Bq.m-3 to a maximum of 2600 Bq.m-3. The two techniques give very similar results, though the Electret ion chamber results appear to be consistently higher by a few percent where measurements were taken at the same locations. A
mathematical model has been developed to investigate the radon concentrations in the Cave. Diffusion and ventilation have been considered as mechanisms for explaining the distribution of radon concentrations. The ventilation rate in the Cave has been estimated under certain assumptions, and it is found to be about 7 ×
10&minus
6 s&minus
1 for the Van Zyl hall which is the first large chamber in the Cave. The radon concentration increases as one goes deeper into the Cave, but then becomes fairly constant for the deeper parts. The annual effective dose that the guides are exposed to in the Cave as a result of the radon concentrations, depends strongly on the time that they spend in the Cave and in which, halls they spend most of their time in the Cave. The initial results indicate an annual effective dose of 4-10 mSv, but this needs to be further investigated.