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 Form 4 Chemistry: Radioactivity online lessons

Dangers of radioactivity

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Answer Text:
DANGERS OF RADIOCTIVITY.
-All rays emitted by radioactive isotopes have ionizing effect of changing the genetic make up of living cells.
-Exposure to these radiations causes chromosomal or genetic mutation in living cells.
-Living things should therefore not be exposed for a long time to radioactive substances.
-One of the main uses of radioactive isotopes is in generation of large cheap electricity in nuclear reactors.
-Those who work in these reactors must wear protective devises made of thick glass or lead sheet.
-Accidental leakages of radiations usually occur
In 1986 the Nuclear reactor at Chernobyl in Russia had a major explosion that emitted poisonous nuclear material that caused immediate environmental disaster
In 2011, an earthquake in Japan caused a nuclear reactor to leak and release poisonous radioactive waste into the Indian Ocean.
The immediate and long term effects of exposure to these poisonous radioactive waste on human being is of major concern to all environmentalists.


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