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Nuclear fuels: great, magnificent but very dangerous!

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 By Emma O'Donnell (Y11 Ta 2002)

Uranium is the fuel for nuclear power stations.  Nuclear fuels are a very efficient source of energy.  However the waste product is very radioactive and harmful to our health.

How is radiation harmful?

When radiation collides with air molecules or molecules in our body it knocks electrons away forming particles with a charge called ions.  Doses of radiation are measured in grays (Gy). One gray is equal to the amount of radiation that releases 1j of energy per kg of matter.

How does this affect our health?

When this happens in our bodies, it kills cells or causes them to mutate.

 What main illnesses are caused?

Radiation sickness: A large dose of radiation over a short period of time kills millions of cells in your gut and blood cells and bone tissues. Signs of radiation sickness are vomiting, tiredness, loss of appetite, hair loss, and bleeding of gums.  It can cause death within weeks.

Delayed effects of ionising radiation are manifested in many organs, bone marrow, kidneys, lungs, and lens of the eye.

Cancer and leukaemia result from this.

Cancer: Small doses of radiation over a long period of time, gives the mutated cells the chance to multiply. They show up as a lump or tumour called cancer.

Leukaemia: This is cancer of the blood, and the blood forming tissues. It is caused by overproduction of white blood cells.

CHERNOBYL  April 1986 What happened? A nuclear reactor exploded. Result: A mixture of various isotopes escaped from the reactor and spread across the World.  The radiation was carried by rainwater, plants and food. Ten months. After the incident the area around was still radioactive.

Click here to see a picture of a nuclear bomb being tested  or here.

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