What is radio active pollution? Discuss ill-effects of non-ionising radiations and ionising radiations.

Explanation

Radioactive pollution is a special type of physical pollution of air, water or soil with radio active materials.
On the basis of their action on cells, radiations are divided into two categories :
1. Non-ionising radiations. These include ultraviolet rays (100-300 nm). These have low penetration power. These are known to cause :
(a) Sunburn (rupturing of sub-cutaneous blood capillaries, blisters, reddening of skin and injury to stratum germinativum).
(b) Snow blindness (damages eyesight due to damage to corneal cells).
(c) Inactivation of organic bio-molecules and formation of thymine-dimer in DNA.
(d) These are also known to cause skin cancer in countries like Australia lying in southern hemisphere, suppress the immune system, eye cataract and decrease crop yield.
Another cause of increasing amounts of UV-rays in the earth.s atmosphere is thinning of ozonosphere by chloride radicals formed by the disintegration of CFCs.,
2. Ionising radiations. These include X-rays, cosmic rays and atomic radiations. These have low wavelengths but high penetration power. These damage the living cells by ionisation (shifting the electrons from one to other bio-molecule). Their harmful effects are divided into two categories:
(a) Short range (Immediate) effects. These appear within days or a few weeks after exposure. The effects include loss of hair, nails, sub-cutaneous bleeding, changed metabolism, change in proportion of blood cells, dead tissues or death of the organism in high dose.
(b) Long range (Delayed) effects. These appear several months or even years after the exposure.
These include tumours, cancers, mutations, genetic deformities, shorter life span and developmental defects. These abnormalities may be inherited to the progeny.