7 - radiation Flashcards
does canada have nuclear energy
yes, in ontario
does Saskatchewan have nuclear energy
no
is nuclear power considered clean energy
yes because they omit no greenhouse gases, but they do require mining, extraction, and long-term radioactive waste storage
three important concerns if you may have if you were living near a nuclear reactor power generator
1) radiation
2) radioactive waste disposal
3) emergency preparedness
which element is used to generate nuclear power
Ur-235 (uranium)
atomic number 92
T/F Saskatchewan is the 2nd largest global producer of uranium
true
largest global producer of Uranium
Kazakhstan
public health impacts - Chernobyl
20,000 cases of thyroid cancer reported in children or adolescents who were exposed, 5,000 of which were likely from those who had drank milk containing radioactive iodine after cows ate contaminated grass
radiation dose from chernobyl
30 mSv (mili sievert)
what caused the Fukushima power plant accident
earthquake caused a leak and it leaked into the water
public health impact of fukushima
radioactive pollution of the marine environment
two types of radiation
1) ionizing - has sufficient energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms and create ions
2) non-ionizing - has sufficient energy to move atoms in a molecule around or cause them to vibrate, but not enough to remove electrons
sources of ionizing radiation
particulate energy (neutrons, energetic protons, alpha or beta particles)
OR
electromagnetic energy photons (gamma rays, x rays)
sources of non-ionizing radiation
infared
microwaves
radiowaves
extreme low frequency waves (WIFI)
four major sources of public exposure to natural radiation
1) cosmic radiation - outer atmosphere
2) terrestrial radiation - earths crust
3) inhalation of radioactive gases produced by minerals in soil and bedrock
4) ingestion of trace amounts of radioactive minerals found in food and water
what defines the fundamental chemical properties of an element
an atom
alpha particle
a helium nuclei particle
atomic number 2, atomic mass 4
can be halted by a sheet of paper
beta particle
no atomic number, mass of -1
consists of electrons
can penetrate living tissue up to 2cm
gamma radiation
photons that can traverse the human body
what particle is the only particle that can make objects radioactive
neutrons. called neutron activation.
neutron radiation primarily occurs in a nuclear reactor where many feet of water provide effective shielding
isotope
same atomic number (number of protons) but different mass numbers (different number of neutrons)
have similar chemical properties but different mass and therefore physical properties
what is the most stable isotope of oxygen in our atmosphere
O16
radioisotopes
unstable isotopes that emit radiation
half life of a radioisotope
length of time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms of a specific radionuclide to decay
two common units of radioactivity
Becquerel (Bq), and Curie (Ci)
absorbed dose of radiation
amount of energy deposited per unit mass
units of radiation dose
rad (USA unit
gray (Gy) - international unit
effective dose
adjusted absorbed dose for radiation type and relative organ sensitivity
units of effective dose of radiation
sievert (SV), Rem (rem)
radion
radioactive gas from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock
number one cause of lungcancer in non-smokers
dose limit for occupational radiation exposure vs public exposure
on skin - 500 mSv/yr for occupation, 50 mSv/yr for public
on hands and feet - 500 mSv/yr for occupation, not defined for public
federal authorities for Canadian nuclear safety
Canadian nuclear safety commission
health canada
director general nuclear safety - department of national defence
act in canada outlining radiation protection regulations
nuclear safety and control act
government of Canada’s vision for radioactive waste management and decomissioning four priorities
