![]() ![]() In 2017 alone, according to a report from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, there were 171 “incidents of nuclear or other radioactive materials outside of regulatory control,” based on open source reports, 104 of which happened in the U.S. It might also harm workers if something accidentally goes wrong during a normal nine-to-five day. The risk arises because the same radioactive material that is beneficial could also be stolen or misplaced and find its way into trafficking rings or dirty bombs. Organizations such as the IAEA, along with domestic groups, are hoping to reduce reliance on such tech that could result in threats to safety. In the ensuing years, the security risks from such nonviolent applications have increased, but so have less emissive alternatives to radioactive technology. Near the dawn of the nuclear age, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)-a global organization that reports to the United Nations-was established to promote peaceful nuclear applications while minimizing weaponization risks. And of course, radiation is key to cancer treatment. A practice called “well logging” uses sealed radioactive sources to map the geology of holes oil seekers drill into the earth. Radiographic instruments can detect, say, defects in a city’s pipes in a similar way to an x-ray picking up a hairline fracture in your patella. ![]() The gamma rays emitted by cesium and cobalt can kill germs multiplying in your meat and make your apples last longer. Radioactive material is not always bad in a black-and-white way: it can be a useful tool. They play a part in cancer therapy, blood irradiation, medical and food sterilization, structure and equipment testing, geologic exploration and instrument calibration. These materials are not there for risky purposes, though. In Colorado, for instance, 27 buildings house scary-sounding elements such as cesium 137, cobalt 60, americium 241 and iridium 192. Our planet is home to many radioactive substances-not just in its geologic innards or its weapons caches but also in its hospitals, at its industrial sites and in its food processing plants.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |