Natural Radiation Sources

Nuclear activities not only occur due to humans but also occur by naturally. The main energy source of the Universe, Sun releases energy by the way of Nuclear explosions. Also under the Earth surface millions of tons radiactive chemicals lay on.


1- The Sun

Imagine a region the size of Asia exploding with a force equvalent to billions of magatons hydrogen bombs, with plasma temperatures reaching tens millions of kelvin and mass of a trillion kilometers per second. In the first few seconds, a blast of deadly X-rays is beamed toward the earth. Then a huge shock wave is lunched into space.

Such a outburst with an energy 10 trillions kw-hours, represents only a hunderedth of the sun's total energy output for one second. And yet it could supply the present energy reuirements of the US for forty thousand years. (B. Zirker, Journey from the Center of the Sun)

Solar flares can severely affect the earth and its surrounding magnetic field. In this case the X-rays from the flare caused a sharp drop in the height ıf the earth's ionosphere, the layer that reflects radio signals. They can destroy sensitive satellite electronics or even kill an astronaut working outside a space station. Thanks to athmosphere this intense radiation does not give severe harm to living organisms on the earth.

2- Radioactive Chemicals

Radioactivity was discovered near the turn of the twentieth century through the work of Wilhelm Röentgen (1895, discovers X-rays), Antoine Becquerel (1896, discovers radioactivity), Marie and Pierre Curie (1898, isolates polonium and radium), and Ernest Rutherford (1899 and following years, identifies alpha, beta, and gamma radiation). Since that time, use of radioactive materials has made significant impacts in such areas as biology, chemistry, medicine, energy production, and nuclear weapons production.

High-level radioactive waste (HLRW) includes fuel rods and associated material from commercial nuclear power generation. Transuranic (TRU) waste consists of elements with atomic numbers greater than that of uranium, including plutonium, neptunium, and americium. These materials were generated as part of the nuclear weapons program.

Waste that is below regulatory concern (BRC) consists primarily of short-lived materials that are used in medicine and research. Low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) is a catch-all category and consists of everything that is not included in the other waste categories. Low-level waste does not necessarily mean low activity waste, though much of it is. Certain low-level waste streams may contain high levels of radioactivity, such as resins, filters, and certain pieces of equipment from the nuclear power industry.(URL 2)