1. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Radiation: Sources, Effects and Uses The Foundation for Nuclear Studies Longworth 1539 November 4, 2011 10:00 AM Mark Pierson Associate Professor Virginia Tech 1

2. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  Why is there so much fear by the public about radiation?  Cannot see it, feel it, or sense it  Did not learn about it in school  Mysterious and unknown (like the bogey man)  Can cause serious health effects in LARGE amounts  Other ideas from the audience? Fear of Radiation - Radiophobia 2

3. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Alpha Particle (Helium Nucleus) Parent Nucleus 226 Ra Daughter Nucleus 222 Rn      Alpha particle decay α  High charge (+2), high mass (4 amu) particle  Deposits all of its energy in a very short distance Types of Radiation 3

4. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  Parent Nucleus Cobalt -60 Z= 27 Daughter Nucleus Nickel -60 Z= 28 Beta Particle (electron) Antineutrino  Beta particle decay β  An electron emitted from nucleus, negatively or positively charged (-1 or +1) Types of Radiation 4

5. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  Gamma Rays Parent Nucleus Cobalt-60 (Beta decay) Daughter Nucleus Nickel-60  Gamma Ray emission   A high energy photon Types of Radiation 5

6. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  X-Ray emission   A low energy photon Types of Radiation 6 X-Ray X-rays Bremsstrahlung

7. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  Electromagnetic spectrum Types of Radiation 7

8. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Ionizing radiation + Ion - Ion Electron ejected from orbit  Ionizing Radiation Types of Radiation 8

9. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  Penetrating Radiation Types of Radiation 9

10. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Alpha   Beta Gamma and X-rays Neutron PaperPlastic LeadConcrete n   Shielding radiation Types of Radiation 10

11. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  Units of radiation dose equivalent  U.S. unit is the rem or millirem (1 mrem = 0.001 rem)  International unit is the Sievert (Sv), milliSievert (mSv), or microSievert (μSv)  1 mSv = 0.001 Sv  1 μSv = 0.001 mSv = 0.000001 Sv  Multiply Sieverts by 100 to obtain rem  Divide mSv by 10 to obtain rem  1 mSv = 100 mrem = 0.1 rem Radiation Dose 11

12. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Radiation Dose 12  External Dose X-Ray Machine Image (film) Subject is not radioactive but has been exposed to a radiation dose (single chest xray = 5-10 mrem). After

13. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Radiation Everywhere 13 Radon X-Rays Consumer Products Nuclear Power Radioactive Waste Nuclear Medicine Solar Radiation Cosmic Rays Terrestrial Radiation Food & Drink Each Other    

14. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Average Dose in U.S. is 620 mrem/year 14

15. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  200 mrem/yr from Radon in your home  4 mrem from round trip airline flight from NYC to LA  200 to 400 mrem/yr for flight crews  10 mrem typical chest x-ray  1000 mrem = 1 rem from torso CT scan  30 mrem from food and water consumed throughout the year  100 mrem from a mammogram Radiation Perspective 15 We are showered in radiation daily

16. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Annual Radiation Limits due to Occupational Exposure 16 U.S. UnitsInternational Units Member of Population 100 mrem1 mSv Occupational Worker 5 rem50 mSv In Emergency Only25 rem250 mSv

17. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  How much radiation is produced?  Activity: decays per unit time (Curies, Becquerel)  How much energy is absorbed by tissue?  Dose  How much biological damage does the radiation do per energy absorbed in the tissue?  Dose Equivalent Measuring Radiation Effects 17

18. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Pathways into the Body 18

19. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  Do not buy potassium iodide pills  Do NOT take potassium iodide in the U.S. due to radioactivity released by the Japanese nuclear plants  KI is a drug and may have side effects  There is no benefit Potassium Iodide (KI) 19

20. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Radiation Damage to Cells 20

21. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Radiation Induced Water Decomposition 21 H2OH2O H2O+H2O+ e-e- H+H+ H2O2H2O2 OH o HO 2 OH - HoHo H2H2 WATER Incoming Radiation Production of free radicals within the cell can result in indirect effects

22. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  Radiation can have a direct effect on the DNA molecule in a cell by ionization or excitation of the molecule and subsequent dissociation of the molecule  Many other entities cause breaks in DNA  Temperature, chemicals, etc.  Human DNA suffer millions of DNA breaks daily  Most are repaired Damage to DNA 22

23. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  All radiation interactions do not result in cancer  Within a person’s body, 10 million cells are struck by ionizing radiation per minute from naturally- occurring radioactive isotopes (e.g., K-40, C-14) and background radiation  Cells have a high capability for repair through the action of the cell itself or replacement of badly injured cells by mitosis of healthy cells Outcomes of Radiation Interaction with Cells 23

24. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Cell Repair After Chronic Dose Damage 24 Time Radiation Dose Accumulated Irreparable Reparable

25. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Genetic Defects in Humans 25  NO direct evidence of radiation-induced genetic effects in humans, even at high doses.  Analyses indicate rate of genetic disorders produced in humans would be extremely low, on the order of a few disorders per million live born per rem of parental exposure

26. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Cancer Latency 26  Latency period is the time from exposure until the effect is exhibited  Radiation exposure does not produce cancer in every exposed person  Cancer latency can be 10 to 20 years later for high radiation doses Time (years) Risk Time radiation dose received Latent period Period at risk Risk curve 04 30 Leukemia latency and time at risk periods

27. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Linear No Threshold (LNT) Model 27 S = Supralinear – higher than expected damage at low dose levels L = Linear – damage is proportional to the dose, always some damage T = Threshold – below a certain dose level there is no biological damage H = Hormesis – low level doses can actually be beneficial to your health Known damage due to dose of about 10,000 to 100,000 mrem

28. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  Radioactivity limit for I-131 is 1 pCi/ml in water  A typical banana has 540 pCi, eating one-a-day could yield about 3 mrem/yr  Traces of I-131 detected in rain water and milk in U.S. from Fukushima have been well below limits  Impact to the U.S. population from the radioactivity released in Japan is essentially nonexistent  No known effects from radioactivity released during Three Mile Island accident to those within 50 mi Radioactivity from Fukushima 28

29. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  Who has suffered from food poisoning?  How much more would you pay for food if you could reduce significantly the probability of getting sick?  According to the Center for Disease Control, in 1999, food-borne disease was responsible for:  76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, 5000 deaths,$6-30 billion impact  UN Food Administration Organization  ~25% of worldwide food production is lost after harvesting due to insects, bacteria and spoilage Food Safety 29

30. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  New commercial technology to eliminate disease- causing germs  Comparable to pasteurization… but cold  Food is exposed to carefully controlled amounts of ionizing radiation (gammas, high-energy electrons)  Radiation damages DNA of microbes and parasites  Reduces disease-causing germs  Kills bacteria that cause spoiling  Slows or stops sprouting in vegetables Food Irradiation 30 uw-food-irradiation.engr.wisc.edu

31. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  When used in conjunction with proper food handling procedures:  food-borne diseases are reduced or eliminated  shelf-life is increased  the nutritional value of the food is preserved  the food does not become radioactive  dangerous substances do not appear in the foods Results of Food Irradiation 31

32. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program What Foods Can Be Irradiated? 32 Approval Year FoodFoodPurposePurpose19631963 Wheat Flour Control of mold 19641964 White Potatoes Inhibit sprouting 19861986 PorkPork Kill Trichina parasite 19861986 Fruit and Vegetables Insect ControlInsect Control Increase Shelf LifeIncrease Shelf Life Insect ControlInsect Control Increase Shelf LifeIncrease Shelf Life 19861986 Herbs and Spices SterilizationSterilization Bacterial pathogen reduction reduction 1990(FDA)1992(USDA)1990(FDA)1992(USDA) PoultryPoultry 1997 (FDA) 1999 (USDA) 1997 (FDA) 1999 (USDA) MeatMeat 20002000 EggsEggs Kill Salmonella 20032003 School Lunch Program E-coli & Salmonella

33. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Food Irradiation Facility 33

34. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Radiation Level Gauge 34

35. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Radiation Thickness Gauge 35

36. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Cereal Boxes 36  Filled using radiation level gauge

37. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Soda Cans 37  Radiation used in making and filling the cans

38. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Blue Topaz 38  Color created by neutron irradiation in a reactor

39. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Cosmetics 39  Irradiated to remove harmful bacterial impurities

40. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Environmental Protection 40  Electron beam cleans flue gas from fossil fuel plants  Electron beam ionizes SO 2 & NO x  SO 2 & NO x react with injected Ammonia ==> Solid fertilizer

41. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Comparision of Radiation Technology to… 41  Fortune 500 Companies

42. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Comparision of Radiation Technology to… 42  Major industries in U.S.

43. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program  Humans are made of radioactive material and we eat radioactive foods  We are exposed to radiation everywhere in our daily lives  Low levels of radiation are not harmful  Large amounts of radiation can cause cancer many years later, but no genetic effects  We use radiation technology for everyday uses that improve our lives  There is no reason to be afraid of radiation  You now know more than the rest of the general public --- so be empowered to use your knowledge Radiation Conclusions 43

44. Title Here Title Here, Optional or Unit Identifier Nuclear Engineering Program Questions ? 44

45. 45 What happens after Fukushima Daiichi natural disaster?

46. 46 U.S. public opinion of nuclear energy fell after Fukushima but is now reversing Luntz Global survey on behalf of Nuclear Energy Institute

47. 47 Survey results six months after Fukushima by Bisconti Research with GfK Roper are promising  62% favored used of nuclear energy for electricity generation. Those strongly favoring nuclear energy outnumbered those strongly opposed by two-to-one.  67% rate U.S. nuclear power plant safety as high  59% agree that we should definitely build more nuclear power plants in the U.S. in the future  85% agree that we should renew the licenses of those nuclear power plants that continue to meet federal safety standards  67% agree that it would be acceptable to build another nuclear reactor at the closest nuclear power plant to them