History of Nuclear Material Ashley Radcliffe

Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive element You can not see, taste, or smell it It is found in soil, rock, and water Rn

How Radon enters the home Radon usually enters homes through cracks and openings A small amount enters through well water Highest Radon levels are usually found in lower areas of a home such as a basement and crawl spaces

Health Effects Radon causes lung damage which can lead to lung cancer throughout your lifetime Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer There are no known short-term health effects from exposure to radon.

Radon Treatment Controversy Treatments utilizing radon-rich air or water have not been unequivocally embraced by modern medicine. The objective of the work is to examine factors that contribute to this continuing controversy. Medical evidence and patients' testimonials regarding effectiveness of radon spa treatments of various ailments, most notably rheumatoid arthritis are accumulating worldwide.

Radium is a highly radioactive chemical element Classified among the alkaline earth metals of the periodic table of elements. Radium is found in trace amounts in uranium ore, and it is significantly more radioactive than uranium

Radium Radium is used to treat some types of cancer. injected into a vein once a month The exact dose and schedule of carboplatin depends on your size, among other factors

Thorium Background Information Thorium was discovered by a chemist named Jons Jacob Berzelius Thorium is named after Thor, the Scandinavian god of war.

How does Thorium get into the environment? Natural thorium is present in very small quantities Where high concentrations occur in rock, thorium produces waste products such as mill tailings.

How people are exposed to Thorium People may inhale contaminated dust, or swallow thorium with food or water. Living near a thorium contaminated site, or working in an industry where thorium is used, increases your chance of exposure to thorium.

Health Effects Low to moderate level exposure to ionizing radiation is increased risk of cancer. Studies have shown that breathing in thorium dust causes an increased risk of developing lung cancer, and cancer of the pancreas. Bone cancer risk is also increased because thorium may be stored in bone.

Uranium is a very heavy metal which can be used as an abundant source of concentrated energy Uranium occurs in most rocks Uranium has a melting point is 1132°C.

How it enters A person can be exposed to uranium by inhaling dust in air, or ingesting water and food The average daily intake of uranium from food ranges from 0.07 to 1.1 micrograms per day.

Heath Effects Intakes of uranium exceeding EPA standards can lead to increased cancer risk, liver damage, or both. Long term chronic intakes of uranium isotopes in food, water, or air can lead to internal irradiation and chemical toxicity.

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Plutonium Discovered by G.T. Seaborg, J.W. Kennedy, E.M. McMillan, A.C. Wohl Name for the planet Pluto

What it is used for Plutonium is used as an explosive in nuclear weapons. One kilogram of plutonium is equivalent to 22 million kilowatt hours of heat energy, so plutonium is important for nuclear power.

How it enters the body People may inhale plutonium as a contaminant in dust. It is in water Most people have low inhalation of plutonium. People who live near government weapons production or testing facilities may have increased exposure. Plutonium exposure external to the body poses very little health risk.

External exposure to plutonium poses very little health risk since plutonium isotopes emit alpha radiation and almost no beta or gamma radiation. Internal exposure to plutonium is an extremely serious health hazard.

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Work Cited programs/risk-communication/posters/radon2.pdf programs/risk-communication/posters/radon2.pdf