Question

State three effects of radioactive pollutants.

Answer 1

Hint: Radioactive substances are naturally decaying elements. They emit alpha, beta or gamma rays during decay. The radioactive pollutants cause undesired change to the environment. The radioactive pollutants can alter the gene sequence or can cause the rapid division of the cells.

Complete step by step solution: Any material which harms the environment is known as a pollutant and the introduction of pollutants in the environment is known as pollution.
Radioactive pollutants mean the harmful sunstone present in the environment is radioactive. Radioactive pollutants are able to harm the whole ecosystem such as animals, humans, soil, water, and air.
The effects of radioactive pollutants are as follows:
-The radioactive pollutants make the soil unfertile so the soil becomes unfit for crop production or causes the DNA mutation of plants. Plants can die or seed growth can be retorted. All over affect the economic value of crop production.
-The radioactive pollutants can cause cancer of different types. They increase cell division in a drastic manner. The radioactive pollutants cause the formation of unwanted ions in the body which are responsible for the malfunction of many body parts. The effects on humans depend upon exposure to the radiation.
-The radioactive pollutants cause gene mutation by altering the gene sequence. Gene mutation causes inherited disease that passes on from generation to generation.

Note: Radioactive pollutants are produced from nuclear power plants, mining of radioactive fuels, and production of nuclear weapons, etc. The improper handling of a radioactive substance causes the vast release of radioactive material in the environment which causes pollution for a long period. Radioactive substances have beneficial uses also. The radioactive Tc is used as a tracer in the medical field. The mutation caused by radioactive elements is used to develop a new variety of crops in agriculture.