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Harvey D. Herbert Jr.

9 Gold Araling Panlipunan

Effects of Radiation to Agriculture:


The limitations of this discussion would be cited among the three of the given Items:

history of nuclear radiation accidents


possible radioactive contamination
possible food chain contamination

History of Nuclear radiation accidents:


It is furthermore defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as having a
significant effect on people and among to its environment. Examples include lethal effects to individuals,
large radioactivity release to the environment, or reactor core melt." The prime example of a "major
nuclear accident" is one in which a reactor core is damaged and significant amounts of radioactivity are
released, such as in the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

Following the 2011 Japanese Fukushima nuclear disaster, authorities shut down the nation's 54 nuclear
power plants. As of 2013, the Fukushima site remains highly radioactive, with some 160,000 evacuees
still living in temporary housing, and some land will be unfarmable for centuries. The difficult cleanup
job will take 40 or more years, and cost tens of billions of dollars.
Possible R Radioactive contamination
The Hanford site represents two-thirds of the United States' high-level radioactive waste by volume.
Nuclear reactors line the riverbank at the Hanford Site along the Columbia River in January 1960.
As of 2013, the Fukushima nuclear disaster site remains highly radioactive, with some 160,000 evacuees
still living in temporary housing, and some land will be unfarmable for centuries. The difficult cleanup
job will take 40 or more years, and cost tens of billions of dollars.
Radioactive contamination, also called radiological contamination, is the deposition of, or presence of
radioactive substances on surfaces or within solids, liquids or gases (including the human body), where
their presence is unintended or undesirable (from the International Atomic Energy Agency - IAEA -
definition).

Such contamination presents a hazard because of the radioactive decay of the contaminants, which emit
harmful ionising radiation such as alpha particles or beta particles, gamma rays or neutrons. The degree of
hazard is determined by the concentration of the contaminants, the energy of the radiation being emitted,
the type of radiation, and the proximity of the contamination to organs of the body. It is important to be
Harvey D. Herbert Jr. 9 Gold Araling Panlipunan

clear that the contamination gives rise to the radiation hazard, and the terms "radiation" and
"contamination" are not interchangeable.

Contamination may affect a person, a place, an animal, or an object such as clothing. Following an
atmospheric nuclear weapon discharge or a nuclear reactor containment breach, the air, soil, people,
plants, and animals in the vicinity will become contaminated by nuclear fuel and fission products. A
spilled vial of radioactive material like uranyl nitrate may contaminate the floor and any rags used to wipe
up the spill. Cases of widespread radioactive contamination include the Bikini Atoll, the Rocky Flats
Plant in Colorado, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the Chernobyl disaster, and the area around the
Mayak facility in Russia. adioactive Contamination:

Risks to the marine food chain


*from on-going radiation contamination problems at the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan

Some fish with detectable radiation contamination have reached the shores of North America. The fish
were likely contaminated from swimming through the plume of contamination in the North Pacific caused
by on-going leakage of radioactive contaminated water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant in
Japan. The levels of radiation contamination in the samples that were tested were below levels deemed
actionable by government.
Radiation contamination of the ocean from Fukushima has been on-going continuously since the horrific
earthquakes and tsunami that seriously damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant 11 March 2011. The
existing structure is in a precarious state - with tons of radioactive fuel that needs to be transferred to a
more safe location - and the risk of additional serious nuclear incidents or accidents remains a real on-
going danger.

Should the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant be used, even if it would make such risk to
public health?
The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was a focal point for anti-nuclear protests in the late 1970s and 1980s.
The project was criticised for being a potential threat to public health, especially since the plant was
located in an earthquake zone, and because a volcano formation was found near the location of the plant.
However, in 2016, various senators along with a few media personnel inspected the Bataan Nuclear
Power Plant for a possible bid to open it to for public use. Inspecting senators told media that the power
plant was still in good condition. It was later found that more than 2,000 defects were confirmed, while
areas that were in 'good condition' were last inspected by nuclear and infrastructure experts last 2007. It
was also suggested that solar and wind power was cheaper than operating the nuclear power plant. Wave
energy was also suggested, instead of operating the nuclear power plant. Also, it was noted that the plant's
energy contribution will be minimal compared to renewable energy plants if the nuclear plant will be
operated. Due to this, members of the Philippine Senate released statements that ultimately divided the
senate position on whether the nuclear plant will be operated in the future or not.
Harvey D. Herbert Jr. 9 Gold Araling Panlipunan

In the bidding of the nuclear Power Plant, it should be suggested that the needed repairs for the Nuclear
Power plant should be the one and foremost be eradicated in the bidding so that the minimal and
advantageous cost on the effects of the Power Plant would be having a good cause besides of the burden
caused by the not operated project.
Thus, a furthermore research and study among the location should be studied, among the location on the
fault line , is one of the factor be considered but then, no one would prevent unless it would be used and
be having a good effect on Filipinos.

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