The Environmental Tragedies Caused by Humans - Case Study Example

Environmental pollution due to Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster

Summery

Most of the environmental tragedies caused by humans don not have the adverse effects created by nuclear catastrophes. The emitted radiation is from such accidents poses critically acute and chronic jeopardise in the close environs and persistent perils on a wider scale over larger geographic locations. Radioactive pollution, which usually develops into airborne, is long-lasting, with half-lives ensuring pollution for several centuries.

Worries over potential nuclear calamities are majorly based on nuclear devices, normally those used to produce energy. Other problems encompass the passage of nuclear leftover and the impermanent storage of spent radioactive energy at nuclear power facilities. There is also concern that terrorists may aim radiation facilities or make a "dirty bomb” with the capability to scatter radiation over highly inhabited zones.

Among some of the radioactive releases of precise worry include cesium-137 and strontium-90, both having more than thirty-year half-lives. Also, iodine-131, with a mere 8days half-life can be devastating and causes cancers of the thyroid. Apart from high radioactivity, living organisms mistake cesium-137 for potassium. It implies that these radioactive elements are passed on up the food sequence, and the process leads to bioaccumulation. Strontium-90 has mimicry characteristics and often mistaken for calcium that is often deposited in bones, mainly leading to the growth of cancerous cells or impairment of the bone marrow. All these elements result from air, land and water pollution from nuclear disasters.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant accident that happened on 11 March and the subsequent days steered to the discharge of radioactive elements into the surroundings: into the air, in as radioactive gasses and as light radioactive elements spread into the air of whereas some of these items fell on the topsoil of the land in Japan. These events lead to the formation of lasting radioactive deposits. The elements that found its way into the marine environment, as liquid discharges into the ocean and tortuously because of fallout from dangerous sprays on the ocean surface spread over a wide area in the marine environment.

The Fukushima Daiichi accident led to grave air, land and marine environmental pollution with radioactive pollutants. Though, the pollution is generally limited to the areas within the Fukushima. Nonetheless, monitoring of pollutants in North America, the Pacific, and around globe suggest that they are radioactive contaminants are present though in small quantities possibly because of spreading. This would possibly cause environmental health concern or even ultimate above contextual radiation contact.

Land pollution

The pollution on land from the Fukushima Daiichi plant accident came from the air pollutions occasions. This happens where a portion of the radionuclides are spread into the atmospheres in as soluble gasses or fine particles and aerosols, then settle onto the land surfaces, founding radioactive soil deposits. This process of contamination can be shown in the following picture.

Image showing land contamination from nuclear the atmosphere

The land contamination from the Fukushima Daiichi plant accident happened in two forms, as dry deposits or wet deposits (Rosen 2).Dry deposits are created on the land surfaces irrespective of the orientation that is vertical or horizontal and nature that arises from contact with the polluted air, owing to the result of air movements. The concentration of the dry nuclear elements in the atmosphere is a major factor that determines the amount of the deposits in the goings and the length of time of the pollution. It is likely that Dry deposits formed in the structure interiors when the interior air was polluted.

On the other hand, land pollution in the Fukushima Daiichi plant accident could have come as a result of Wet deposits. These are formed on land zones where rain or snow during the dispersal of the radioactive plume carried these substances into the land. These contaminants happened due to the transportation of radioactive elements or soluble materials such as iodine through water droplets moving through the atmosphere. In this case, it has not impacted on the building interiors. The scattering of pollution on land surfaces due to wet deposits is inescapably variable over a small area, because of the movement of melting snow or rainwater. The deposition of these elements led to a pollution of Japanese land that has persisted after the overindulgence of the air impurities resulting from the accidental discharge.

These deposits have led to two key concerns including the permanent proliferation of ambient dose rate resulting from gamma radiation emitted from the radionuclides that are present in these deposits. These gradually decline over a period because of the decay of the radioactive elements that are the radionuclides forming up the first deposits (Rosen, 6). Furthermore, there has been contamination of farm produce in both short and extended periods.

The preliminary composition of the deposits after the Fukushima Daiichi plant accident was the same as the air pollution of although it majorly depended on the characteristics of these elements in the air, for instance, those gasses that remaining gasses from are noble gas that are chemically inert. According to IRSN analysis of the soil sample from the Iitate Maeta, which is within a radius of nineteen miles from the plant of the accident in NW direction, it shows that isotopic composition of the radioactive leaves dates back to March 2011 (7). There is a major alteration in the contribution of the various radionuclides to the total percentage of the deposits showing downward trends in the first forum months after the accident. Comparable variations were detected for the dose rate in the same location.

Chart showing deposits in the first four months according to IRSN.

Radioactive deposits on the land developing during the dispersal of the radioactive plume steered the pollution of the aboveground organism’s inclusion parts of the plants, and subsequently, plant yields anticipated for intake by herbivores and humans.

• Plant products

Vegetables including lettuce, spinach, leeks in farmlands were majorly impacted immediately after the incident. The extent of the pollution hinges on the concentration of the radioactive deposits, also the form of deposits, for instance, dry or wet form. IRSN states that with equal amount wet deposit is a less effective contaminant in comparison to dry deposit. The leaf pollution was instantly high after the materialization of these deposits; it then declined speedily (9). The new leaves after the incident had minimum damage, for instance, lettuce yield two months after the accident were less contaminated in comparison to fully grown leaves of the similar plants that had mature leaves during the incident.

• Herbivores

Infection of livestock and products milk, meat, eggs, among others ensues mainly through consumption of contaminated food crops: hay and, to a smaller degree, water. In overall, according to these the outcomes the contaminant in milk appear to have been comparatively restrained if compared to augmented pollution of grass to the northwest of the impaired nuclear facility(Rosen 18)

Marine pollution

The Fukushima accident posed the question How far the radioactive materials elements could spread, and could they possibly have an impact or epitomize a health disaster to individuals within and outside the location of the accident. In 2012, scientist reported identifying radioactive isotopes that could undoubtedly be drawn to Fukushima in Bluefin tuna found in the pacific. These fish species spawn and travel from the coast of japan to the coast of California where fishermen catch them for human consumption. These tuna were capable of carrying radioactive pollution all the way to California coast from Fukushima. It has often generated fear that pollution from Fukushima could have remained far devastating than the experts had suggested, and possibly could be disturbing surroundings in a global scale.

Huge water amounts were used in failed attempt to contain the massive harm that occurred as a result of the burning fuels reactors. It led to vast quantities of pollutants into the marine environment with persistent discharge, seepage underground, and evaporation into the atmosphere all ending up in the sea. According to Mondal in the month of April 2011, deliberate release of the radioactive water stood at slightly over 10000 tons (n.p). IRSN estimate that there was an all-time high of 15 PBq. as a result of the subsequent fallout. Irrespective of these calculations and estimates it is clear that Fukushima incidents are one of the single utmost radioactive releases into the sea ever to be witnessed. EIA reports compare the event to other c nuclear weapons initiatives and accidental releases; the results are evidently devastating. When compared to Chernobyl or the Sellafield radioactive release the Fukushima accident is positioned as one of the leading radioactive contaminants of the world’s waters.

The leaks also introduced radioactive substances into the nearby Pacific Ocean which as then spread all over the world deep ocean waters. Radioactive elements have been detected within the next seaport offshore the Fukushima Daiichi accident facility. In some location, the pollutions are beyond the WHO threshold for safe drinking water whereas the majority of the areas are below the thresholds and thus considered drinking water (Kratchman and Norton 3). The Japanese administration in a move to contain the accident has embarked on an initiating and execution of a “preventative and multi-layer” system to provide and halt further pollution and segregating of the already polluted zones.

There was also contamination of marine organisms. The waters north-east of the Fukushima facility remain the major global fishing zones with half Japan's seafood originating for these zone. Marine animals notably Fish displayed higher levels of radioactive isotopes particularly from release or discharge from the facility (Mondal n.p).

A picture showing Japanese experts surveying water near Fukushima facility.

It is frequently stated that the attenuation effect of the radioactive leftover released into the sea reduces the impact on the food web and environment. Nevertheless, the radioactive elements do not vanish through dilution but are merely dispersed over an extensive area (Kratchman and Norton 5). This is hazardous because of the following factors: because of the dispersion effect of radioactive pollution into a wider area, more individuals are possibly affected, as there is no harmless lowest threshold for the fallout.

Graphical picture showing sea water measurement of radioactive isotopes

It's worth nothing that even the least amount causes cancer in human after ingestion or when present in drinking water as well as food. Also, the trophic cascade steers a buildup of radioactivity in fish in the food chain higher up; these fish are human food. In essence, the amount of radioactive cesium in ocean present in the Pacific consistently rose from the date of accident for the next four months.

Recent studies on the contamination levels suggest that the radioactive substances leaking from the nuclear plant to the adjacent marine environment stands at astonishing 300 tons per day. In essence, this is a lot but the ocean containing vast amount of water enables simple dilution that reduces the concentration of radioactive isotopes within WHO levels for safe use. However, the worry is on the nearby zones. In this case, the Japanese should monitor fishing activities that would ensure fish products from areas with high concentration are avoided.

Air pollution

The release of radioactive isotopes into the air was as a result of four big blasts, smoke, the fire of the spent fuel pond, and evaporation of ocean water that was important in the attempts to cool the high-pressure reactors. The quantity of radioactivity in the adjacent air within the power plant was about 38,000 times more than the initial contextual radiation after and before the accident respectively. Additional thoughtful venting of some blocks resulted in extra air releases of nuclear elements in equal scales. Anzai reports that a week after the accident radioactivity quantity around the plant a reached high levels of more than 6,000 times compared to the average surrounding radiation (n.p).

Picture showing atmospheric dispersion of radiation

Several comparable studies according to IRSN report that Fukushima power plant accident emitted almost 250 percent of the total amount emitted by Chernobyl in the space of one week after the accident (Barletta n.p). This remains the largest discharge of radioactive elements in the world history. The radioactive releases initially measured after the earthquake but before the tsunami illustrates that the earthquake had previously caused considerable damage to the reactors, and was releasing airborne elements.

The global atmosphere has also suffered similar damages due to the radioactive elements carried away by prevalent wind tides as radioactive clouds, comparable to the other radioactive accidents in the past. IRSN reports that the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), a study on the rain from the radioactive clouds discharged about 80 percent of the total radioactive elements in the air the North Pacific Ocean (Ozawa n.p).Whereas mountain collections are protecting western Japan, large zones in north-eastern Honshu Island, such as the city of Tokyo, were mainly polluted through the nuclear fallout.

Conclusion

Many ecologists are against nuclear power since it can have devastating impacts to the environment. There are worries about radioactive discharges and waste and so on that are repeatedly cited as confirmation. Having discharged an enormous amount of synthetic radioactive isotopes into the air, land and marine surroundings, Fukushima is a good example that such an event is scrutinized. It is all about weighing the positives and negative impacts on the environment in the real world situation .gives us a very good opportunity to test this concern in a real-world setting.

The harm to the Fukushima nuclear facility that resulted in the discharge of radioactive elements was caused primarily by the earthquake with magnitude 9.0. The resultant tsunami experienced additional damage. The heat of the core resulting from power failure consequently resulted in distinct nuclear meltdowns in multiple reactors. Also, the spent fuel pond in another reactor was part of the cause of the problem. The Atmospheric discharge amounting more than 30 radioactive isotopes happened through the blasts in other three vessels. Also, the smoke from the subsequent fires, measured venting of the vessels to release pressure as well as the vaporization of enormous water amounts that were useful for cooling. The land and marine contamination resulted from fallout and ground water flow into the sea as well as precipitation and movement of wind.

The hazards from nuclear facilities or high and low wastes are to the surrounding air land and water eventually affects the living organism either directly or indirectly through food chains. Should proper procedures, risk assessments and feasibility studies not carried or waste not stored effectively, radioactive elements could ultimately end in marine environments, air, and land while contaminating vital survival resources on earth. It’s crucial to note Excessive radiation exposure resulting from fallout and accidents can damagingly influence plant life, animals, and humans. The use of nuclear power is often morally questioned because of its devastating impacts in case of accidents and the vast amounts of waste produced.

Work Cited

Anzai, Kazunori et al. "Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident: Facts, Environmental Contamination, Possible Biological Effects, And Countermeasures." Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition 50.1 (2011): 2-8. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

Barletta, William. "5 Years After Fukushima — Insights From Current Research". Elsevier Connect. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

IRSN, "Summary Of the Fukushima Accident's Impact on the Environment in Japan, One Year after the Accident." Institut De Radioprotection et de surete nucleaire 50.6 (2012): 354. Web.

Kratchman, Jessica and Chuck Norton. "FUKUSHIMA WATER CONTAMINATION- IMPACTS ON THE U.S. WEST COAST". U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 20.1 (2015): 2-20. Print.

Mondal, Puja. "Nuclear Pollution: Essay On Nuclear Pollution And Its Impact On Environment." YourArticleLibrary.com: The Next Generation Library. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

Ozawa, Harumi. "Nuclear Water: Fukushima Still Faces Contamination Crisis." Phys.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

Rosen, Alex. "Effects Of The Fukushima Nuclear Meltdowns On Environment And Health March 9Th, 2012". Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy 5.1 (2016): n. pag. Web.