In light of the recent disasters in Ukrainian Chernobyl and in Japanese Fukushima-1 and Fukushima-2, radiation protection has become almost another global problem for mankind. Even 50 years ago, radioactivity was some abstract property of some chemical elements, now even a schoolboy knows about spontaneous nuclear decay, as well as about the dangers of radiation.
The most dangerous alpha, beta and gamma rays can lead to serious damage to all body structures
(radiation sickness), malignant neoplasms, genetic disorders and death (acute radiation sickness).
Depending on the type of radiation, the means of protection against radiation also differ, since each of the particles is characterized by its penetrating ability. So, alpha particles having the maximum damaging effect, however, do not penetrate even through an ordinary sheet of paper. Glass can become an obstacle to beta rays. But gamma radiation has a high penetrating power. You can protect yourself from it with a lead or steel plate.
Protection against radiation involves not only a physical obstacle between the human body and the radiation source . Radioactive particles easily penetrate the body through the respiratory tract, digestive tract.
The methods of radiation protection, depending on the approach, are divided into several types:
- Time. Depending on the time that has passed since the moment of the explosion or other nuclear disaster, the radiation dose varies significantly: over 2.5-3 years it decreases by about 100 times.
- The same rule applies to the distance from the radiation source or the epicenter of the explosion. With an increase in the distance from the epicenter by a factor of 2, the radiation level decreases by a factor of 4.
- The mechanical barriers mentioned above are also good radiation protection. But most often it is not possible to determine what kind of radiation we are dealing with, and therefore it is more rational to use universal barriers (which, however, do not protect against gamma rays, but only weaken them): a brick or concrete wall of at least 40 cm thick, steel or lead partition from 8-13 cm, 90 cm of soil. The best screen from gamma radiation is water.
- In addition, there are personal protective equipment against radiation. These include a respirator and rubber gloves (from alpha radiation), a gas mask (beta radiation), plastic bags for all exposed areas of the body (neutron radiation).
- Given that radiation has the ability to penetrate the digestive tract, it is necessary to protect both water and food from it. For this, water containers must be hermetically sealed, the same applies to food: they must be sealed in polyethylene and must be washed with clean water before use, in order to wash off radioactive dust.
- There are also chemical remedies. Despite everyone's confidence, this is by no means iodine! If you take it in large quantities, you will only harm yourself, but vitamin complexes with iodine are quite acceptable. Enterosorbents are also useful, the simplest of which is activated carbon. According to some experts, tincture of Eleutherococcus has radioprotective properties . Mercaptoalkylamine-based drugs are drugs specifically designed to protect against radiation.
- To decontaminate various objects and surfaces, it is rational to use clean water and a soapy solution.
During the era of the development of nuclear energy, mankind has accumulated an impressive supply of information about the mechanism of action of various types of radiation, and methods of protection against them. However, none of them provides 100% protection against radiation, despite the fact that the danger of a nuclear explosion on the planet is quite real in the current imperfect conditions for operating nuclear power plants and reluctant disarmament of the Nuclear Club countries.