Mutants and Superpowers: Radiation on the Big Screen

If there’s anything I’ve learned from Hollywood lately, it’s that a strong dose of radiation can do just about anything. Superhero movies are all over, and as blockbusters based on nostalgic comic book characters continue to fill theatres and set records, I can’t help but notice how much reference to radiation is made.  Radiation is responsible for Bruce Banner’s transformation to the Hulk, the fateful spider bite that begins Peter Parkers career as Spiderman, and shows the Avengers the way to the Tesseract – an all-powerful energy source that threatens earth.

Radiation continues to play an important role in modern media. source

Even with the knowledge that fiction is generally much more fun to watch than reality, why is radiation such a staple for script writers?  One possible explanation is the mysterious nature of radiation.  Scientists are still filling in the gaps about how radiation really affects humans and animals.  Long-tem low-level radiation exposure is an especially mysterious realm, due to the fact that so much time is required for testing and large man-made radiation sources have only been around since the early 1900s.

What we can take away is that Hollywood’s version of radioactive effects is very different from what really happens in the natural world.  Let’s take the example of genetic mutation.  We all know the story: ____ normal person is accidentally exposed to ____ source of radiation and instantly acquires ____ power.  The natural world argues that there simply isn’t enough time for this to happen. That’s because radiation affects the human body at the cellular level. 

Peter Parker and the radioactive spider. source

Radiation definitely makes changes to cell structure either by directly changing molecules or by creating charged particles that travel around the body and make changes (known as free radicals).  Serious problems can arise when radiation makes changes in strands of DNA, the microscopic blueprints of cells.  In these cases, radiation can cause cancer if the cell is not completely killed.  Cancer is produced if radiation creates an error in the DNA blueprint that contributes to eventual loss of control of cell division, and the cell begins dividing uncontrollably. This effect might not appear for many years – just as many other effects from radiation including cell mutations.

Cellular mutation is not only a regular occurrence in the natural world, it is also serves as the base of evolutionary change.  As random cell mutations occur due to environmental effects such as radiation or just biological functions, only the fittest survive.  Successful and efficient organisms (and their constituent cells) are able to survive and reproduce while weaker ones die out.  Although minor evolutionary changes can occur quickly in isolated organism groups, major adaptations can take millions of years.  Although we understand that this time frame could be problematic for plot development, overnight genetic mutations just can’t happen.

Blue eyes are a product of recent genetic mutation; only 6,000-10,000 years ago changes to the human genome allowed for light-colored eyes. source

Surprisingly, one recent scientific discovery paints a very Hollywood-esque picture of mutation.  A medical study on the inhabitants of the Kerala peninsula in India focused on the effects of very high background radiation on humans.  This area contains the highest background levels anywhere in the world – more than ten times the global average.  The data collected shows relatively normal levels of cancers, but increased levels of cellular mutation that gets passed down from mothers to children.  Furthermore, the surrounding wildlife was observed to contain accelerated mutation rates.  Scientists concluded that the heightened radiation level here has been linked to accelerated mutations for many organisms, creating an evolutionary hotspot for at least the last 60,000 years.  That means that more new organisms are found here as well as heightened levels of adaptation for existing organisms.

Even though overnight genetic mutations are unlikely, radiation is definitely effective to speed up mutation rates.  In the end, although spontaneous superpowers derived from radiation may not match physical phenomena, they sure are fun to watch.

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D-tect Systems is a supplier of advanced radiation and chemical detection equipment sold around the world. www.dtectsystems.com.

Radioactive Scrap Metal – a Global Issue

The world is becoming a smaller place. The accelerating pace of technology is pulling people together through communication, travel, business, and industry. Globalization makes it easier to for us to share – a phenomenon with both positive and negative implications. In the great melting pot of world industry, radiation contamination is proving to be an increasingly harmful side-effect. 

As discussed in the previous post, much of the radiation contamination of consumer goods has been linked to contaminated scrap metal. Metal used in the production of goods comes from a variety of sources and almost invariable contains a large amount of recycled materials – a fact that efficiency and environmental controls demand. The problem is that long-lasting radioactive scrap from sources such as medical equipment, food processing, mining equipment, and even decommissioned power plants, is making its way into smelters. The metal turned out from these contaminated batches spreads to other consumer goods – most of which are never checked for radiation.

A scrap metal foundry.  source

Another aspect that further complicates the scrap contamination problems is size – the scrap metal market is worth over $140 billion¹. With so much material in flux, an unreported contamination event can send radioactive material to unknowing manufacturers across the globe.  Although the US has stopped over 120 major radioactive shipments since 2003², there is ample evidence that radioactive scrap is still slipping through the cracks.  For example, a Texas recycling facility accidentally created 500,000 pounds of radioactive steel byproducts after melting metal contaminated with cesium-137 according to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission records for 2006.

Scrap yards and recycling operations truly are the primary line of defense against rogue radiation but most of these facilities are under no specific federal government or state regulations and reporting is often voluntary if problems are found.

We’ve seen the results of contamination close at hand – at a recent visit to the nearby landfill, we were told that almost every load of scrap metal that comes in sets off radiation detectors and has to be scanned a second time.

To aid in this crucial detection stage of industry and commercial operations, D-tect Systems has designed several radiation detectors that are sensitive and easy to mount.  The Rad-D is currently being used in hospitals, factories, embassies, and waste disposal locations.  It can easily be mounted to scan conveyor belts and integrate with existing security systems.  The Rad-DX, D-tect’s newest product, is smaller and more visually innocuous.  The Rad-DX also has novel mesh-networking abilities that allow an operator to monitor multiple radiation detectors in real time or look at past event logs.   

The Rad-D is easily mounted to a wall or pole and monitors for radiation in real time.

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D-tect Systems is a supplier of advanced radiation and chemical detection equipment sold around the world. www.dtectsystems.com.

1: http://atrisk.net/radioactive-scrap-metal-is-new-threat-to-global-supply-chains/

2: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-19/nuclear-risks-at-bed-bath-and-beyond-show-hidden-danger-of-scrap

Radon: Radiation on the Home Front

It seeps up through the ground, pooling in basements and cellars. It can infiltrate our homes and even our lungs, spreading radiation with every ripple of breeze. Present in nearly every country of the world, this substance is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It kills thousands every year and requires special equipment to locate.

Although this sounds like something from a cheesy science fiction film, radon gas is a real threat to people all over the world. Radon-related diseases cause about 21,000 deaths per year in the US¹ (almost twice the number of drunk driving deaths), meaning in most countries only smoking causes more deaths from lung disease.

Deaths Per Year - Source: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html

The first reason radon is dangerous is because it’s all around us. The EPA estimates that 1 out of every 15 homes in the US has elevated radon levels² . In almost every country radon is the largest natural source of human exposure to ionizing radiation and makes up over half the radiation each person is exposed to in a year. Since radon is a decay product of uranium, it is more often found where there are large concentrations of granite, like those occurring in Ireland and the UK, Canada, and some US states such as Iowa and Pennsylvania.  

Radon Test Kit - Source: http://visualsonline.cancer.gov

The physical properties of radon also contribute to its effect on people.  Radon is one of the most dense gases on our planet – over 8 times denser than the atmosphere at sea level. This causes it to pool at the bottom of whatever container it is in. Because of this, elevated radiation levels from radon are found in the lower levels and basements of buildings. It also means that when breathed in, radon gets trapped in the bottom of the lungs and has more potential to do damage. Radon emits mostly alpha radiation which is made up of fast-moving particles with more mass than beta or gamma radiation. Alpha radiation doesn’t penetrate very well – it can be stopped by as little as a piece of paper or human skin. So the real risk to humans from alpha radiation is when it gets inside us and starts to affect our internal organs. Because it is a gas, almost all the damage done is in the lungs and can lead to lung cancer.   

The good news about radon is that it is easily detectable and many options are available to lessen radon risks in the home. Short- and long-term radon test kits are inexpensive and commercially available throughout the world. A short-term test (which takes several days) gives the homeowner an estimate of radon concentration in the home, and a subsequent long-term test (which takes a year or more) can give a more precise measurement. There are varying ‘action levels’ of radon throughout the world, but most countries recommend taking some action to reduce radon if average concentrations are above 4 pCi per liter of air³. Solutions to lower radon concentrations include venting air from lower stories of a house or pressurizing areas to keep external gases out.

An example of radon venting from the US EPA.

Although radon may sound scary and looks pretty bad on paper, many people can significantly lower their risk of radiation exposure from radon. Good information is widely available on this subject, including the World Health Organization’s Radon Handbook and A Citizen’s Guide to Radon by the US Environmental Protection Agency.  

1) http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html

2) http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html

3) http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs291/en/index.html

D-tect Systems is supplier of advanced radiation and chemical detection equipment sold around the world. www.dtectsystems.com.