Nuclear Emergency: A Review of Radioactivity in Human Ecosystem

Abstract

One of the serious impacts on the environment and human health is the proper evaluation of radioactivity from elevated naturally occurring isotopes or those from industrial activities. Radionuclides produced from nuclear explosions and nuclear facilities when released into the environment may reach the human body through the food pathways. Radionuclides from environmental sources have the ability to cause a hazard to human health through food sources. There is the need for radiological estimation for transfers from the vegetative covers through the human ecosystem. The assessment models are subdivided mainly into three categorical states; that is from the soil-plant transfer, the transfer to animals, and spatial models. Radionuclides may enter the human ecosystem through atmospheric releases from nuclear facilities. Freshwater contamination happens via the release of water bodies which may affect aquatic lives. Various assessment models have been developed based on the fallout deposition from the Chernobyl accident, however, the distinct uncertainties involved in propagating this data to a completely different geographical location cannot be ignored. This is a review paper that analysis the Absalom model, its application in system assessment models, and how they can be applied in country-specific data to achieve a realistic model prediction in food safety from radionuclide release and the need for further research.