An online event titled 'Nuclear Threats and Protection Methods' was organized by the Occupational Health and Safety department of Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services. The event, moderated by Lecturer Ayşe Aydemir Yıldırım, Head of the Emergency and Disaster Management Program, was attended by Lecturer Dilek Aker, Head of the Nuclear Technology and Radiation Safety Program. Aker stated, “Nuclear power plants look scary, but as long as accidents and major incidents do not occur, they are the sources that emit the least amount of radiation during their normal operation.”
“Nuclear power plants are the lowest radiation-emitting sources during normal operation”
Lecturer Dilek Aker, Head of the Nuclear Technology and Radiation Safety Program, drew attention to the naturally occurring radiation sources we are exposed to; “The most common radiation source we are exposed to is Radon gas. Those living in basements are particularly exposed. As a protection method, it is necessary to ventilate the house frequently, seal cracks, or avoid living in places like basements. Elements like medical X-rays or Uranium from the soil, cosmic rays, and rays from the sky are found in many consumer products. Our bodies contain different radioisotopes. For example, a banana has the Potassium-40 isotope. All of these affect us as radiation, but you would only experience radiation poisoning if you ate 170 bananas every day for a year. Nuclear power plants look scary, but as long as accidents and major incidents do not occur, they are the sources that emit the least amount of radiation during their normal operation,' she stated.
“Radiation falls outside the spectral sensitivity of the human eye”
Lecturer Dilek Aker, mentioning that we cannot see radiation because it falls outside the spectral sensitivity of the human eye, said: “A light bulb can produce and emit light. A radioactive substance produces radioactivity and emits radiation. Both spread through waves. There is visible light, and this (radiation) remains beyond that visible light. Radiation falls outside the spectral sensitivity of the human eye. For example, we cannot see earthquake waves, but animals start to cry out or even tear themselves apart a while beforehand, or a hawk, for instance, sees this wave from above. For example, dogs see whether a distant being in the dark is a human, an animal, or harmful, much like a thermal sensor. We cannot see radiation simply because it is outside the spectral sensitivity of the human eye. We call it harmful because its energy is higher than light energy,' she explained.
“Lead is an excellent radiation shield”
Lecturer Dilek Aker made notable recommendations on how we should protect ourselves from radiation. Aker:
- In radiotherapy, we must protect the area that will not be irradiated.
- Lead-lined glasses should be worn to prevent cataracts in the eyes.
- We should use gloves to protect our hands from harm.
- If a young patient is to be irradiated, their reproductive organs must be protected. Specifically, lead-lined products should be used. This is because lead is an excellent radiation shield.
- In radiation accidents, we should wash the contaminated or suspected area with plenty of water. Water is a very good shielding material.
- Clothing should not be touched; it should be removed there, and protective gloves should also be removed, but we should not throw them away. They need to be stored in a dry air repository for at least 60 days.
- If you experience symptoms such as vomiting or nausea, you should seek immediate medical attention. Minor radiation effects may appear a few weeks later.
- In the event of a nuclear leak or explosion, public precautions include lying face down in a ditch or against a wall as soon as you feel the explosion if you are outdoors. We must definitely protect our faces. There will be a purple light around, and we must absolutely not look at that light.
- To protect yourself from the wave generated during the explosion, you should cover your ears as much as possible.
- We should not leave skin exposed and cover our bare areas. Then, immediately head to a shelter and cover our respiratory tracts with a cloth. If we are in a car, as soon as we see a bright light, we stop the vehicle and engine, and protect all parts of our body with our backs turned to the window. We say, 'Lie down, cover, and shelter.'
- Finally, for a period, we should not eat products grown on the soil and avoid open water sources.
The event concluded after participants' questions were answered.