The Most Radioactive Places on Earth

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Who on Earth is exposed to the most ionizing radiation?
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I’m filming a documentary for TV about how Uranium and radioactivity have shaped the modern world. It will be broadcast in mid-2015, details to come. The filming took me to the most radioactive places on Earth (and some places, which surprisingly aren’t as radioactive as you’d think). Chernobyl and Fukushima were incredible to see as they present post-apocalyptic landscapes. I also visited nuclear power plants, research reactors, Marie Curie’s institute, Einstein’s apartment, nuclear medicine areas of hospitals, uranium mines, nuclear bomb sites, and interviewed numerous experts.

Notes about measuring radiation:
Sieverts are a measure of ‘effective dose’ – that means they measure the biological impact of the energy transferred to tissues from radiation.

Obviously I owe a debt to the fantastic chart made by xkcd, which inspired my visual approach to this video.
https://xkcd.com/radiation/

DOSES MAY VARY
The level of radiation varies widely around the world depending mainly on altitude and geology (excluding nuclear accidents).

Estimates of particular doses also vary. All numbers reported in this video should be taken as order of magnitude only.

The most contentious claim may be that smokers receive the highest dose of ionizing radiation. This is not a whole body dose, but a dose to the lungs as specified in the video. References are here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_tobacco
http://www.rmeswi.com/36.html

Special thanks to:
Physics Girl: https://www.youtube.com/physicswoman
MinutePhysics: https://www.youtube.com/minutephysics
Natalie Tran: https://www.youtube.com/communitychannel
Bionerd23: https://www.youtube.com/bionerd23
Nigel and Helen for feedback on earlier drafts of this video.

Music is “Stale Mate”

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About the Author: Veritasium

36 Comments

  1. I watched this clip 2 years ago, never thought that ukraine war would occur someday at that time. A person is smart, People Are Dumb.

  2. So smoking is not only disgusting, but also makes you toxic to everyone around you xD I'm so glad I to have never fallen into the peer pressure hahahaha

  3. Wouldn't the type of radiation matter too as far as dosage? With protective gear, you can withstand a lot of alpha and beta particles, because they don't penetrate or don't penetrate very deep. Gamma and neutron radiation can go right through the human body and many other materials.

  4. Ok, I know this video is talking about the most radiated places on earth but I feel the need to talk about the thumbnail. What the thumbnail shows is a human with no skin protection other than a gas mask. Now for 2 out of the 4 radioactive particles gas mask would protect their face in that area. The rest of their body is still almost uncovered.

    To talk about the different kinds of radioactive particles and what they do to your body:

    Alpha particles are the largest of all of the different kinds of radioactive particles and can really only do damage if inhaled or go through an open cut. So the gas mask in the thumbnail would protect this person.

    Beta particles burn the skin of any exposed part but are easily blocked. So the gasmask would stop the burning in the area it covers but every other exposed portion of skin would be burned if exposed.

    Then there are gamma rays which don't give a damn about a gas mask and will pass straight on through. Now these particles aren't super dangerous in terms of their Q value but can easily be absorbed into your body. These are the rays are used in X-rays and aren't super dangerous in small doses.(I mean really small, your x-ray barely will do anything to you).

    Now one of the lesser known radiation types is neutron radiation and this stuff is really dangerous. Mainly because it still has the sheer penetrability power of a gamma ray but also can't be stopped by lead. One of the easiest ways to stop a neutron particle would be to jump into a pool.

    In conclusion the thumbnail doesn't add up. Thanks for the awesome content Veritasium I just wanted to inform people that a gas mask is not sufficient against radiation.

  5. you guys walk in the hospital in full suits.some of the grandpas that live near walk in the city while smoking a cigar

  6. This video was the reason for me to quit smoking , It's been 3.5 months since the last cigarette I've smoked , thanks so much !!!

  7. I know he canā€™t go into Chernobyl itself and see it because of how dangerous it is, but I expected there to at least be a mention of the elephantā€™s foot.

  8. Even after 36 years, 2 days in the basement will give you radiation poisoning and 1 month will give you 2 sieverts but since it's 1 month you won't die since the body gets rid of radiation if it's a little at a time not like at the site, at the site if was giving off 80 milisieverts a second, meaning 40 hours in that base ment is 1 second in the chernobyl core at 1986 April 26

  9. ā€œThe mask is overkill, itā€™s just to stop radioactive dust going into my lungsā€ Oh right, ye thatā€™s not important or anything šŸ˜‚

  10. Get cobalt magnets and a semicircle stainless steel bowl. Surround the magnets around the bowl on outside.. Then cut a small hole on bottom. Get a 100 watt only heat rod from amazon for 10 dollars. the 100 Wat rods go about 280 degrees normally (safe) however put the rod in the hole on the center of bowl. Then attach a 4 ft nickel rod that cost 5 bucks. a nickel rod can support 1500 degrees. after attaching nickel rod to 100 wat heat rod. plug it in. The cobalt magnets will force a curie effect. all of the sudden under 5 seconds the 100 watt rod is reaching over 1200 degrees because the magnetic field is going nuts with friction.. and also the field is being forced after the explosion back to center because the magnets are pulling it back like the sun. You now have over 1000 watts of energy at only 100 watts.. cost to make is about 50 dollars. Now put that over 1000 degree nickel rod in a water tank to boil water or make steam (free heat almost).. And screw the energy department. YOu might want to get a giger counter to check because it might not need uranium to have safe effect (as hint). When vibrating electrons and heating material the effects are the same as a small reactor. I built it by accident a couple years back looking to make heat on no energy. Here is you easy stop guide.. and screw the system.vv

  11. Get cobalt magnets and a semicircle stainless steel bowl. Surround the magnets around the bowl on outside.. Then cut a small hole on bottom. Get a 100 watt only heat rod from amazon for 10 dollars. the 100 Wat rods go about 280 degrees normally (safe) however put the rod in the hole on the center of bowl. Then attach a 4 ft nickel rod that cost 5 bucks. a nickel rod can support 1500 degrees. after attaching nickel rod to 100 wat heat rod. plug it in. The cobalt magnets will force a curie effect. all of the sudden under 5 seconds the 100 watt rod is reaching over 1200 degrees because the magnetic field is going nuts with friction.. and also the field is being forced after the explosion back to center because the magnets are pulling it back like the sun. You now have over 1000 watts of energy at only 100 watts.. cost to make is about 50 dollars. Now put that over 1000 degree nickel rod in a water tank to boil water or make steam (free heat almost).. And screw the energy department. YOu might want to get a giger counter to check because it might not need uranium to have safe effect (as hint). When vibrating electrons and heating material the effects are the same as a small reactor. I built it by accident a couple years back looking to make heat on no energy. Here is you easy stop guide.. and screw the system.vv

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