[en] Power generation from radioisotopes is one of the major applications of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and is in practice in over twenty countries including India. Other well-known applications of radioactive substances are in medicine, industry, scientific and industrial research programmes and nuclear weapons. The only serious disadvantage with the radioisotopes and their waste products is the constant release of radiation energy which contaminates the environment and endanger the life. An attempt has been made to identify the major sources of radioactivity in the environment and assess its potential impact on the environment. Recent developments in safety measures for prevention of contamination and control of radioactivity and in radioactive wastes management have also been discussed. (author)

[en] Various uranium recovery processes, viz. Brazilian process (HCL leaching), selective extraction of U, Japanese process, ORNL process and the Indian methods, recently developed, pertaining to the fertilizer industry are reviewed and their relative merits are discussed. Special attention has been paid to the recovery of uranium from the Indian and imported phosphatic rocks, showing the advantages, both from the pollution control and nuclear energy aspects. (K.B.)

[en] Radioactive materials are very widely used in medicine, industry, agriculture and scientific and industrial research besides their use as nuclear weapons. The radiation energy emitted from radioactive materials into the environment has severe hazards. Because of their unique characteristics, the contamination caused by them is not comparable to other commonly known pollutions. This paper deals with various salient features of the radioactive materials, their frequent applications, the degree of hazards due to contamination in the environment and the essential safety measures to be taken in handling and disposing of the radioactive materials. (auth.)

[en] Radioactive materials are very widely used in medicine, industry, agriculture and scientific and industrial research besides their use as nuclear weapons. The radiation energy emitted from radioactive materials into the environment has severe hazards. Because of their unique characteristics, the contamination caused by them is not comparable to other commonly known pollutions. This paper deals with various salient features of the radioactive materials, their numerous applications, the deqree of hazards due to contamination in the environment and the essential safety measures to be taken in handling and disposing of the radioactive materials. (auth.)