In a nuclear accident such as occurred at Chernobyl, the long- term biological damage is caused by
A) nuclear fission occurring within the biological cells.
B) alpha, beta, and gamma particles passing through biological cells.
C) the thermal energy produced by radioactive decay within biological cells.
D) the high energy vibrations of the water molecule that are caused by radioactive isotopes.
E) nuclear fusion occurring within the biological cells.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The long-term biological damage from a nuclear accident is primarily due to the ionizing radiation from alpha, beta, and gamma particles, which can damage or alter the DNA and other critical molecules within biological cells.

In a Nuclear Accident Such as Occurred at Chernobyl, the Long-