Impact of Marine Nuclear Pollution on Coastal Cities

Abstract

With the global energy transition, nuclear power has developed rapidly, but has further triggered the issue of marine nuclear pollution. Marine nuclear pollution spreads through ocean currents and the biological chain, affecting the durability of building materials, residents’ health, and seafood trade. This paper aims to systematically analyze the sources and diffusion mechanisms of marine nuclear pollution, evaluate the impacts of nuclear pollution on corrosion of coastal city building materials, health risks to residents, and trade effects, further explore the current status and development trends of nuclear wastewater treatment technologies and radiation-resistant materials, and propose a monitoring and policy coordination framework. This paper finds that marine nuclear pollution causes microcracks and aggravated corrosion in building materials, significantly increasing urban infrastructure maintenance costs; radioactive nuclides accumulate through seafood, raising residents’ risk of chronic cancer; the trade market has shrunk due to fear of nuclear pollution, affecting the economic development of coastal areas. By introducing efficient purification technologies and copper-based radiation-resistant materials, the spread of pollution and structural deterioration can be effectively reduced, ensuring ecological and urban safety. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical path for interdisciplinary governance of marine nuclear pollution, contributing to the coordinated realization of sustainable development and environmental security in coastal cities.