Radiation
From Captain of Industry Wiki
Radiation
| Type | Pollution |
| State | Virtual |
| Transported by | Magic |
| Stored in | Ethereal plane |
| Created in | None |
| Used in | None |
Radiation is a virtual pollutant in the game that slows Population by reducing the birth rate. It’s produced by overheated Nuclear Reactors (Nuclear Meltdown) and unsafely stored radioactive materials like Spent Fuel.
Sources
- Reactor Leaks: Occur during a Nuclear Meltdown, caused by maxed-out heat from excess Steam (High) or Steam (Super) and insufficient cooling water.
- Radioactive Materials: Generated when materials like Spent Fuel, Spent MOX, Plutonium, and Fission Product are stored outside a Radioactive Waste Storage, including during transport or at the Shipyard.
Effects on Population Growth
- Impact: Reduces the birth rate, not Health directly, slowing population growth.
- Averaging Period: Radioactive material effects are averaged over 4 months.
- Maximum Penalty: Total birth rate reduction can reach up to around -4 to -5 Growth under severe conditions.
Reactor Leaks
- Penalty: Each leak reduces birth rate by roughly 0.13 Growth per month (based on frequency), with effects lingering over time.
- Example: 1 leak per month ≈ -0.13 Growth; 10 leaks per month ≈ -1.3 Growth or more.
Radioactive Materials
- Penalty: Starts at 480 units of radiation (no effect below this), with every 800 units above adding 1 Growth penalty, capped at -2.5 Growth.
- Radiation Levels: Sum of exposed materials’ levels contributes to the total.
- Examples:
- 1000 units per month = -0.65 Growth ((1000 - 480) ÷ 800).
- 4000 units per month = -2.5 Growth (maximum material penalty).
| Material | Radiation Level |
|---|---|
| Spent Fuel | 2 |
| Spent MOX | 2 |
| Plutonium | 2 |
| Fission Product | 4 |
Management Tips
- Prevent Meltdowns: Ensure Nuclear Reactors have adequate cooling water and manage Steam (High) or Steam (Super) overflow.
- Safe Storage: Use Radioactive Waste Storage to contain radioactive materials, or reprocess them in a Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing facility.
- Minimize Exposure:
- Build reactors, reprocessing plants, and storage close together to shorten transport routes.
- Use Tier I belts for quick movement and avoid long belts.
- Assign a single small truck for transport to limit exposure time.
- Handle Moves Carefully: When relocating stored waste, move it gradually to avoid a sudden radiation spike from multiple trucks.
