Radiation is energy that comes from a source and travels through space at the speed of light.
This
energy has an electric field and a magnetic field associated with it, and has wave-like properties. You
could also call radiation “electromagnetic waves”.
Radiation and Your Health
Although high doses of ionizing radiation can be harmful to human health, radiation and radioactive
materials are used every day in medical settings to improve health outcomes and even save lives.
Radiation is used in many medical imaging procedures. Medical imaging procedures deliver x-ray beams,
a form of ionizing radiation, to a specific part of the body creating a digital image or film that shows the
structures inside that area like bones, tissues, and organs. Healthcare providers can use these images for
diagnostics, finding out what is causing your health problem, or sometimes to guide treatment. Imaging
procedures are usually performed in radiology or imaging centers in hospitals or clinics by a radiologist,
a medical professional who is trained and certified to conduct imaging studies with radiation. Medical
radiation practices and equipment are regulatedexternal icon by state and federal programs to ensure
safety.
Benefits and Risks
There are possible short-term and long-term risks from the very low doses of radiation exposure from
imaging procedures. Ionizing radiation can damage cell DNA, but in the low amounts used in each
imaging procedure cells can normally repair themselves. When cells get too much radiation over time,
this damage can lead to cancer.
Although we all are exposed to ionizing radiation every day, any added exposures, including from
imaging procedures, slightly increases the risk of developing cancer later in life.
Usually, the benefits of diagnosing or treating health problems with ionizing radiation will outweigh
these risks. These procedures only deliver radiation to the area that needs imaging, protecting all other
parts of the body, and should always use the lowest amount of radiation needed to create a good
quality image (referred to as “as low as reasonably achievable
Radiography (x-rays) and dental x-rays
Fluoroscopy
Benefits
Gives healthcare providers a better view of organs, blood vessels, tissues, and bones.
Provides detailed information to help decide whether surgery is a good treatment option.
Can be used to guide medical procedures to place catheters, stents, or other devices inside the body
(fluoroscopy, a type of imaging).
Risks
Each procedure contributes to a slight increase in the likelihood that you could develop cancer later in
life.
Fluoroscopy for guiding surgery uses higher doses of radiation than other imaging procedures and may
cause skin reddening and hair loss.
Some imaging procedures require you to drink or receive an intravenous (IV) contrast dye. This non-
radioactive dye helps the radiologist see specific organs or parts of the body. Some people can have an
allergic reaction to the [Link] radiation takes a few forms: Alpha, beta, and neutron particles, and
gamma and X-rays. All types are caused by unstable atoms, which have either an excess of energy or
mass (or both). In order to reach a stable state, they must release that extra energy or mass in the form
of radiation.
ALPHA RADIATION
Alpha radiation: The emission of an alpha particle from the nucleus of an atom
Alpha radiation: The emission of an alpha particle from the nucleus of an atom
Alpha radiation occurs when an atom undergoes radioactive decay, giving off a particle (called an alpha
particle) consisting of two protons and two neutrons (essentially the nucleus of a helium-4 atom),
changing the originating atom to one of an element with an atomic number 2 less and atomic weight 4
less than it started with. Due to their charge and mass, alpha particles interact strongly with matter, and
only travel a few centimeters in air. Alpha particles are unable to penetrate the outer layer of dead skin
cells, but are capable, if an alpha emitting substance is ingested in food or air, of causing serious cell
damage. Alexander Litvinenko is a famous example. He was poisoned by polonium-210, an alpha
emitter, in his tea.
BETA RADIATION
Beta radiation: The emission of a beta particle from the nucleus of an atom
Beta radiation: The emission of a beta particle from the nucleus of an atom
Beta radiation takes the form of either an electron or a positron (a particle with the size and mass of an
electron, but with a positive charge) being emitted from an atom. Due to the smaller mass, it is able to
travel further in air, up to a few meters, and can be stopped by a thick piece of plastic, or even a stack of
paper. It can penetrate skin a few centimeters, posing somewhat of an external health risk. However,
the main threat is still primarily from internal emission from ingested material.
GAMMA RADIATION
Gamma radiation: The emission of an high-energy wave from the nucleus of an atom
Gamma radiation: The emission of an high-energy wave from the nucleus of an atom
Gamma radiation, unlike alpha or beta, does not consist of any particles, instead consisting of a photon
of energy being emitted from an unstable nucleus. Having no mass or charge, gamma radiation can
travel much farther through air than alpha or beta, losing (on average) half its energy for every 500 feet.
Gamma waves can be stopped by a thick or dense enough layer material, with high atomic number
materials such as lead or depleted uranium being the most effective form of shielding.
X-RAYS
X-Rays: The emission of a high energy wave from the electron cloud of an atom
X-Rays: The emission of a high energy wave from the electron cloud of an atom
X-rays are similar to gamma radiation, with the primary difference being that they originate from the
electron cloud. This is generally caused by energy changes in an electron, such as moving from a higher
energy level to a lower one, causing the excess energy to be released. X-Rays are longer-wavelength and
(usually) lower energy than gamma radiation, as well.
NEUTRON RADIATION
Neutron radiation: The emission of a neutron from the nucleus of an atom
Neutron radiation: The emission of a neutron from the nucleus of an atom
Lastly, Neutron radiation consists of a free neutron, usually emitted as a result of spontaneous or
induced nuclear fission. Able to travel hundreds or even thousands of meters in air, they are however
able to be effectively stopped if blocked by a hydrogen-rich material, such as concrete or water. Not
typically able to ionize an atom directly due to their lack of a charge, neutrons most commonly are
indirectly ionizing, in that they are absorbed into a stable atom, thereby making it unstable and more
likely to emit off ionizing radiation of another type. Neutrons are, in fact, the only type of radiation that
is able to turn other materials radioactive.
