EESA10H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Acute Radiation Syndrome, Radiography, Teratology
20 Apr 2012
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Document Summary
The majority of radiation comes from nature, the rest are manmade. Non-ionized: long wavelength, low energy, we used to think they didn"t cause much harm, long term exposure of low levels of chemicals of radiation is very complicated. Able to strip electrons, create charged ions, break bonds. Stochastic health effects: chronic effects (from the time of exposure until the real effects many years later), for example, at the workplace. Someone who is working for many years at a powerplant. After many years of constant, low-level exposure will result in stochastic effects: severity of symptoms does not depend on level of exposure. Can be transferred to child from either mother or father. Many deaths, especially workers and firefighters, from non-stochastic effects. Wind was blowing north, so many radioactive particulates contaminated areas to the north. Used to cure cancer: they balance the risks and benefits of using radiation. Our bodies cannot distinguish between the radioactive and non-radioactive forms of an element.
