EESA10H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Non-Ionizing Radiation, Ultraviolet, Electromagnetic Radiation
7 Oct 2014
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Document Summary
Health: concern has been keen when exposure is generated by nuclear-power-plant accidents or by contamination from nuclear facilities during normal operations. It is less well appreciated that radon gas emanating from underlying geological formations or building materials in homes is a far more common and significant source of public exposure to ionizing radiation than emissions from nuclear plants. Smoking and driving are much more dangerous than exposure to low levels of radiation. Types of radiation: two segments of electromagnetic system are referred to as ionizing and nonionizing based on their biological activity and span a wide range of wavelengths. Ionizing portion of the spectrum includes gamma rays and ultraviolet radiation. Is genotoxic and can act as a carcinogen: nonionizing radiation is not energetic enough to disrupt electrons and hence is not thought to be genotoxic, electromagnetic fields (emfs) are linked to adverse health effects. Ionizing radiation produces two kinds of cell injury, one immediate and the other delayed.
