What Are the Effects of Ionizing Radiation?

Radiation is an objective thing that is not transferred by human will. Radiation is everywhere in the environment in which we live. ^[1]

Ionizing radiation is

Humans receive mainly from

In the work of exposure to ionizing radiation, if the protective measures are improper, the operation rules are violated, and the human body's exposure dose exceeds a certain limit, harmful effects can occur. Under the effect of electrical radiation, the body's response depends on the type, dose, irradiation conditions and sensitivity of the ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation can cause radiation sickness. It is a systemic reaction of the body. Pathological changes occur in almost all organs and systems, but the changes in the nervous system, hematopoietic organs and digestive system are the most obvious. The damage to the body from ionizing radiation can be divided into acute radiation injury and chronic radiation injury. Receiving a certain dose of radiation for a short period of time can cause acute injury to the body, usually seen in nuclear accidents and radiation treatment patients. However, receiving a certain dose of radiation for a long time can cause chronic radiation damage, such as skin damage, hematopoietic disorders, leukopenia, and impaired fertility. In addition, excessive radiation can cause cancer and cause fetal death and deformity.

Three Principles of Protection

(1) Time protection: No matter what kind of exposure, the cumulative dose of the human body is proportional to the exposure time. The longer the exposure to radiation, the more severe the radiation hazard. Minimize the time spent on radioactive work to achieve the purpose of reducing the dose.

(2) Distance protection: The radiation dose rate at a certain place is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the radiation source. The greater the distance from the radiation source, the smaller the dose rate at that place. So try to stay away from radioactive sources. To achieve protection.

(3) Shielding protection: It is to set up a protective barrier between people and radioactive sources. Because the rays pass through a substance with a large atomic number, they will be absorbed a lot, and the radiation dose reaching the human body part will be reduced. Common shielding materials are lead, reinforced cement, lead glass, etc.

The biggest concerns about ionizing radiation stem from its potential to cause lethal disease to exposed people and genetic defects in offspring. The possibility of such effects depends on the amount of radiation exposure to the person, whether the exposure is from natural or artificial radiation sources. With the increasing understanding of ionizing radiation effects in recent decades, people have developed a complete set of radiation protection methods to protect humans from various radiation sources. Nevertheless, public concerns remain. ^[1]

Radiation is just one of the many causes of the daunting disease cancer. Because radiation is invisible and intangible, this hazard that is invisible to the naked eye becomes even more frightening. Whenever people think of accidents at nuclear power plants and other facilities and the effects that are still happening in some cases today, and the tendency to associate any form of radiation with "nuclear", including nuclear weapons, makes them More worried. ^[1]

Another cause of widespread concern about radiation may be related to the lack of reliable and easily accessible information and the resulting misunderstandings. ^[1]