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- Radiation
is a form of energy.
- Radiation
comes from man-made sources such as x-ray machines, from the sun and
outer space, and from some radioactive materials such as uranium in soil.
- Small
quantities of radioactive materials occur naturally in the air we breathe,
the water we drink, the food we eat, and even in our own bodies. Radiation
that goes inside our bodies causes what we refer to as internal exposure.
- External exposure
is from radiation from sources outside our body, such as radiation from
sunlight and man-made and naturally occurring radioactive materials.
- Radiation
doses that people receive are measured in units called “rem” or “sievert.” (One
sievert is equal to 100 rem.) Scientists estimate that the average person
in the United States receives a dose of about one-third of a rem per
year.
- Eighty
percent of typical human exposure comes from natural sources and 20 percent
comes from artificial radiation sources, primarily medical X-rays
Health
Effects of Radiation Exposure
- Radiation
affects the body in different ways, but the adverse health consequences
of exposure may not be seen for many years.
- Adverse
health effects range from mild effects, such as skin reddening, to serious
effect such as cancer and death. These adverse health effects are determined
by the amount of radiation absorbed by the body (the dose), the type
of radiation, the route of exposure, and the length of time a person
is exposed.
- Acute
radiation syndrome (ARS), or radiation sickness, is usually caused when
a person receives a high dose of radiation to much of the body in a matter
of minutes. Survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs and
firefighters responding to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant event in
1986 experienced ARS. The immediate symptoms of ARS are nausea, vomiting,
and diarrhea; later, bone marrow depletion may lead to weight loss, loss
of appetite, feeling like you have the flu, infection, and bleeding.
The survival rate depends on the radiation dose. For those who do survive,
full recovery takes from a few weeks to 2 years.
- Children
exposed to radiation may be more at risk than adults. Radiation exposure
to the unborn child is of special concern because the human embryo or
fetus is extremely sensitive to radiation.
- Radiation
exposure, like exposure to the sun, is cumulative.
Protecting
Against Radiation Exposure
The three basic ways to reduce radiation exposure are through:
- TIME
Decrease the amount of time you spend near the source of radiation.
- DISTANCE
Increase your distance from a radiation source.
- SHIELDING
Increase the shielding between you and the radiation source.
Shielding is anything that creates a barrier between people and the
radiation source. Depending on the type of radiation, the shielding
can range from something as thin as a plate of window glass or as thick
as several feet of concrete. Being inside a building or a vehicle can
provide shielding from some kinds of radiation.
Other
Sources of Information about Radiation
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