The impact of radiation on human health - Types of radiation and the types of exposure

Forms and types of radiation exposure

And the kind of radiation effects on humans, and the method of exposure linked to the consequences for human health. In practice, this means that different types of radiation have different effects on man and different tissue damage. Radiation and radioactive substances (called radionuclides or radioisotopes) can damage the entire body in case of direct exposure, and individual organs in the event of radioactive substances into the body with air or food.

All types of radiation can cause cancer and a number of other, quite serious consequences for human health. The key difference in the ability of alpha and beta particles and gamma and X-rays cause damage to the human body - the total amount of energy. Stocks of energy of the particle is determined by how far it can penetrate body tissue, and the damage can cause to health.

Although alpha particles and gamma rays have the same amount of energy when ingested damage from alpha particles is minimal, but the destructive energy of gamma rays has a much greater impact. This is due primarily to the fact that alpha-particles have a certain mass, "conductor" energy and the gamma rays - no.

Radioactive elements and materials have the same chemical properties as their non-radioactive form. For example, lead-radioactive chemical properties different from a conventional lead. The chemical properties of radioactive substances - one of the key factors of the different effects of radiation on human health. For normal operation of all the organs of the human body requires certain chemical elements, and the body can not tell the difference between a normal and a radioactive form of the element. Therefore malicious radioactive substances in the same way, absorbent cloth bodies, as well as conventional chemicals.

Radioactive iodine accumulates in the thyroid gland The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones . Iodine is necessary for normal functioning of the thyroid gland, and because the body does not determine the difference between a stable element and radioactive elements, radioactive iodine is absorbed by the gland, leading to the formation of thyroid cancer Thyroid cancer: it is curable .

Calcium, strontium-90 and radium-226 have similar chemical properties, because of which the radioactive isotopes are accumulated in those parts of the body where most needed calcium - such as in teeth and bones, increasing the risk of cancer Breast cancer - the verdict?   bones.