Today even small children are aware of the existence of invisible deadly rays. From the screens of computers and televisions we are frightened by the terrible consequences of radiation: post-apocalyptic films and games still remain fashionable. However, only a few can give a clear answer to the question “what is radiation?” And even fewer people realize how real the threat of radiation exposure is. Moreover, not somewhere in Chernobyl or Hiroshima, but in his own home.
What is radiation?
In fact, the term "radiation" does not necessarily mean "deadly rays." Thermal or, for example, solar radiation poses virtually no threat to the life and health of living organisms living on the surface of the Earth. Of all the known types of radiation, only ionizing radiation, which physicists also call electromagnetic or corpuscular. This is the very “radiation” whose dangers are talked about on TV screens.
Ionizing gamma and x-ray radiation - the “radiation” that is talked about on TV screens
The peculiarity of ionizing radiation is that, unlike other types of radiation, it has exceptionally high energy and, when interacting with a substance, causes the ionization of its molecules and atoms. Particles of a substance that were electrically neutral before irradiation are excited, resulting in the formation of free electrons, as well as positively and negatively charged ions.
The four most common types of ionizing radiation are alpha, beta, gamma, and x-rays (has the same properties as gamma). They consist of different particles, and therefore have different energies and, accordingly, different penetrating abilities. The “weakest” in this sense is alpha radiation, which is a stream of positively charged alpha particles, unable to “leak through” even through an ordinary sheet of paper (or human skin). Beta radiation, consisting of electrons, penetrates the skin already by 1-2 cm, but it is quite possible to protect yourself from it. But there is practically no escape from gamma radiation: high-energy photons (or gamma quanta) can only be stopped by a thick lead or reinforced concrete wall. However, the fact that alpha and beta particles can be easily stopped even by a minor barrier like paper does not mean that they will not enter the body. The respiratory organs, microtraumas on the skin and mucous membranes are “open gates” for radiation with low penetrating ability.
Units of measurement and norm of radiation
The main measure of radiation exposure is considered to be exposure dose. It is measured in P (roentgens) or derivatives (mR, μR) and represents the total amount of energy that the source of ionizing radiation managed to transfer to an object or organism during the irradiation process. Since different types of radiation have different degrees of danger with the same amount of transmitted energy, it is customary to calculate another indicator - the equivalent dose. It is measured in B (rem), Sv (sieverts) or their derivatives and is calculated as the product of the exposure dose by a coefficient characterizing the quality of radiation (for beta and gamma radiation the quality coefficient is 1, for alpha - 20). To assess the strength of the ionizing radiation itself, other indicators are used: exposure and equivalent dose power (measured in R/sec or derivatives: mR/sec, μR/hour, mR/hour), as well as flux density (measured in (cm 2 min) -1) for alpha and beta radiation.
Today it is generally accepted that ionizing radiation with a dose rate below 30 μR/hour is absolutely safe for health. But everything is relative... As recent studies have shown, different people have different resistance to the effects of ionizing radiation. Approximately 20% have increased sensitivity, the same percentage have decreased sensitivity. The consequences of low-dose radiation usually appear years later or do not appear at all, affecting only the descendants of the person affected by radiation. So, the safety of small doses (slightly exceeding the norm) still remains one of the most discussed issues.
Radiation and man
So, what is the effect of radiation on the health of humans and other living beings? As already noted, ionizing radiation penetrates the body in various ways and causes ionization (excitation) of atoms and molecules. Further, under the influence of ionization, free radicals are formed in the cells of a living organism, which disrupt the integrity of proteins, DNA, RNA and other complex biological compounds. Which in turn leads to massive cell death, carcinogenesis and mutagenesis.
In other words, the effect of radiation on the human body is destructive. With strong radiation, negative consequences appear almost immediately: high doses cause radiation sickness of varying degrees of severity, burns, blindness, and the occurrence of malignant neoplasms. But small doses, which until recently were considered “harmless” (today an increasing number of researchers are coming to this conclusion), are no less dangerous. The only difference is that the effects of radiation do not appear immediately, but after several years, sometimes decades. Leukemia, cancer, mutations, deformities, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, circulatory system, mental and mental development, schizophrenia - this is not a complete list of diseases that can cause small doses of ionizing radiation.
Even small amounts of radiation can lead to catastrophic consequences. But radiation is especially dangerous for young children and the elderly. Thus, according to specialists on our website www.site, the likelihood of leukemia occurring during low-dose irradiation increases by 2 times for children under 10 years of age and 4 times for infants who were in the womb at the time of irradiation. Radiation and health are literally incompatible!
Radiation protection
A characteristic feature of radiation is that it does not “dissolve” in the environment, like harmful chemical compounds. Even after eliminating the radiation source, the background remains elevated for a long time. Therefore, there is a clear and unambiguous answer to the question “how to deal with radiation?” still doesn't exist. It is clear that in the event of a nuclear war (for example), special means of protection against radiation have been invented: special suits, bunkers, etc. But this is for “emergency situations.” But what about small doses, which many still consider “virtually safe”?
It is known that “saving drowning people is the work of the drowning people themselves.” While researchers are deciding which dose should be considered dangerous and which should not, it is better to buy a device that measures radiation yourself and walk around territories and objects a mile away, even if they “radiate” quite a bit (at the same time, the question “how to recognize radiation?” will be resolved, because With a dosimeter in hand, you will always be aware of the surrounding background). Moreover, in a modern city radiation can be found in any, even the most unexpected places.
And finally, a few words about how to remove radiation from the body. To speed up cleansing as much as possible, doctors recommend:
1. Physical activity, bath and sauna - speed up metabolism, stimulate blood circulation and, therefore, help remove any harmful substances from the body naturally.
2. Healthy diet - special attention should be paid to vegetables and fruits rich in antioxidants (this is the diet prescribed to cancer patients after chemotherapy). Entire “deposits” of antioxidants are found in blueberries, cranberries, grapes, rowan berries, currants, beets, pomegranates and other sour and sweet-sour fruits of red shades.
1. What is radioactivity and radiation?
The phenomenon of radioactivity was discovered in 1896 by the French scientist Henri Becquerel. Currently, it is widely used in science, technology, medicine, and industry. Naturally occurring radioactive elements are present throughout the human environment. Artificial radionuclides are produced in large quantities, mainly as a by-product in the defense industry and nuclear power plants. When they enter the environment, they affect living organisms, which is where their danger lies. To correctly assess this danger, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of the scale of environmental pollution, the benefits brought by production, the main or by-product of which are radionuclides, and the losses associated with the abandonment of these productions, the real mechanisms of action of radiation, the consequences and existing protective measures .
Radioactivity- instability of the nuclei of some atoms, manifested in their ability to spontaneous transformations (decay), accompanied by the emission of ionizing radiation or radiation
2. What kind of radiation is there?
There are several types of radiation.
Alpha particles: relatively heavy, positively charged particles that are helium nuclei.
Beta particles- it's just electrons.
Gamma radiation has the same electromagnetic nature as visible light, but has much greater penetrating power. 2 Neutrons- electrically neutral particles arise mainly directly near an operating nuclear reactor, where access, of course, is regulated.
X-ray radiation similar to gamma radiation, but has less energy. By the way, our Sun is one of the natural sources of X-ray radiation, but the earth’s atmosphere provides reliable protection from it.
| Charged particles interact very strongly with matter, therefore, on the one hand, even one alpha particle, when entering a living organism, can destroy or damage many cells, but, on the other hand, for the same reason, sufficient protection from alpha and beta -radiation is any, even a very thin layer of solid or liquid substance - for example, ordinary clothing (if, of course, the radiation source is located outside). It is necessary to distinguish between radioactivity and radiation. Sources of radiation- radioactive substances or nuclear technical installations (reactors, accelerators, X-ray equipment, etc.) - can exist for a considerable time, and radiation exists only until it is absorbed in any substance. |
3. What can the effects of radiation on humans lead to?
The effect of radiation on humans is called irradiation. The basis of this effect is the transfer of radiation energy to the cells of the body.
Radiation can cause metabolic disorders, infectious complications, leukemia and malignant tumors, radiation infertility, radiation cataracts, radiation burns, and radiation sickness.
The effects of radiation have a greater impact on dividing cells, and therefore radiation is much more dangerous for children than for adults.
It should be remembered that much greater REAL damage to human health is caused by emissions from the chemical and steel industries, not to mention the fact that science does not yet know the mechanism of malignant degeneration of tissues from external influences.
4. How can radiation enter the body?
| The human body reacts to radiation, not to its source. 3 Those sources of radiation, which are radioactive substances, can enter the body with food and water (through the intestines), through the lungs (during breathing) and, to a small extent, through the skin, as well as during medical radioisotope diagnostics. In this case they talk about internal radiation . In addition, a person may be exposed to external radiation from a radiation source that is located outside his body. Internal radiation is much more dangerous than external radiation. 5. Is radiation transmitted as a disease? Radiation is created by radioactive substances or specially designed equipment. The radiation itself, acting on the body, does not form radioactive substances in it, and does not turn it into a new source of radiation. Thus, a person does not become radioactive after an X-ray or fluorographic examination. By the way, an X-ray image (film) also does not contain radioactivity. An exception is the situation in which radioactive drugs are deliberately introduced into the body (for example, during a radioisotope examination of the thyroid gland), and the person becomes a source of radiation for a short time. However, drugs of this kind are specially selected so that they quickly lose their radioactivity due to decay, and the intensity of the radiation quickly decreases. |
6. In what units is radioactivity measured?
A measure of radioactivity is activity. It is measured in Becquerels (Bq), which corresponds to 1 decay per second. The activity content of a substance is often estimated per unit weight of the substance (Bq/kg) or volume (Bq/cubic meter).
There is also another unit of activity called the Curie (Ci). This is a huge value: 1 Ci = 37000000000 Bq.
The activity of a radioactive source characterizes its power. Thus, in a source with an activity of 1 Curie, 37000000000 decays occur per second.
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As mentioned above, during these decays the source emits ionizing radiation. The measure of the ionization effect of this radiation on a substance is exposure dose. Often measured in Roentgens (R). Since 1 Roentgen is a fairly large value, in practice it is more convenient to use parts per million (μR) or thousandths (mR) of a Roentgen.
The operation of common household dosimeters is based on measuring ionization over a certain time, that is exposure dose rate. The unit of measurement for exposure dose rate is micro-Roentgen/hour.
The dose rate multiplied by time is called dose. Dose rate and dose are related in the same way as the speed of a car and the distance traveled by this car (path).
To assess the impact on the human body, concepts are used equivalent dose And equivalent dose rate. They are measured in Sieverts (Sv) and Sieverts/hour, respectively. In everyday life, we can assume that 1 Sievert = 100 Roentgen. It is necessary to indicate which organ, part or entire body the dose was given to.
It can be shown that the above-mentioned point source with an activity of 1 Curie (for definiteness, we consider a cesium-137 source) at a distance of 1 meter from itself creates an exposure dose rate of approximately 0.3 Roentgen/hour, and at a distance of 10 meters - approximately 0.003 Roentgen/hour. A decrease in dose rate with increasing distance from the source always occurs and is determined by the laws of radiation propagation.
7. What are isotopes?
There are more than 100 chemical elements in the periodic table. Almost each of them is represented by a mixture of stable and radioactive atoms, which are called isotopes of this element. About 2000 isotopes are known, of which about 300 are stable.
For example, the first element of the periodic table - hydrogen - has the following isotopes:
- hydrogen H-1 (stable),
- deuterium N-2 (stable),
- tritium H-3 (radioactive, half-life 12 years).
Radioactive isotopes are usually called radionuclides 5
8. What is half-life?
The number of radioactive nuclei of the same type constantly decreases over time due to their decay.
The decay rate is usually characterized half-life: this is the time during which the number of radioactive nuclei of a certain type will decrease by 2 times.
Absolutely wrong is the following interpretation of the concept of “half-life”: “if a radioactive substance has a half-life of 1 hour, this means that after 1 hour its first half will decay, and after another 1 hour the second half will decay, and this substance will completely disappear (disintegrate).”
For a radionuclide with a half-life of 1 hour, this means that after 1 hour its amount will become 2 times less than the original, after 2 hours - 4 times, after 3 hours - 8 times, etc., but will never completely disappear. The radiation emitted by this substance will decrease in the same proportion. Therefore, it is possible to predict the radiation situation for the future if you know what and in what quantities of radioactive substances create radiation in a given place at a given time.
Each radionuclide has its own half-life; it can range from fractions of a second to billions of years. It is important that the half-life of a given radionuclide is constant and cannot be changed.
Nuclei formed during radioactive decay, in turn, can also be radioactive. For example, radioactive radon-222 owes its origin to radioactive uranium-238.
Sometimes there are statements that radioactive waste in storage facilities will completely decay within 300 years. This is wrong. It’s just that this time will be approximately 10 half-lives of cesium-137, one of the most common man-made radionuclides, and over 300 years its radioactivity in waste will decrease almost 1000 times, but, unfortunately, will not disappear.
9. What is radioactive around us?
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The following diagram will help to assess the impact on a person of certain sources of radiation (according to A.G. Zelenkov, 1990).
In the modern world, it so happens that we are surrounded by many harmful and dangerous things and phenomena, most of which are the work of man himself. In this article we will talk about radiation, namely: what is radiation.
The concept of “radiation” comes from the Latin word “radiatio” - emission of radiation. Radiation is ionizing radiation propagating in the form of a stream of quanta or elementary particles.
What does radiation do?
This radiation is called ionizing because radiation, penetrating through any tissue, ionizes its particles and molecules, which leads to the formation of free radicals, which lead to massive death of tissue cells. The effect of radiation on the human body is destructive and is called irradiation.
In small doses, radioactive radiation is not dangerous unless doses dangerous to health are exceeded. If exposure standards are exceeded, the consequence can be the development of many diseases (including cancer). The consequences of minor exposures are difficult to track, since diseases can develop over many years and even decades. If the radiation was strong, then this leads to radiation sickness and the death of a person; such types of radiation are possible only during man-made disasters.
A distinction is made between internal and external exposure. Internal exposure can occur by eating irradiated foods, inhaling radioactive dust, or through the skin and mucous membranes.
Types of radiation
- Alpha radiation is a stream of positively charged particles formed by two protons and neutrons.
- Beta radiation is the radiation of electrons (particles with a charge -) and positrons (particles with a charge +).
- Neutron radiation is a stream of uncharged particles - neutrons.
- Photon radiation (gamma radiation, x-rays) is electromagnetic radiation that has great penetrating power.
Sources of radiation
- Natural: nuclear reactions, spontaneous radioactive decay of radionuclides, cosmic rays and thermonuclear reactions.
- Artificial, that is, created by man: nuclear reactors, particle accelerators, artificial radionuclides.
How is radiation measured?
For an ordinary person, it is enough to know the dose and dose rate of radiation.
The first indicator is characterized by:
- Exposure dose, it is measured in Roentgens (P) and shows the strength of ionization.
- The absorbed dose, which is measured in Grays (Gy) and shows the extent of damage to the body.
- Equivalent dose (measured in Sieverts (Sv)), which is equal to the product of the absorbed dose and the quality factor, which depends on the type of radiation.
- Each organ of our body has its own radiation risk coefficient; multiplying it by the equivalent dose, we get an effective dose, which shows the magnitude of the risk of radiation consequences. It is measured in Sieverts.
The dose rate is measured in R/hour, mSv/s, that is, it shows the strength of the radiation flux during a certain time of its exposure.
Radiation levels can be measured using special devices - dosimeters.
Normal background radiation is considered to be 0.10-0.16 μSv per hour. Radiation levels up to 30 μSv/hour are considered safe. If the radiation level exceeds this threshold, then the time spent in the affected area is reduced in proportion to the dose (for example, at 60 μSv/hour, the exposure time is no more than half an hour).
How radiation is removed
Depending on the source of internal exposure, you can use:
- For releases of radioactive iodine, take up to 0.25 mg of potassium iodide per day (for an adult).
- To remove strontium and cesium from the body, use a diet high in calcium (milk) and potassium.
- To remove other radionuclides, juices of strongly colored berries (for example, dark grapes) can be used.
Now you know how dangerous radiation is. Be aware of signs indicating contaminated areas and stay away from these areas.
Radiation is ionizing radiation that causes irreparable harm to everything around us. People, animals and plants suffer. The biggest danger is that it is not visible to the human eye, so it is important to know about its main properties and effects in order to protect yourself.
Radiation accompanies people throughout their lives. It is found in the environment and also within each of us. The greatest impact comes from external sources. Many people have heard about the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the consequences of which are still encountered in our lives. People were not ready for such a meeting. This once again confirms that there are events in the world beyond the control of humanity.
Types of radiation
Not all chemicals are stable. In nature, there are certain elements whose nuclei are transformed, breaking up into separate particles with the release of a huge amount of energy. This property is called radioactivity. As a result of research, scientists have discovered several types of radiation:
- Alpha radiation is a stream of heavy radioactive particles in the form of helium nuclei that can cause the greatest harm to others. Fortunately, they have low penetrating ability. In airspace they extend only a couple of centimeters. In fabric their range is a fraction of a millimeter. Thus, external radiation does not pose a danger. You can protect yourself by using thick clothing or a sheet of paper. But internal radiation is an impressive threat.
- Beta radiation is a stream of light particles moving a couple of meters in the air. These are electrons and positrons that penetrate two centimeters into the tissue. It is harmful if it comes into contact with human skin. However, it poses a greater danger when exposed from the inside, but less than alpha. To protect against the influence of these particles, special containers, protective screens, and a certain distance are used.
- Gamma and X-ray radiation are electromagnetic radiations that penetrate the body through and through. Protective measures against such exposure include the creation of lead screens and the construction of concrete structures. The most dangerous of irradiations for external damage, since it affects the entire body.
- Neutron radiation consists of a stream of neutrons, which have a higher penetrating power than gamma. It is formed as a result of nuclear reactions occurring in reactors and special research facilities. Appears during nuclear explosions and is found in waste fuel from nuclear reactors. Armor against such impact is created from lead, iron, and concrete.
All radioactivity on Earth can be divided into two main types: natural and artificial. The first includes radiation from space, soil, and gases. Artificial one appeared thanks to man using nuclear power plants, various equipment in medicine, and nuclear enterprises.
Natural sources
Naturally occurring radioactivity has always been present on the planet. Radiation is present in everything that surrounds humanity: animals, plants, soil, air, water. This low level of radiation is believed to have no harmful effects. Although, some scientists have a different opinion. Since people have no ability to influence this hazard, circumstances that increase the permissible values should be avoided.
Varieties of natural sources
- Cosmic radiation and solar radiation are powerful sources capable of eliminating all life on Earth. Fortunately, the planet is protected from this impact by the atmosphere. However, people have tried to correct this situation by developing activities that lead to the formation of ozone holes. Avoid being exposed to direct sunlight for a long time.
- Radiation from the earth's crust is dangerous near deposits of various minerals. By burning coal or using phosphorus fertilizers, radionuclides actively seep inside a person with the air they inhale and the food they eat.
- Radon is a radioactive chemical element found in building materials. It is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. This element actively accumulates in soils and comes out along with mining. It enters apartments along with household gas, as well as tap water. Fortunately, its concentration can be easily reduced by constantly ventilating the premises.
Artificial sources
This species appeared thanks to people. Its effect increases and spreads with their help. During the outbreak of a nuclear war, the strength and power of weapons is not as terrible as the consequences of radioactive radiation after explosions. Even if you are not caught by a blast wave or physical factors, radiation will finish you off.
Artificial sources include:
- Nuclear weapon;
- Medical equipment;
- Waste from enterprises;
- Certain gemstones;
- Some antique items taken from dangerous areas. Including from Chernobyl.
Norm of radioactive radiation
Scientists have been able to establish that radiation has different effects on individual organs and the entire body as a whole. In order to assess the damage resulting from chronic exposure, the concept of equivalent dose was introduced. It is calculated by the formula and is equal to the product of the dose received, absorbed by the body and averaged over a specific organ or the entire human body, by a weight multiplier.
The unit of measurement for equivalent dose is the ratio of Joule to kilograms, which is called the sievert (Sv). Using it, a scale was created that allows us to understand the specific danger of radiation for humanity:
- 100 Sv. Instant death. The victim has a few hours, a couple of days at most.
- From 10 to 50 Sv. Anyone who receives injuries of this nature will die in a few weeks from severe internal bleeding.
- 4-5 Sv. When this amount is ingested, the body copes in 50% of cases. Otherwise, the sad consequences lead to death a couple of months later due to bone marrow damage and circulatory disorders.
- 1 Sv. When absorbing such a dose, radiation sickness is inevitable.
- 0.75 Sv. Changes in the circulatory system for a short period of time.
- 0.5 Sv. This amount is enough for the patient to develop cancer. There are no other symptoms.
- 0.3 Sv. This value is inherent in the device for performing x-rays of the stomach.
- 0.2 Sv. Permissible level for working with radioactive materials.
- 0.1 Sv. With this amount, uranium is mined.
- 0.05 Sv. This value is the radiation exposure rate for medical devices.
- 0.0005 Sv. Permissible amount of radiation level near nuclear power plants. This is also the value of the annual exposure of the population, which is equal to the norm.
A safe dose of radiation for humans includes values up to 0.0003-0.0005 Sv per hour. The maximum permissible exposure is 0.01 Sv per hour, if such exposure is short-lived.
The effect of radiation on humans
Radioactivity has a huge impact on the population. Not only the people who come face to face with the danger are exposed to harmful effects, but also the next generation. Such circumstances are caused by the effect of radiation at the genetic level. There are two types of influence:
- Somatic. Diseases occur in a victim who has received a dose of radiation. Leads to the appearance of radiation sickness, leukemia, tumors of various organs, and local radiation injuries.
- Genetic. Associated with a defect in the genetic apparatus. It appears in subsequent generations. Children, grandchildren and more distant descendants suffer. Gene mutations and chromosomal changes occur
In addition to the negative impact, there is also a favorable moment. Thanks to the study of radiation, scientists were able to create a medical examination based on it that allows them to save lives.
Mutation after radiation Consequences of radiation
When receiving chronic radiation, restoration measures take place in the body. This leads to the fact that the victim acquires a smaller load than he would receive with a single penetration of the same amount of radiation. Radionuclides are distributed unevenly inside a person. Most often affected: the respiratory system, digestive organs, liver, thyroid gland.
The enemy does not sleep even 4-10 years after irradiation. Blood cancer can develop inside a person. It poses a particular danger to adolescents under 15 years of age. It has been observed that the mortality rate of people working with x-ray equipment is increased due to leukemia.
The most common result of radiation exposure is radiation sickness, which occurs both with a single dose and over a long period of time. If there is a large amount of radionuclides it leads to death. Breast and thyroid cancer are common.
A huge number of organs suffer. The victim's vision and mental state are impaired. Lung cancer is common in uranium miners. External radiation causes terrible burns of the skin and mucous membranes.
Mutations
After exposure to radionuclides, two types of mutations can occur: dominant and recessive. The first occurs immediately after irradiation. The second type is discovered after a long period of time not in the victim, but in his subsequent generation. Disorders caused by the mutation lead to deviations in the development of internal organs in the fetus, external deformities and mental changes.
Unfortunately, mutations are poorly studied, since they usually do not appear immediately. After time, it is difficult to understand what exactly had the dominant influence on its occurrence.
Radiation is the flow of particles produced during nuclear reactions or radioactive decay. We have all heard about the danger of radioactive radiation for the human body and we know that it can cause a huge number of pathological conditions. But often most people do not know what exactly the dangers of radiation are and how they can protect themselves from it. In this article we looked at what radiation is, what its danger is to humans, and what diseases it can cause.
What is radiation
The definition of this term is not very clear to a person not connected with physics or, for example, medicine. The term “radiation” refers to the release of particles produced during nuclear reactions or radioactive decay. That is, this is radiation that comes out of certain substances.
Radioactive particles have different abilities to penetrate and pass through different substances. Some of them can pass through glass, the human body, and concrete.
Radiation protection rules are based on knowledge of the ability of specific radioactive waves to pass through materials. For example, the walls of X-ray rooms are made of lead, through which radioactive radiation cannot pass.
Radiation happens:
- natural. It forms the natural radiation background to which we are all accustomed. The sun, soil, stones emit radiation. They are not dangerous to the human body.
- technogenic, that is, one that was created as a result of human activity. This includes the extraction of radioactive substances from the depths of the Earth, the use of nuclear fuels, reactors, etc.
How radiation enters the human body
Acute radiation sickness
This condition develops with a single massive exposure to human radiation.. This condition is rare.
It can develop during some man-made accidents and disasters.
The degree of clinical manifestations depends on the amount of radiation affecting the human body.
In this case, all organs and systems can be affected.
Chronic radiation sickness
This condition develops with prolonged contact with radioactive substances.. Most often it develops in people who interact with them on duty.
However, the clinical picture may develop slowly over many years. With prolonged and prolonged contact with radioactive sources of radiation, damage occurs to the nervous, endocrine, and circulatory systems. The kidneys also suffer, and failures occur in all metabolic processes.
Chronic radiation sickness has several stages. It can occur polymorphically, clinically manifested by damage to various organs and systems.
Oncological malignant pathologies
Scientists have proven that radiation can provoke cancer pathologies. Most often, skin or thyroid cancer develops; there are also frequent cases of leukemia, a blood cancer, in people suffering from acute radiation sickness.
According to statistics, the number of oncological pathologies after the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant increased tens of times in areas affected by radiation.
Use of radiation in medicine
Scientists have learned to use radiation for the benefit of humanity. A huge number of different diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are related in one way or another to radioactive radiation. Thanks to sophisticated safety protocols and state-of-the-art equipment this use of radiation is practically safe for the patient and medical personnel, but subject to all safety rules.
Diagnostic medical techniques using radiation: radiography, computed tomography, fluorography.
Treatment methods include various types of radiation therapy, which are used in the treatment of oncological pathologies.
The use of radiation diagnostic methods and therapy should be carried out by qualified specialists. These procedures are prescribed to patients solely for indications.
Basic methods of protection against radiation radiation
Having learned to use radioactive radiation in industry and medicine, scientists took care of the safety of people who may come into contact with these dangerous substances.
Only careful adherence to the basics of personal prevention and protection from radiation can protect a person working in a dangerous radioactive zone from chronic radiation sickness.
Basic methods of protection against radiation:
- Protection through distance. Radioactive radiation has a certain wavelength, beyond which it has no effect. That's why in case of danger, you must immediately leave the danger zone.
- Shielding protection. The essence of this method is to use substances for protection that do not allow radioactive waves to pass through them. For example, paper, a respirator, and rubber gloves can protect against alpha radiation.
- Time protection. All radioactive substances have a half-life and decay time.
- Chemical protection. Substances that can reduce the negative effects of radiation on the body are given to a person orally or injected.
People working with radioactive substances have protocols for protection and behavior in various situations. Usually, dosimeters are installed in the work areas - devices for measuring background radiation.
Radiation is dangerous for humans. When its level increases above the permissible norm, various diseases and damage to internal organs and systems develop. Against the background of radiation exposure, malignant oncological pathologies can develop. Radiation is also used in medicine. It is used to diagnose and treat many diseases.