Radiation in Everyday Life

Teo Jim Yang 3O3(26)

Contents
Basics
Definition
Ionizing and Non-ionizing radiation
Electromagnetic Radiation
Natural Background Radiation
Man-Made Radiation
Radiation in Our Environment
Effects of Radiation
Sources of radiation in everyday life
Significance of Radiation Exposure
People who are at higher risk
Radiation Protection
What is radiation?
Energy that travels through space in
the from of particles or waves
Two different types of radiation:
ionizing and non-ionizing
Radiation can be found all around us
Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation
Ionizing Radiation
Has a lot of energy that
gives it the ability to
cause changes in
atoms
Enough to damage DNA
Overexposure can
cause:
Mutations in your genes,
which causes birth
defects,
Raised risk of cancer,
burns
Radiation sickness
Non-ionizing Radiation
Relatively low-energy
radiation that doesn't
have enough energy
to ionize atoms or
molecules
Although considered
less dangerous than
ionizing radiation,
overexposure to non-
ionizing radiation can
cause health issues
Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation
Summary of Radiation
Natural Background Radiation
Refers to the naturally derived, widespread
radiation present everywhere in the environment
Usually not detrimental to life
3 Main sources:
Cosmic Radiation
Cosmic rays from outer space which bombard the earth
Terrestrial Radiation
Radioactive substances in the earth's crust
Soil
Water
Vegetation
Emanation of radioactive gas from the earth (radon gas)
Internal Radiation
Trace amounts of radioactivity in the body
Man-Made Radiation
Two distinct groups of people exposed
to man-made radiation sources:
Members of the public
Occupationally exposed individuals
Man-Made radiation
Sources that results in exposure to public:
Tobacco (thorium)
Television (EM radiation)
Medical Procedures
Diagnostic X-rays
Nuclear medicine
Smoke detectors (Americium)
Building materials (Radon)
Occupational sources
Radiography
X-ray technicians
Workers in Nuclear power plant
Nuclear medicine technicians
Light is made up of different components:
Gamma Rays
X-Rays
Ultraviolet Rays
Visible Light
Infrared Rays
Microwaves
Radio Waves
They make up the
electromagnetic spectrum
They emit radiation
Electromagnetic (EM) Radiation
Decreasing
in
Wavelength
Decreasing
in
Wavelength
Effects Of Radiation
"Harmful Effects of Radiation" Video

Increased blood pressure
Lesions
Damage to foetus (in pregnant women)
Mental retardation
Miscarriage
Cancers:
Salivary gland cancer
Lymphatic cancer
Bone marrow cancer (leukemia)
Brain cancer
Breast cancer
Heart Disease
Headaches
And much more
Effects of Radiation
Why does radiation cause harm?
DNA Damage
Our cells have mechanisms to repair DNA damage to a
limited extent but radiation can overwhelm these
mechanisms.
Damaged DNA is implicated in several disease processes,
including various types of cancer.
Interference with Melatonin production
Low melatonin levels have already been linked to several
diseases, including cancers
Interference with Cellular Communication
Our body cells communicate internally and externally by
means of electrical signals.
These signals can be altered by EMF radiation which
generates electrical currents within the body causing
changes in both cellular activity and cellular structures
Effects of Radiation
Factors affecting the effect of radiation:
Intensity of radiation
Exposure to strong radiation may cause damage, even
though the exposure is of short duration
Cumulative Exposure
The combination of the different frequencies a person is
exposed to may overwhelm the body defenses and repair
mechanisms.
Duration of Exposure
Many studies have indicated that various health effects
are only noticed after many years of exposure
to electromagnetic pollution, for example high voltage
power lines, or cell phones.
Radiation Transience
More biologically stressful to be exposed to fluctuating
radiation which arises from an electrical appliance which
cycles on and off than from a similar appliance that
remains steadily on all day.
Sources of Radiation in Everyday
Life
1. Cell-phones
2. Tobacco Smoke from smoking
3. Medical Use of Radiation
4. Radiation from Appliances
I. Televisions and Computers
II. Microwave Ovens
III. Heating Appliances
IV. Personal Grooming Appliances
1. Cell Phone Radiation
Radiation in cell
phones is generated in
the transmitter and
emitted through the
antenna
In the form of radio
waves
These waves picked up
by a receiver in the cell-
phone tower
1. Cell Phone Radiation
When talking on a cell phone, most users place the
phone against the head
Some of the radiation might be absorbed by human tissue
Radio frequency (RF) radiation has the ability to
heat human tissue
Damage to tissue can be caused by exposure to RF
radiation because the body is not equipped to dissipate
excessive amounts of heat
The eyes are particularly vulnerable due to the lack of
blood flow in that area
Use of cell phones may have potential links to:
Cancer
Brain tumors
Alzheimer's disease
Parkinson's disease
Headaches
1. Cell Phone Radiation
Some precautions that can be made
to reduce RF radiation exposure from
cell phones:
Extend the antenna during use
Use a phone that places the antenna as
far away from you as possible
Use a hands-free headset
Limit calls inside buildings
Use the phone in open spaces as often as
possible
Limit use by children
2. Radiation from Smoking
Cigarette smoke contains radioactive lead-210 and
polonium-210
Each cigarette smoked can also be equated to one chest
x-ray
A non-smoker living with a smoker may receive the
equivalent of 12 chest x-rays per year as a result of second-
hand smoke
Lead-210 and polonium-210 are deposited in the
bronchioles
Risk of cancers is increased with the presence of
other harmful substances in cigarette smoke
Carbon monoxide
Tar
Nicotine
3. Radiation In Medicine
Diagnostic radiology
Use of machines (e.g. X-ray) to obtain images
of the inside of the patient's body
X-rays can penetrate skin
Bone, fat, muscle, tumors and other masses all absorb
X-rays at different levels
The image on the film reveals distinct structures in the
body because of the different levels of exposure on
the film
Even with the risks, X-ray scanning is still a safer
option than surgery
Other diagnoses using radiation
include mammography and MRI scans
3. Radiation In Medicine
Radiotherapy
Use of high energy x-rays and similar rays
to treat disease (usually cancer)
Radiation destroys the cancer cells in the
treated area
Although normal cells can also be
damaged by the radiotherapy, they can
usually repair themselves
Contributes to 40 per cent of all cured
cancers
4. Radiation from Appliances
Televisions
TVs emit X-rays
LCD (flat screen) TVs produce much less
radiation
Computers
Computers emit radio and microwaves
Wireless equipment (e.g. mouse, keyboard)
also emit some radiation

Sit at least:
1.9m away from TV
60 cm away from computer screens
4. Radiation from Appliances
Microwave Ovens
Microwaves affect the food
Structure of protein foods is changedso
that a beneficial protein molecule in the
food becomes a harmful one
Placing plastic containers into the
microwave may cause toxic plastic
molecules to leach into the food
Microwaves also leak out of the oven
keep a distance of 1.5 meters
4. Radiation from Appliances
Heating Appliances
Electric blankets generate EM
radiation, even after switched off
Electrically heated carpets and rugs,
under-carpet and under-floor heating
all produce substantial EM radiation
Electrical heaters also produce lot of
EM radiation
4. Radiation from Appliances
Personal Grooming Appliances
Hairdryers, electric shavers, electric
toothbrushes and similar personal
grooming products emit radiation at
their normal operating distance
People at higher risk should refrain
from using them
Significance
Even though common sources of
radiation only deal it in minute doses
The frequency of which we are
exposed to them are greater causes
for concern
The accumulation of these small doses
may greatly affect our health
People at Higher Risk
Children
Biologically more vulnerable
Thinner skulls
Tissues not fully developed
May not be able to control how much they use
cell phones, play on computers, watch TV etc,
and how close they sit to the screen.
Pregnant Women
Any cellular damage in a developing embryo
may have magnified consequences for the child
At risk of miscarriage if they are subjected to high
intensity EM radiation during pregnancy
Lower EM radiation levels may still damage the
foetus while not causing an actual miscarriage.

People At Higher Risk
People already suffering from chronic
degenerative conditions
The body is already using all its available energy
to heal itself
Does not have much energy to spare for
repairing the damage done by radiation
Workers in close proximity to electrical
machinery
Exposed to strong electromagnetic fields and
radiation
People At Higher Risk
Frequent users of appliances that emit
radiation
Spend more than a few minutes a day
talking on a cell phone pressed to their
ear etc
Table of Radiation-emitting Appliances
Especially vulnerable if they done every
day for years
In other words, most of us are at risk
Radiation Protection
Increase distance from source
The intensity of radiation decreases with distance
from its source.
Reduce time exposed to source
If exposure cannot be avoided, try to spend as
little time near it as possible
If it doesn't need to be turned on, switch it
off
Radiation comes from many devices which are
left on unnecessarily, e.g. charger units for
batteries, cell-phones, laptops etc, computers
and printers
Radiation Protection
Shielding
Barriers of lead, concrete or water give good
protection from high levels of penetrating
radiation such as gamma rays
Intensely radioactive materials are often stored
or handled under water, or by remote control in
rooms constructed of thick concrete or lined with
lead
Containment
Highly radioactive materials are confined and
kept out of the workplace and environment
Nuclear reactors operate within closed systems
with multiple barriers which keep the radioactive
materials contained
References
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf05.html
http://www.world-nuclear.org/education/ral.htm
http://science.howstuffworks.com/radiation.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-electromagnetic-
radiation.htm
http://www.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone-
radiation.htm
http://www.hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q824.html
http://www.uraniumsa.org/about/radiation.htm
http://www.radiationanswers.org/radiation-
introduction/types-of-radiation.html
References
http://orise.orau.gov/reacts/guide/define.htm
http://www.chem.duke.edu/~jds/cruise_chem/nuclear/expos
ure.html
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/23411087/Natural-and-Man-
Made-Radiation-Sources
http://www.emwatch.com/index.html
http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/medicaldepartments/c
ancercenter/prevention/preventionradiation.html
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/sources/tobacco.html
http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/UnderstandingRadia
tion/UnderstandingRadiationTopics/MedicalRadiation/
http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/modern/nuclear-
medicine.htm