Atomic And Nuclear Physics

19

Radiation Safety and Health Physics

THIS CHAPTER COVERS…

• The damaging properties of radiation towards living cells and bodies.
• The measuring units of radiation exposures and units.
• Linear energy transfer (LET), REM, RAD, Gray, Seivert etc.
• The estimation of radiation risk, radiation syndromes, dosimetery, handling of radioactive materials/sources and disposal of wastes.
• Some important methods of minimising radiation exposure.

19.1 INTRODUCTION

Radiation causes ionizations in the molecules of living cells. These ionizations result in the removal of electrons from the atoms, forming ions or charged atoms. The ions formed react with other atoms in the cells causing damage.

In low doses, such as what we receive every day from background ...