High-energy radiation, such as
x-rays, gamma rays, alpha particles, beta particles
What can being exposed to radiation increase your risk of?
Exposure to very high levels of radiation, such as being close to an atomic blast, can cause acute health effects such as
skin burns
and acute radiation syndrome (“radiation sickness”). It can also result in long-term health effects such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
How does radiation increase the risk of cancer?
Radiation may disassemble atoms and cause DNA damage in cells, leading to potentially serious side effects, including cancer.
Ultraviolet light from the sun may damage skin cells
and increase the risk of melanoma or other types of skin cancer.
What level of radiation causes cancer?
Although radiation may cause cancer at high doses and high dose rates, public health data do not absolutely establish the occurrence of cancer following exposure to low doses and dose rates — below about
10,000 mrem
(100 mSv).
Who is most at risk for radiation exposure?
High-Risk Groups
Infants, children, the elderly, pregnant women
, and people with compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to health effects from radiation exposure than healthy adults.
Can radiation cause cancer to spread?
Recent studies leveraging CTCs sorting technology have shown clinically that radiotherapy results in an increased number of viable circulating tumor cells in non-small cell
lung cancer
[18, 19], and bladder cancer [20], thus contributing to a higher risk of distant metastases.
Can radiation from phones cause cancer?
Cell phones emit low levels of non-ionizing radiation when in use. The type of radiation emitted by cell phones is also referred to as radio frequency (RF) energy. As stated by the National Cancer Institute, “
there is currently no consistent evidence that non-ionizing radiation increases cancer risk in humans
.
What are 3 sources of radiation?
- Cosmic Radiation.
- Terrestrial Radiation.
- Internal Radiation.
What are 3 examples of natural sources of radiation humans are exposed to?
- Cosmic radiation. The earth’s outer atmosphere is continually bombarded by cosmic radiation. …
- Terrestrial radiation. The composition of the earth’s crust is a major source of natural radiation. …
- Inhalation. …
- Ingestion. …
- Natural radiation doses. …
- Cosmic radiation. …
- Terrestrial radiation. …
- Inhalation.
What are 5 effects of radiation?
| Dose (rem) Effects | 5-20 Possible late effects; possible chromosomal damage. | 20-100 Temporary reduction in white blood cells. | 100-200 Mild radiation sickness within a few hours: vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue; reduction in resistance to infection. |
|---|
Can radiation cause cancer later in life?
Doctors have known for a
long time that radiation can cause cancer
. And research has shown that radiation treatment for one cancer can raise the risk for developing a different cancer later.
How long after radiation does cancer develop?
If cancer does develop after radiation therapy, it does not happen right away. For leukemias, most cases develop
within 5 to 9 years after exposure
. In contrast, other cancers often take much longer to develop.
Can microwaves cause cancer?
Microwaves are not known to cause cancer
. Microwave ovens use microwave radiation to heat food, but this does not mean that they make food radioactive. Microwaves heat food by causing water molecules to vibrate and, as a result, food is heated.
Which age group is most sensitive to radiation?
The findings suggest that the radiation sensitivity, measured in terms of carcinogenic events, increases with age among
adults after age of 40–45
.
What gives off radiation in the home?
In homes and buildings, there are radioactive elements in the air. These radioactive elements are radon (Radon 222), thoron (Radon 220) and by products formed by the
decay of radium (Radium 226) and thorium
present in many sorts of rocks, other building materials and in the soil.
How long does radiation stay in the body?
Lower doses are delivered with implants that remain in the body longer, often
a few days
. In a treatment known as brachytherapy, doctors implant small radioactive pellets, or “seeds,” that emit radiation for a few weeks or months but remain in the body permanently.
