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 nonionizing 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

Electromagnetic (EM) Radiation

Light is made up of different components:

Gamma Rays
X-Rays
Ultraviolet Rays
Visible Light
Infrared Rays
Microwaves
Radio Waves

They make up the

Decreasin
g in
Wavelengt
h

electromagnetic spectrum
They emit radiation

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.
2.
3.
4.

Cell-phones
Tobacco Smoke from smoking
Medical Use of Radiation
Radiation from Appliances

I.
II.
III.
IV.

Televisions and Computers

Microwave Ovens
Heating Appliances
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 cellphone 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 Xrays 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
mammography and MRI scans

include

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

SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE ON HOW EMF

EFFECTS THE PHYSICAL BODY
Deteriorates melatonin

in the body
Destroys healthy blood
cells
Breaks apart DNA
strands
Changes firing rates in
brain cells
Leaks calcium ions in
brain and cells
Alters EEGs
Most studies conducted at UCLA

http://www.equilibra.uk.com/emfsbio.sht
ml
Goldsworthy, Andrew (2007), The
biological effects of weak
electromagnetic fields.

It is impossible to
argue, with these
findings, that EMF
is safe, as the
power companies
have repeatedly
stated.

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-rad
iation.htm

http://www.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone-radiation.ht
m

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-ManMade-Radiation-Sources
http://www.emwatch.com/index.html
http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/medicaldepartments/ca
ncercenter/prevention/preventionradiation.html
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/sources/tobacco.html
http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/UnderstandingRadiat
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http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/modern/nuclearmedicine.htm