Protection from Ionising Radiation

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Protection from Ionising Radiation Ionising radiation is radiation with enough energy so that, during an interaction with an atom, it can remove tightly bound electrons from the orbit of the nucleus causing the atom to become charged or ionised. It has many beneficial uses within medicine and industry but in high quantities, ionising radiation can damage living tissue and destroy human cells. Types of ionising radiation include: • ALPHA: streams of atomic particles, (helium nuclei), made up of two protons and two neutrons with a positive charge (+2). Alpha particles are relatively large and are, therefore, easily stopped. They cannot pass through a sheet of paper or through the dead outer layer of human skin. However, if materials emitting alpha particles are ingested or inhaled, the emissions can do a great deal of damage to the cells of the body. • BETA: streams of electrons travelling at high speed. They are much lighter than alpha particles, travel much faster and have a negative charge (-1). They are more penetrating that alpha radiation but can be stopped by a sheet of metal. • X-RAYS and GAMMA RAYS: X and gamma rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. They are highly energetic, very penetrating, uncharged and can be stopped only by thick lead, steel, concrete or water. It would be impossible to protect ourselves totally from radiation. We all receive some exposure to natural background radiation. The Earth itself is naturally radioactive, as is the air we breathe, the ground we stand on and the food we eat. It is only when we are subjected to relatively large doses of radiation that it becomes a danger to health or life. Therefore, procedures and legislation are in place to avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation. Legislation based on recommendations by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, (ICRP), requires that

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