Despite the mysterious name, ionizing radiation is constantly present around us. Each person is regularly exposed to both artificial and natural sources.
What is ionizing radiation?
In the scientific language, this radiation is a type of energy that is released from the atoms of any substance. There are two forms electromagnetic waves and the smallest particles. Ionizing radiation has a second name, not entirely accurate, but very simple and known to everyone radiation.
Not all substances exist in radioactivity. In nature, there is a very limited amount of radioactive elements. But ionizing radiation is not only around a conditional stone with a certain composition. The weak share of radiation is present even in the sunlight! And also in water from deepsea sources. Not all of them, but many contain a special gas Radon. Its effect on the human body in large quantities is very dangerous, however, like the action of other radioactive components.
A person has learned to use radioactive substances for good purposes. Due to decay reactions, accompanied by radioactive radiation, nuclear power plants, submarines, medical devices are operating.
Effect on the human body
Ionizing radiation can have an effect on a person both outside and from the inside. The second option occurs when the radiation source is swallowed or entered into the body along with inhaled air. Accordingly, the active internal effect ends as soon as the substance is derived.
In small doses, ionizing radiation does not pose a serious danger to a person and therefore is successfully used for peaceful purposes. Each of us did an Xray at least once in our lives. The device that creates a picture initiates the real ionizing radiation that “shines through” the patient through. The result is the “photograph” of internal organs, which appears on a special film.
Severe health consequences occur when the radiation dose is large and the effect is produced for a long time. The most striking examples are the elimination of accidents at nuclear power plants or enterprises working with radioactive substances (for example, an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant or Mayak enterprise in the Chelyabinsk region).
Upon receipt of a large dose of ionizing radiation, the functioning of the tissues and organs of human. Redness appears on the skin, hair falls out, specific burns may appear. But the most insidious are the deferred consequences. People who have been in the zone of slight radiation for a long time often get oncological diseases after several decades.
How to protect against ionizing radiation?
Active particles have an extremely small size and huge speed. Therefore, they calmly penetrate the majority of the barriers, stopping only in front of the walls of concrete and lead of great thickness. That is why all production or medical places where ionizing radiation is present in the genus of activity, have appropriate barriers and casings.
Protecting against ionizing radiation of natural origin is also easy. It is enough to limit the stay under the direct rays of the sun, not to get carried away with tan and be careful to behave in unfamiliar places. In particular, try not to drink water from unexplored springs, especially in areas with a high content of radon.
