Danger From Radiation Flashcards
What does a high dose do? What about a low dose?
A high dose kills cells outright - radiation sickness.
A low dose damages cells without killing them which can cause cancer.
What is irradiation?
This is where you are exposed to radiation without coming into contact with the source. Damage stops as soon as you leave the area. (Ie - going on a high altitude flight).
What is contamination?
This is where you pick up radioactive material by breathing it in, drinking contaminated water, or getting it on skin. Exposure continues once you’ve left the area.
How … You are to suffer damage to your body depends on the radiation ….
Likely, dose.
Radiation dose is measured in ….. Or …..
This takes into account the .. And amount of … You’ve been exposed to.
Sieverts, millisieverts.
Type, radiation.
What amount of mSv is background radiation, the exposure airline crew experience when flying from New York to Tokyo, and the limit for nuclear industry employees?
2 mSv, 9 mSv, 20 mSv.
What is the lowest level at which an increase in cancer is evident? Above this the probability of cancer occurrence increases.
100 mSv.
What dose causes temporary radiation sickness such as nausea and decreased white blood cell count? Severity increases with dose.
1000 mSv.
What dose kills half receiving it in a month? Which one is fatal within a few weeks?
5000 mSv, 1000 mSv.
Which workers are at risk?
Uranium miners and processors from the radiation released by uranium.
Workers in nuclear power plants from the nuclear waste.
Airline staff from cosmic rays.
Miners from natural radiation from rocks.
Medical staff - radiographers from X rays.
Nuclear researchers.
How are people from Britain monitored?
Workers at a high risk have their radiation monitored and have regular check ups to make sure they’re not getting sick.
How does ionisation work?
Alpha, beta, or gamma radiation breaks up molecules into ions which are chemically reactive and go on to react with other molecules. In the human body this can cause the cell to mutate and divide - cancer.
How do cells get harmed by radiation?
Molecules in the nucleus break up into ions making these chemically reactive. They then go on to have other reactions, causing the nucleus to divide. Ions can move around the body causing damage as they go
What would be sources of irradiation?
Flying in a plane at high altitude.
Working in a power plant.
Mining.
Receiving or performing an X Ray
