Dangers Of Electromagnetic Waves Flashcards
What determines the harmfulness of electromagnetic radiation to people?
It all depends on the amount of energy the wave transfers
How do low-frequency waves interact with living tissue?
Low-frequency waves, like radio waves, do not transfer much energy and mostly pass through soft tissue without being absorbed
What are the effects of high-frequency waves on living people?
-High-frequency waves, such as UV, X-rays, and gamma rays, transfer lots of energy and can cause damage to living tissue.
-UV radiation can cause sunburn, premature aging of the skin, blindness, and an increased risk of skin cancer
-X-rays and gamma rays, being types of ionising radiation, can cause gene mutation, cell destruction, and an increased risk of cancer.
How do people assess the use of UV radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays in terms of health risks and benefits?
Before using UV radiation, X-rays, or gamma rays, people evaluate whether the benefits outweigh the health risks associated with exposure
What is the purpose of considering and measuring radiation dose in the context of exposure to UV radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays?
Radiation dose is used to assess the risk of harm from exposure to radiation and determine whether it is justified by the benefits of using the radiation.
How is radiation dose measured?
Radiation dose is measured in sieverts (Sv), with smaller doses often expressed in millisieverts (mSv), where 1000 mSv equals 1 Sv.
What is the relationship between radiation dose and the risk of harm from radiation exposure?
The risk of harm from radiation exposure depends on both the total amount of radiation absorbed and the harmfulness of the type of radiation.
What imaging technique uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of a patient’s body?
- A CT scan (computed tomography scan) - this uses X-rays and computer processing to generate detailed images of the internal structures of a patient’s body.
How does the risk of harm from a CT scan vary depending on the part of the body being scanned?
-The risk of harm from a CT scan differs depending on the part of the body being scanned
-For example the table shows a chest CT scan poses a higher risk of gene damage compared to a head scan (four times more higher)