ionizing Flashcards
Ionizing radiation
Radiation with enough energy to eject electrons from atoms, creating ions
Occurs naturally
non-ionizing radiation
Radiation with enough energy to excite atoms but NOT to eject electrons
Types of ionizing radiation
Alpha particle
This is a helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons)
Beta particle
An energetic electron
Gamma ray or X-ray
This is a photon
absorbed dose
described the amount of radiation absorbed by an object or person
effective dose (dose equivalent)
describes the amount of radiation absorbed by person, adjusted to account for the type of radiation received and the effect on particular organs
exposure
describes the amount of radiation traveling through the air. many types of radiation monitors
radioactivity
refers to the amount of ionizing radiation released by a material. whether is emits alpha or beta particles, gamma rays, x-ray or neutrons, a quantity of radioactive material is expressed in terms of radioactivity. this represents how many atoms in the material decay in a given time
acute radiation syndrome
An acute illness caused by irradiation of the entire body by a high dose of penetrating radiation in a very short period of time.
conditions for acute radiation syndrome
The radiation dose must be large
The dose usually must be external
The radiation must be penetrating
The dose must have been delivered in a short time.
The entire body
3 types of ARS
Hematologic death
Gastrointestinal (GI) death
Central Nervous System (CNS) death
four stages of ARS
1) Prodromal stage: 1st set of symptoms occurs (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
2) Latent stage-patient looks and feels generally healthy
3) Manifest illness stage-prodromal stage symptoms reoccur along with additional symptoms
4) Recovery or death stage-Most patients who do not recover will die within several months of exposure.
types of non-ionizing
Ultraviolet Extremely low frequency radiation (ELF) Sound waves Visible light Microwaves Radio waves Electrical power lines
hematologic syndrome
also known as bone marrow syndrome
occurs between 100-1000 R
death occurs within 6-8 weeks at doses of 200R for some individuals
death caused by reduction of
RBCs and WBCs and platelets
death results from anemia and infection
gastrointestinal syndrome caused by ARS
Depletion of the epithelial cells lining the lumen of the GI tract
Intestinal bacteria gain free access to the body
Hemorrhage through denuded areas
Loss of absorptive capacity
exhibited by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (lack of absorption)
death results in dehydration and infection
mean survival time is 4-10 days
Central Nervous System Syndrome
occurs at radiation doses of 5,000R
death occurs in hours or sometimes 2-3 days after exposure
CNS Damage results from damage to the blood vessels that supply the system causing:
- edema– (swelling) in the cranial vault
- vasculitis – inflammation of blood vessels
- meningitis – inflammation of the spinal cord and brain membranes
death is caused by increased pressure in the cranial vault as a result of elevated fluid content
