Radiation

Question 1

Describe mechanism of damage for microwave radiation.

Answer 1

Microwave radiation: interact with water to induce heating –> tissue damage

Question 2

Describe mechanism of damage for infrared radiation.

Answer 2

Infrared radiation: heat –> burns, heat stress

Question 3

Describe mechanism of damage of visible radiation.

Answer 3

Visible radiation: no effect on cells; can impact visual acuity

Question 4

Describe 3 damaging effects of UV radiation.

Answer 4

UV radiation: sunburn, visual impairment, skin cancer

Question 5

3 factors affecting EM radiation hazard are: time, distance, and shielding. Describe the relationship with respect to distance.

Answer 5

3 factors affecting EM radiation hazard are: time, distance, and shielding. % reduction = 1 / (d^2)

Question 6

Which (4) forms of ionizing radiation can penetrate skin?

Answer 6

Beta, Neutrons, Gamma, Xray can penetrate skin; gamma has highest penetration

Question 7

Describe gamma radiation in terms of its source, charge, and mass.

Answer 7

Gamma: released from nucleus of unstable radioactive atom; no charge or mass

Question 8

Describe beta radiation in terms of its source, mass, and charge. What is it identical to?

Answer 8

Beta: emitted from nucleus of unstable atom; extremely small, charged; identical to electron

Question 9

Describe alpha radiation in terms of source, mass, and charge.

Answer 9

Alpha: bare He nucleus (2 protons, no neutrons); high mass and charge

Question 10

Describe acute effects of radiation in terms of threshold, dose, and targets (5).

Answer 10

Acute effects of radiation: definite threshold, requires high dose; hits skin (irritation, burn), repro (sterility); hematopoietic, gastrointestinal; CNS

Question 11

Describe the interaction of radiation with living cells. What type of molecule is hit first? What molecules are produced? What effects do these molecules have?

Answer 11