Radiation/Laser Safety - Exam 1 Flashcards
Types of Radiation
Electromagnetic:
- from motion of atoms
- combines electricity & magnetim
- electrons changing orbits
- ex: x-rays, light rays
Types of Radiation
Mechanical
- only travels through substances - not air
Types of Radiation
Nuclear (neutron)
- comes from unstable atom nuclei
- ex: nuclear plants
Types of Radiation
Cosmic (beta)
- involves electrons only
- ex: sun rays - travels @ speed of light almost
Non-ionizing radiation:
- stable form
- does not knock electrons off atoms
- does not break molecular bonds
- only harmful d/t heat energy (microwaves/radiowaves)
Ionizing Radiation:
- more harmful
- electrons are knocked off atoms
- they create ions
- the electrical charges cause intracellular chemical reactions
What are the 3 cellular risks w/ ionizing radiation?
- break DNA chains (cell death - apoptosis)
- mutate DNA chains - cancer
- Mutated sperm or egg cell - birth defects
Are x-rays or light rays stronger?
which one has more energy?
which one has longer wavelength?
- x-rays stronger
- x-rays more energy/shorter wavelength
- light rays have longer wavelength
X-rays are carried by particles called ________.
- photons (light particles)
How is light emitted w/ x-rays?
- electrons orbit the atom in a resting state
- they are heated and excited
- jump to higher energy orbit
- when they fall back down to the lower orbit - release photons (what we see as light)
Are small or large atoms more likely to absorb photons from x-ray?
large atoms
* greater energy differences b/w orbits
* lighter/brighter image on x-ray
* ex: bones, dense tissue
What are examples of tissue consisting of small atoms?
- soft tissue
- they don’t absorb as many photons on x-ray b/c smaller movement of electrons
- gray on x-ray
x-ray machine
What does the cathode do?
- heated filament in the middle
- heat causes electrons to fly off filament
x-ray machine
what does the anode do?
- made of tungsten (positively charged)
- attracts electrons across tube
x-ray machine
how do photons escape the machine through the window?
- as anode attracts the electrons - photons are released as energy
- makes the x-ray beam
x-ray machine
how is an image created?
chemical reaction on film
* tissue absorbs photons in a way that reflects the image
* small atoms vs. large atoms
x-ray machine
what 2 things can affect the image quality?
- ambient light can darken/lighten image
- intensity changes to beam
- over exposure: dark, obliterates structures
- under exposure: white, exaggerates structures
What are 4 Diagnostic uses for x-rays?
- radiography (bone fx, tube placement, foreign objects)
- mammography
- computed tomography (x-ray w/ computer processing)
- fluoroscopy - real time images, high radiation amounts
Diagnostics x-ray
Examples of Fluoroscopy uses:
- stent placement
- CBD stent
- aneurysm coils
- ortho/neurosurgery
What is a therapeutic use for radiation?
- radiation therapy
- damages cancer cell DNA
- creates ions w/ electrical charge - intracellular chemical reactions - breaks cancer cell DNA chains
Radiation Therapy SE
Hair loss:
anything above the waist
Radiation therapy SE
diarrhea/urinary changes:
anything below the chest (pelvis, rectum, abdomen)
Radiation SE:
n/v:
brain: chemoreceptor trigger zone
* pelvis, abdomen
radiation SE:
Sexual problems/infertility:
- pelvis/rectum
Radiation SE
Fatigue:
Brain, Breast, Chest, Head/neck, pelvis, rectum, abdomen
Radiation SE
dysphagia:
- chest
- Head/neck
radiation doses
what is a REM?
- radiation dose times a weighted factor
- nearly ~ to a Rad
- measured as millirem (mrem) 1/1000 of a Rem
Allowable yearly mrem doses
whole body:
- 5,000 mrem
Allowable yearly mrem doses
extremities:
50,000