Topic 4 Uses And Risk

Question 1

What are some risks of using radiation

Answer 1

Can enter living cells and ionise atoms and molecules within them which can lead to tissue damage

Question 2

What do lower doses of radiation tend to cause

Answer 2

Minor damage without killing cells but can give a fuse to mutant cells which divide uncontrollably which is cancer

Question 3

What do higher doses tend to cause

Answer 3

Kills cells completely causing radiation sickness (leading to vomiting , tiredness, and hair loss )
If s lot of cells slow get blasted at once

Question 4

What are gamma sources used in

Answer 4

Medical tracers

Question 5

What can certain radioactive isotopes be injected into ( or swallowed) for

Answer 5

To track their progress around the body on an external detector and converts the reading to display where the strongest reading is coming from

Question 6

One example that can be used as a medical tracer

Answer 6

Iodine 123 is absorbed by the thyroid gland just like iodine 127 but gives off radiation so can be detected to wether the thyroid gland is taking in iodine as it should

Question 7

What isotopes are used in the body

Answer 7

Usually gamma ( never alpha) so that the radiation passes through the body without causing much ionisation.

Question 8

What should gamma rays have if they are inserted into the body

Answer 8

A short half life so the radioactivity inside the patient quickly disappears

Question 9

What is radiotherapy

Answer 9

Treating cancer cells with radiation

Question 10

Why are are high doses of ionising radiation used to treat cancers

Answer 10

Kill all living cells

Question 11

What can be used to remove cancer cells

Answer 11

Gamma rays are directed carefully at the right dosage to kill the cancer cells without damaging too many normal cells

Question 12

What radiation can be used to remove cancer tumours

Answer 12

Radiation emitting implants ( usually beta emitters) are placed next to or inside tumours

Question 13

Why does radiation therapy cause you to feel ill

Answer 13

Because a fair bit of damage is inevitably done to normal cells

Question 14

Pros and cons of tracers

Answer 14

Can be used to diagnose life threatening conditions
Small risk of cancer

Question 15

Pros and cons of prolonged exposure to radiation

Answer 15

Poses risks in the future and many side effects
Can get rid of cancer entirely

Question 16

What is perceived risk

Answer 16

How risky a person thinks something is