What is the difference between ionizing radiation and radiation

It is to the left of ionizing radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum in the figure below. For more information on the electromagnetic spectrum, click here. The dividing line between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation occurs in the ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum [shown in the illustration of the electromagnetic spectrum above].

Radiation in the ultraviolet band and at lower energies to the left of ultraviolet is called non-ionizing radiation, while at the higher energies to the right of the ultraviolet band is called ionizing radiation. As we move to the left of the visible light band in the figure above, we move to lower frequencies. The lower the frequency, the lower the energy.

In these lower frequencies on the left side of the electromagnetic spectrum, we find infrared, microwave, radiowaves, and cell phone range radiation. For more information on cell phones and your health, click here. Put simply, non-ionizing radiation differs from ionizing radiation in the way it acts on materials like air, water, and living tissue. Unlike x-rays and other forms of ionizing radiation, non-ionizing radiation does not have enough energy to remove electrons from atoms and molecules.

Non-ionizing radiation can heat substances. For example, the microwave radiation inside a microwave oven heats water and food rapidly. We are exposed to low levels of non-ionizing radiation every day.

Exposure to intense, direct amounts of non-ionizing radiation may result in damage to tissue due to heat. This is not common and mainly of concern in the workplace for those who work on large sources of non-ionizing radiation devices and instruments.

For more information on exposure to non-ionizing radiation in the workplace, click here. Ultraviolet UV radiation is a natural part of solar radiation, and is released by black lights, tanning beds, and electric arc lighting. Some diagnostic tests, especially those that use x-rays, contain less than 0.

If your exposure is above 6 Gy, you're in trouble. At that level of exposure, your condition is untreatable and you may die within two weeks. If you experience severe symptoms very quickly post-exposure, you probably are within the range of fatality on the exposure scale.

First, in any radiation sickness patient, nausea and vomiting occur. After this, there may be a brief amount of time where you experience no new symptoms of an apparent illness. It's when this period ends, however, when the serious symptoms come into play.

Someone whose health is in jeopardy should expect diarrhea, fever, and headache in the next 2 hours after initial symptoms.

Don't worry, though! This sad ending only happens if the patient has a very severe exposure of Gy or higher. So, if you are exposed to a huge dose of radiation during a very short amount of time, you can get radiation sickness Pretty much all occurrences of radiation sickness in people happen after nuclear industrial accidents Cherynobyl , Russia in ; Japan in , but the mass effect has been witness through the use of nuclear weapons.

The aftermath of the nuclear bomb exposed doctors to the signs and symptoms of radiation sickness for the first time. The thing is that it wasn't the nuclear bomb that killed so many people back there. And, it wasn't the radiation itself either. The radiation that the Japanese got exposed to brought about radiation sickness, which brought about all the complications I mentioned earlier.

Some radiation sickness patients after the fallout died from opportunistic disease s, illnesses that their immune systems would have regularly been able to fight off but in their condition there isn't any immune system left. All their white blood cells have been wiped out by radiation exposure. In conclusion, be safe and aware about radiation because for the millionth time it is dangerous in large dosages!

However, do not panic about the relatively harmless radiation. For now, using your microwave is okay, though I advise not to cook yourself in there. Here are two discussion questions to think about and answer below or in your head. But these two processes aren't related. How come sunburn doesn't lead to skin cancer? How does skin cancer develop from UV light exposure?

Since radiation has the power to cause biological and chemical changes in living tissue, exposure can cause mutations in your DNA that can possibly pass down harmful traits to your offspring. Know any examples? May 24, By: Naseem S. Aa Aa Aa. Be Cautious About Radiation! June 08, PM. X-rays are similar to gamma rays in that they are photons of pure energy. X-rays and gamma rays have the same basic properties but come from different parts of the atom. X-rays are emitted from processes outside the nucleus, but gamma rays originate inside the nucleus.

They also are generally lower in energy and, therefore less penetrating than gamma rays. X-rays can be produced naturally or by machines using electricity. Literally thousands of x-ray machines are used daily in medicine. Computerized tomography, commonly known as a CT or CAT scan, uses special x-ray equipment to make detailed images of bones and soft tissue in the body.

Medical x-rays are the single largest source of man-made radiation exposure. Learn more about radiation sources and doses. X-rays are also used in industry for inspections and process controls. Elements in the periodic table can take on several forms. Some of these forms are stable; other forms are unstable.

Typically, the most stable form of an element is the most common in nature. However, all elements have an unstable form. Unstable forms emit ionizing radiation and are radioactive.

There are some elements with no stable form that are always radioactive, such as uranium. Elements that emit ionizing radiation are called radionuclides. Skip to main content. Radiation Protection. Contact Us. Radiation Basics.

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