Biologic Effect of Radiation

Radiation is a natural element in the physical world. All living organisms require some form of radioactive energy to remain alive. These energies become damaging when the atoms contained inside them become unstable. In some cases, this instability can affect a living organism at its cellular level and alter its ability to function normally.

Identification

• The biologic effect of radiation has to do with the effects radiation has on living cells. Radiation is a form of energy that travels in waves. These waves are made up of subatomic particles---the electrons, protons, positrons and neutrons that make up atoms. These waves, or rays, come in two forms---ionizing, and non-ionizing. The difference between ionizing and non-ionizing rays lies in how they interact with living matter. Ionizing rays are the types that cause the most damage to living cells.

Ionizing Rays

• Ionizing rays come in different forms depending on the type of subatomic particles they contain. Alpha rays are made up of the nucleus material contained in helium-4 atoms. Neutron rays are made up of neutron particles from a particular atomic element. Beta rays are made up of electrons and positrons. In effect, an ionizing ray is emitted from an atom that's decayed or broken down. When this happens, atoms become unstable and start to emit radiation, or energy.

Radiation Damage

• Radiation damage is caused by the effects of ionized waves on internal cell structures. The subatomic particles contained in these waves disrupt cell structures by removing electrons from the atoms contained inside these structures. When cell atoms start to lose electrons, any molecular bonds that exist between atoms are at risk of breaking. When this happens molecular structures begin to fall apart. In effect, the atoms contained inside cell structures become "ionized," which causes them to become unstable. This is how radiation tissue damage begins.

DNA Structures

• The effect of radiation on living cells occurs within their DNA materials. When these ionizing waves enter a cell body, the subatomic particles contained inside the rays work to break apart the DNA molecule within a cell. This interference disrupts the cell's chromosome processes. Typically, cells are able to heal and rebuild their structures when damage occurs. When a cell is unable to repair itself, cell mutations can occur. These mutations happen because the chromosome material has been damaged. When it comes time for the cell to divide and produce new cells, the resulting cells become mutated forms of the original.

Effects

• Radiation waves can have different effects on cell structure. The type of wave, the intensity of the wave and the type of cells affected all influence what effects will occur. In cases where the cell is able to fully repair itself, an alteration in cell structure will have no effect at all. Cells that need to carry out necessary functions before repair is complete may adversely affect how the cell operates, which can cause nearby cells to malfunction. Cells that suffer permanent damage may become unable to function at all, causing them to eventually die off.