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Radiation & Effects on Human

The Occupation Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) defines radiation as, "...energy traveling through space." Most radiation is electromagnetic and includes radio waves, microwaves, gamma rays and light. The other type, particulate radiation (alpha and beta particles), is generated by nuclear material.
    • Radiation Badge

    Average Exposure

    • The average person is exposed to approximately 300 to 350mrem (millirem) of radiation a year. This has no known long term effect on human health, and is approximately one third the dose of exposure to a full body computerized tomography (CT) scan.

    Exposures Sources

    • Radiation exposure sources are primarily natural in origin, coming from the Earth itself or from space (cosmic radiation). Man-made sources can include nuclear facilities, electronic equipment and medical procedures.

    Effects

    • The effects of radiation on human beings can range from no complications to burns, tissue failure, cancer, organ failure and death. Exposure to high levels of radiation will cause significant damage to the body.

    Therapeutic Use

    • Doctors can use radiation to treat some types of cancer. Doctors use the harmful effects of radiation to kill cancer cells.

    Lethal Dose

    • A lethal dose of radiation, being a dose that is expected to cause death without medical intervention, is around 300,000 mrem.

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