Radiation

It consists of an invisible stream of alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays, possessing a great deal of energy. The radiations are produced during natural radioactivity as well as during the nuclear processes. It is because of these nuclear radiations that the use of nuclear energy can become a health hazard.

Types of Radiation:

• Electromagnetic radiation including microwaves, x-rays and gamma rays
• Particle radiation such as alpha radiation, beta radiation, neutron radiation
• Acoustic radiation such as ultrasound, sound seismic waves
• Gravitational radiation

Effect of radiation on human body –

All the radioactive substances are dangerous for human health because of the ionizing nuclear radiations emitted from them. The nuclear radiations have high energy due to which they convert the molecules of living cells into charged particles called ions

Radiation damages the cells, which make up human body. Low level of radiation is not dangerous but medium level may cause to vomiting, fever, and headache. High level of radiation damage internal organs causing death. Exposure to radiation may also cause even cancer.

Further, radiation is categorized as ionizing or non ionizing. Non ionizing such as heat, radio, microwaves, light, are not dangerous to body as it passes through but does not break molecules bonds. While ionizing radiation such as Cosmic Rays and X-Rays can pass through the matter and break molecules bonds, which may affect normal functioning of cells directly or indirectly.