A Small Dose of Radiation

• An Introduction into the Health Effects of Radiation

Radiation Dossier

Name: Nonionizing Radiation

• Use: power transmission, communication, LEDs, light bullbs, heating, cooking, microwave ovens, vision, lasers, photosynthesis (sunlight), mobile phones, WiFi, etc.
• Source: Ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared radiation, microwaves, radio & TV, mobile phones, power transmission
• Recommended exposure: different depending on source, i.e. sunlight can damage skin
• Absorption: depends on source
• Sensitive individuals: variable, e.g. fair skinned children (sunburn)
• Toxicity/symptoms: Depends on source. Solar radiation: sunburn, cataracts, cancer; microwave radiation: warming of skin or internal organs; controversy exists around exposure to low frequency energy such as AC power lines.
• Regulatory facts: government regulates exposure
• FDA and FCC set a SAR limit of 1.6 W/kg for mobile phones.
• General facts: long history of use
• Environmental: Our dependency on energy results in a range of consequences, for example drilling for oil and mining coal to run power plants to generate electricity, in turn mercury is released in the atmosphere from burning coal.
• Recommendations: depending on individual sensitivity; limit exposure to solar radiation (ultraviolet radiation); reduce energy consumption

Name: Ionizing Radiation

• Use: nuclear power, medical x-rays, medical diagnostics, scientific research, cancer treatment, cathode ray tube displays
• Source: Radon, x-rays, radioactive material produce alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, cosmic rays from the sun and space
• Recommended daily intake: none (not essential)
• Absorption: interaction with atoms of tissue
• Sensitive individuals: children, developing organisms
• Toxicity/symptoms: damages DNA leading to cancer
• Regulatory facts: heavily regulated
• General facts: long history of exposure to low levels
• Environmental: many nuclear cleanup sites contain radioactive waste that must be moved off site to prevent possible leakage
• Recommendations: limit exposure, monitor workplace exposure where applicable

Radiation Chapter

• A Small Dose of Radiation - chapter pdf

PowerPoint presentation

• A Small Dose of Radiation - PowerPoint presentation (0.8 mgb)

More Information and References

European, Asian, and international Agencies

• Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  ARPANSA is "charged with responsibility for protecting the health and safety of people, and the environment, from the harmful effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation".

• England - Health Protection Agency (HPA) - Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards. (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  The radiation section of HPA does research, provides information and advice on the effects of radiation on humans and the environment.

• World Health Organization (WHO) - Ultraviolet radiation (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  Site contains information on the global efforts to reduce UV (sun-light) radiation exposure.

North American Agencies

• Health Canada - Radiation Protection Bureau (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  Health Canada provides information on the health effects radiation for consumer and clinical radiation protection.

• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  This site contains information on health effects and emergency response to radiation exposure.

• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Radiation Protection (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  This site has a tremendous amount of information on ionizing and nonionizing radiation and environmental contamination.

• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Radiation Protection - Calculate Your Radiation Dose (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  This site shows you how to examine your current exposure to radiation.

• US Food and Drug Administration - Center for Devices and Radiological Health (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  This site contains information on the health effects and regulation of radiation emitting devices and products. The mission of the CDRH radiological health program is to protect the public from hazardous or unnecessary radiation emissions from electronic products.

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Cell Phones (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  Site contains general and regulatory information on cell phones and related technology.

• US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - Office of Engineering and Technology - Radio Frequency Safety (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  The FCC is required "to evaluate the effect of emissions from FCC-regulated transmitters on the quality of the human environment".

• US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Radiofrequency and Microwave Radiation (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  The OSHA site contains information on microwave and radio-frequency devices.

• US New Jersey - Nonionizing Radiation Section (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  New Jersey has an excellent with a wide range of information on radiation.

• US Agency for Toxic Substance Disease Registry (ATSDR) (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  See fact sheets ToxFAQs™ and case studies in environmental health.

• US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Air Resources Laboratory (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  Site contains UV radiation monitoring information for the U.S.

• US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  "The NRC regulates U.S. commercial nuclear power plants and the civilian use of nuclear materials."

Non-Government Organizations

• National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  "The NCRP seeks to formulate and widely disseminate information, guidance and recommendations on radiation protection and measurements which represent the consensus of leading scientific thinking."

• Health Physics Society (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  Site has extensive information about the health physics and radiation protection.

• University of Michigan - Radiation & Health Physics (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  Site contains information "written for three distinct groups: the General Public, Students and the Health Physics community at large."

• Washington Nuclear Museum and Educational Center (WANMEC) (accessed: 5 May 2009).
  WANMEC provides information on the history of nuclear material use in the state of Washington.

References

• Radium Girls: Women and Industrial Health Reform, 1910-1935. by Claudia Clark, Publisher: University of North Carolina Pr; ISBN: 0807823317; (June 1997). 384 pages.