29 Questions
What is background radiation?
Background radiation is the radiation that is present in the natural environment.
Name three types of radiations emitted by different radioactive materials.
Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.
What are the sources of natural background radiation?
1- Cosmic Radiation, 2- Terrestrial Radiation, 3- Internal Radiation.
List three sources of artificial (man-made) background radiation.
1- Radioactive Fallout, 2- Radioactive Waste, 3- Tobacco.
What is the largest source of human-made radiation exposure?
Medical testing and treatment (like Medical X-rays).
How does cosmic radiation reach the earth?
Charged particles from the sun and stars interact with the earth's atmosphere and magnetic field.
What are cosmic rays primarily made of?
Protons
Where do cosmic rays originate from?
Sun, outer space, other stars
Why is the exposure to cosmic rays greater at higher elevations?
Absorption by atmosphere is lower
What are the major isotopes of concern for terrestrial radiation?
Uranium and decay products
Where does radon gas come from?
Decay of uranium and thorium in rocks
How does radon gas enter the air?
Part goes into the surface soil
What is bioaccumulation in the context of radionuclides?
Radionuclides accumulate in animals that ingest plants, feed, or water containing radioactive material.
What is the main source of radioactive fallout discussed in the text?
Nuclear weapons tests.
Which nuclides are mentioned as significant in radioactive fallout?
Strontium-90 and Cesium-137.
What is the major radioactive substance found in tobacco smoke?
Lead-210.
What happens when a smoker inhales lead-210 from tobacco smoke?
Lead-210 is deposited on the surfaces of bones.
Where is polonium-210 deposited in the body of a smoker?
Liver, kidney, and spleen.
Which gas is the largest contributor to background radiation dose?
Radon
What percentage of all lung cancers in the UK are caused by radon exposure?
3 - 5%
How is radon gas drawn into buildings?
Through cracks in the floor and walls, as well as any service ducts.
Where does radon gas sink to within a building?
Cellars or basements
Apart from cosmic and terrestrial sources, what other internal radiation sources do all people have in their bodies?
Radioactive potassium-40 (40K), carbon-14 (14C), lead-210 (210Pb), and other isotopes
How can food gain radioactivity from radioactive elements?
Through roots of plants taking in radionuclides from the soil and radioactive particles settling onto crops from the air.
What are the most important organs that can be affected by radiation exposure?
Bone marrow, Colon, Gonads, Foetus
Why is irradiation of pregnant patients strictly controlled?
To reduce chances of birth defects.
What factors determine the harmful effects of radiation?
Type of radiation, Radiation dose, Area of the body exposed, Sensitivity of affected tissues, Individual characteristics of the exposed person
How does the average dose to the population compare between diagnostic uses and therapeutic uses of radiation?
Average dose to the population is far less than diagnostic uses.
Why can individual exposures in certain treatments be many thousands of times larger than those in diagnostic radiography?
Because the number of people having radiotherapy treatment is much smaller.
Learn about the importance of radon, specifically 222Rn and 220Rn, in the uranium and thorium series. Explore how radon concentration varies based on underlying geology and its impact on background radiation dose and the risk of lung cancer.
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