Dangers of Radiation (Edexcel GCSE Combined Science: Physics): Revision Note

Dangers of Radiation

• Ionising radiation can damage human cells and tissues

• This could be in terms of:

  • Tissue damage

  • Mutations

Tissue Damage

• Radiation is effectively used to destroy cancerous tumour cells

• However, it can cause damage to healthy tissue if it is not properly targeted

• This is mostly from high-energy radiation such as gamma rays and X-rays

Mutations

• If the atoms that make up a DNA strand are ionised then the DNA strand can be damaged

• If the DNA is damaged then the cell may die, or the DNA may be mutated when it reforms

• If a mutated cell is able to replicate itself then a tumour may form

  • This is an example of cancer, which is a significant danger of radiation exposure

Diagram showing the damage caused to DNA by ionising radiation. Sometimes the cell is able to successfully repair the DNA, but incorrect repairs can cause a mutation

• Acute radiation exposure can have other serious symptoms:

  • It can cause skin burns, similar to severe sunburn

  • Radiation can reduce the amount of white blood cells in the body, making a person more susceptible to infections by lowering their immune system

• Because of this, it is very important to handle radioactive sources carefully

Handling Radiation Safely

• To mitigate the risks of radiation exposure, there are some safe practices that should be used:

  • Radioactive sources should be kept in a shielded container when not in use, for example, a lead-lined box

  • Radioactive materials should only be handled when wearing gloves, and with tongs to increase the distance from them

  • It may be appropriate to wear protective clothing to prevent the body becoming contaminated

  • The time that a radioactive source is being used for should be limited

Regulating Exposure

• Because of the harmful effects of radiation, it is important to regulate the exposure of humans to radiation

• The amount of radiation received by a person is called the dose and is measured in sieverts (Sv)

• One sievert is a very big dose of radiation

  • It would cause acute radiation poisoning

• People would normally receive about 3 mSv (0.003 Sv) in one year

• To protect against over-exposure, the dose received from different activities is measured

• A dosimeter measures the amount of radiation in particular areas and is often worn by radiographers or anyone working with radiation

A dosimeter, or radiation badge, can be worn by a person working with radiation in order to keep track of the amount of radiation they are receiving

Differences in Exposure

• The amount of radiation that a person receives is affected by a person’s occupation, lifestyle or location

• Some areas around the world have higher background radiation because they are closer to sources of radiation

• People who work with nuclear radiation receive more radiation

  • The UK limit for nuclear industry employees is 20 mSv in one year

• The diagram below compares the doses received from some different activities

All living things emit a small amount of radiation: the amount of radiation within a banana is tiny and not at all dangerous!