Radiation exposure
The term radiation exposure commonly has several uses:
- Absorption of high-energy ionizing radiation by an object. In living beings a high absorbed dose can lead to radiation poisoning.
- Absorption by an object of non-ionizing radiation. The effects of non-ionizing radiation on humans and animals is discussed on the page electromagnetic radiation and health.
- Radioactive contamination of an object by a substance containing unstable atomic nuclei, which by ongoing radioactive decay will gradually apply ionizing radiation to the object.
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[edit] Type of Radiation Exposure
The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) itemized type of exposures and reported exposure rate of each segment.
| Public Exposure | ||
| Natural Sources | Normal occurances | Cosmic radiation |
| Terrestrial radiation | ||
| Enhanced sources | Metal mining and smelting | |
| Phosphate industry | ||
| Coal mining and power production from coal | ||
| Oil and gas drilling | ||
| Rare earth and titanium dioxide industries | ||
| Zirconium and ceramics industries | ||
| Application of radium and thorium | ||
| Other exposure situations | ||
| Man-made sources | Peaceful purposes | Nuclear power production |
| Transport of nuclear and radioactive material | ||
| Application other than nuclear power | ||
| Military purposes | Nuclear tests | |
| Residues in the environment. Nuclear fallout | ||
| Historical situations | ||
| Exposure from accidents | ||
| Occupational Radiation Exposure | ||
| Natural Sources | Cosmic ray exposures of aircrew and space crew | |
| Exposures in extractive and processing industries | ||
| Gas and oil extraction industries | ||
| Radon exposure in workplaces other than mines | ||
| Man-made sources | Peaceful purposes | Nuclear power industries |
| Medical uses of radiation | ||
| Industrial uses of radiation | ||
| Miscellaneous uses | ||
| Military purposes | Other exposed workers | |
| Source UNSCEAR 2008 Annex B retrieved 2011-7-4 | ||
[edit] Tools Assisting Diagnosis and Treatment of Radiation Exposure
The United States National Library of Medicine Radiation Emergency Management System (REMM) [1] provides:
- Guidance for health care providers, primarily physicians, about clinical diagnosis and treatment of radiation injury during radiological and nuclear emergencies
- Just-in-time, evidence-based, usable information with sufficient background and context to make complex issues understandable to those without formal radiation medicine expertise
- Web-based information that can be downloaded in advance, so that it would be available during an emergency if the internet is not accessible.
REMM is produced by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Office of Planning and Emergency Operations, in cooperation with the National Library of Medicine, Division of Specialized Information Services, with subject matter experts from the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many US and international consultants.
Used in Media
Commonly, the term Radiation Exposure is used to mean both exposure to "ionizing radiation" and "radioactive contamination"; often interchangeably. The mechanism of exposure and potential health risk is very different for each type of exposure.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
- Background radiation
- Radioactive contamination
- Protective Action Guide for Nuclear Incidents
- Acute radiation syndrome
- Ionizing radiation#Biological effects
- Ionizing radiation units
- Unit of Radioactivity
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