Radiation exposure
Encyclopedia
The term radiation exposure commonly has several uses:
Radiation Emergency Management System (REMM) provides:
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.
- Absorption of high-energy ionizing radiationIonizing radiationIonizing radiation is radiation composed of particles that individually have sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. This ionization produces free radicals, which are atoms or molecules containing unpaired electrons...
by an object. In living beings a high absorbed doseAbsorbed doseAbsorbed dose is a measure of the energy deposited in a medium by ionizing radiation per unit mass...
can lead to radiation poisoningRadiation poisoningAcute radiation syndrome also known as radiation poisoning, radiation sickness or radiation toxicity, is a constellation of health effects which occur within several months of exposure to high amounts of ionizing radiation...
. - Absorption by an object of non-ionizing radiationNon-ionizing radiationNon-ionizing radiation refers to any type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough energy per quantum to ionize atoms or molecules—that is, to completely remove an electron from an atom or molecule...
. The effects of non-ionizing radiation on humans and animals is discussed on the page electromagnetic radiation and health. - Radioactive contaminationRadioactive contaminationRadioactive contamination, also called radiological contamination, is radioactive substances on surfaces, or within solids, liquids or gases , where their presence is unintended or undesirable, or the process giving rise to their presence in such places...
of an object by a substance containing unstable atomic nuclei, which by ongoing radioactive decay will gradually apply ionizing radiationIonizing radiationIonizing radiation is radiation composed of particles that individually have sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. This ionization produces free radicals, which are atoms or molecules containing unpaired electrons...
to the object.
Tools Assisting Diagnosis and Treatment of Radiation Exposure
The United States National Library of MedicineUnited States National Library of Medicine
The United States National Library of Medicine , operated by the United States federal government, is the world's largest medical library. Located in Bethesda, Maryland, the NLM is a division of the National Institutes of Health...
Radiation Emergency Management System (REMM) 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
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
, 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
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
, and many US and international consultants.
Used in Media
Commonly, the term Radiation Exposure is used to mean both exposure to "ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation is radiation composed of particles that individually have sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. This ionization produces free radicals, which are atoms or molecules containing unpaired electrons...
" and "radioactive contamination
Radioactive contamination
Radioactive contamination, also called radiological contamination, is radioactive substances on surfaces, or within solids, liquids or gases , where their presence is unintended or undesirable, or the process giving rise to their presence in such places...
"; often interchangeably. The mechanism of exposure and potential health risk is very different for each type of exposure.
See also
- Background radiationBackground radiationBackground radiation is the ionizing radiation constantly present in the natural environment of the Earth, which is emitted by natural and artificial sources.-Overview:Both Natural and human-made background radiation varies by location....
- Radioactive contaminationRadioactive contaminationRadioactive contamination, also called radiological contamination, is radioactive substances on surfaces, or within solids, liquids or gases , where their presence is unintended or undesirable, or the process giving rise to their presence in such places...
- Protective Action Guide for Nuclear IncidentsProtective Action Guide for Nuclear IncidentsProtective Action Guide for Nuclear IncidentsSevere Nuclear and radiation accidents will cause massive radioactive contamination and may cause health risks to large populations. Unlike other natural disasters, radioactive contamination is not tangible and hard to measure. Its effect will remain...
- Acute radiation syndrome
- Ionizing radiation#Biological effects
- Ionizing radiation unitsIonizing radiation unitsIonizing radiation units are standards for measuring ionizing radiation, including units for measuring the activity of radioactive sources, and for quantifying the amount of radiation striking other objects, particularly people...
- Unit of RadioactivityCurieThe curie is a unit of radioactivity, defined asThis is roughly the activity of 1 gram of the radium isotope 226Ra, a substance studied by the pioneers of radiology, Marie and Pierre Curie, for whom the unit was named. In addition to the curie, activity can be measured using an SI derived unit,...