The Dangers of Radiation

The harm caused by radiation depends on many factors, but the three main ones are:

  • The type of radiation you are exposed to
  • The location of the radioactive source
  • The amount of radiation you are exposed to

Type of radiation

There are many different types of radiation, which can be categorised as either ionising or non-ionising.

Ionising radiation

Examples of ionising radiation include:

  • Alpha particles
  • Beta particles
  • Gamma rays
  • X-rays

IIonising radiation is typically more harmful than non-ionising radiation because it can penetrate and damage the atoms and molecules in our living cells

Ionising radiation can also mutate our DNA. This can lead to the development of cancer, a disease in which the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to different parts of the body.

Non-ionising radiation

Examples of non-ionising radiation include:

  • Ultraviolet
  • Visible light
  • Infra-red
  • Microwaves
  • Radio waves

Although non-ionising radiation is generally less harmful, excessive exposure, such as to too much ultraviolet radiation, can still damage our DNA and potentially lead to cancer.

Location of the Radioactive Source

The harm caused by radiation also depends on the location of the radioactive source.

Outside the body

If the radioactive source is outside the body, then alpha radiation is not as harmful because it is not very penetrating, so it can’t penetrate the skin.

In this case, beta and gamma radiation are the most harmful because they can both penetrate the skin to damage our cells.

Inside the body

If the radioactive source is inside the body, then alpha radiation is the most harmful because it is easily absorbed by cells. In contrast, beta and gamma radiation are less likely to be absorbed by cells; they typically pass straight through.

Radiation dose

The radiation dose refers to the amount of radiation to which you are exposed, and it depends on:

  • How far away from the source you are
  • How long you are exposed to the radioactive source
  • How radioactive the material is

The higher the dose of radiation to a cell, the more likely it is that the cell will become cancerous.