Read and Answer Questions
Biological Effects of Radiation
Common terms used in discussing the biological effects of ionizing radiation: (the links
are information at the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission website.)
What is a curie?
(here) ( https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/curie-ci.html )
What is a rad?
(here) ( https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/rad-radiation-absorbed-dose.html ) What do the letters stand for?
What is a rem?
(here) ( https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/rem-roentgen-equivalent-man.html ) What do the letters stand for?
o
For
beta ( https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/beta-particle.html ) and
Gamma radiation ( https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/gamma-radiation.html ) , the dose equivalent is the same as
the
absorbed dose. ( https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/dose-absorbed.html )
True or false?
o
By contrast, the dose equivalent is larger than the absorbed dose
For alpha ( https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/alpha-particle.html ) and
neutron radiation ( https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/neutron-source.html ) ,
because these types of radiation are more damaging to the human body.
True or false?
o
To calculate the potential biological damage in rems, the radiation
absorbed dose is multiplied by a quality factor. The quality factor takes
into account that some radiation, such as alpha radiation, is potentially
more damaging than beta radiation.
(here) ( https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/quality-factor.html )
True or false?
The hazardous effect of a radioactive element depends (at least partly) on where the
elements go in our body.
Where is strontium-90 likely to be found in our bodies?
What types of
cancer is it associated with?
o
The half-life of strontium-90 is 28.9 years. But the “biological half-life”
may be much less, perhaps tens to hundreds of days. What does the term
biological half-life?
o
Why did children born in the 1950s and 60s have relatively high levels of
strontium-90 in their teeth? What was this attributed to?
Why is radon associated with lung cancer?
o
Why does radon accumulate in buildings?
o
“
ASTM E-2121 is a US standard for reducing air-born radon in homes as
far as practicable below the action level of 4
picocuries per liter (pCi/L)
(148 Bq/m3). Some states recommend achieving 2.0 pCi/L or less.”
Why is testing for radon important? Describe one or two of the methods
used to reduce the levels of radon that can enter a dwelling.