Radaition Hazards-Sources, Prevention and Control of Radiation Hazards.

Radiation is a part of environment. The background radiation is contribute by tree sources namely terrestial radiation, cosmic radiation and radiation from radioactive elements in our bodies. Since ionising radiations have the capacity to ionise the molecules, so when  ionisiong radiation enters into our body, they ionise the tissue molecules and chemical dissocialn takes place. Due to this there is distortion of DNA chain and body cells take place. The cell production rare increases and malignant tumour is formed. These type of radiations are unnecessary to the body. Hence the damages due to such unwanted radiation to the body parts is termed as radiation Hazards. Radiation Hazards mainly take place due to two types of sources.

1. Internal sources of radiation
2. External sources of radiation

The damaging of body cells due to radiation from external source of radiation is much less than that of internal sources or radiation.

Radiation Hazard from the Internal source of radiation

This type of radiation hazard are due to:

• deposition of radioactive nuclide by injection to the body
• depositions of radioactive nuclide by inhalation in the body
• deposition of radioactive nuclide bye swallowing

Radiation Hazard from External source of radiation

It is due to the careless handling and use of radioactive source and therapy unit of 60 Co etc.

These two categories of hazards are due to the use of radioactive sources by workers or individuals. Also depending upon the roduction of radiation, the hazards are:

• Due to natural radiation
• Due to artifical radiation

Hazard due to natural radiation

1. Cosmic radiation to earth's atmosphere gives some radiation effect. The global yearly dose (average) due to cosmic radiation is 0.39 MSV.
2. Earth crust is made of up of radioactive materials such as uranuim. Rock soils contain uranium ie. radioactive material so they irradiate the whole body more or less uniformly. The global dose per year is 0.46 MSV.
3. Radon is naturally radioactive gas coming from Uranium that is widespread in earth crust. It is emitted from rocks or soils. When radon is inhaled it can lodge in lung and irradiate tissue. The global dose is 1.3 MSV.
4. Food and water contain radioactive material when food and water are taken, these radioactive materials are taken, they enter int he body and irradiate tissue. The global dose is 0.23 MSV.

Hazard due to artifical source of radiation

The radiation hazard take place due to artificial source of radiation such as:

Medical
Radiation is used in medicine to diagnosis disease and to kill cancer cells. During treatment or diagnosis indivisuals are exposed to radiation that may cause hazards.

Institutions
Many medical institutions discharge radioactive materials into environment that causes radiation hazard.

Environmental radiation
Due to testing of atom bombs and other nuclear activities, radioactive materials set free in atmosphere. These cause irradiation in human due to radioactive material deposition on the ground or from inhalation of air borne radioactivity and from injectio of radioactive material in food and water.

Nuclear power industry
The release radioactive material at each stage int he nuclear fuel cycle.

Non-Nuclear industries
They produce radioactive discharge in the processing of ores containing radiation. The discharged products processing of ores containing radiation. The discharged products transfer throough the food chain from the population.

Accidental release of radioactive material
In normal operation the radioactivity can be widely dispersed accidentally which causes radiation hazard.

Radiation in consumer products
In consumer goods such as smoke detectors, luminious watches, dolls etc may emit radiaton to cause hazard.