This course explains what radiation is, what types of radiation there are, and why it is harmful to the human body, and discusses how close we are to it in our daily lives and the dangers it poses. It emphasizes the importance of understanding both the benefits and dangers of radiation and how to manage it properly.
In the news, a large amount of radon, a radioactive substance, has been detected in mattresses of a popular bed brand. According to the news, the mattresses were found to contain large amounts of radon, up to 620 Bq, well above indoor limits, and were produced by coating the mattresses with an anion powder that is supposed to be good for health. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it invisible to the eye, but dangerous because it can cause fatal health problems if inhaled into the lungs. For this reason, the issue of radon should be taken very seriously. The nation was shocked when the Nuclear Safety Commission announced that all 21 mattresses produced by the brand from 2010 to the present had high levels of radon. But what is radiation and how does it affect the human body, and why is the nation reacting so strongly? In this article, we’ll explain what radiation is, what types of radiation there are, why it’s dangerous to the human body, and finally, what are some of the substances in our daily lives that emit radiation, such as radon.
To define the terms radiation and radioactivity, it’s important to understand a little bit about how the world we live in is made up of matter. All matter in the world is made up of tiny units called atoms. These atoms are composed of a nucleus and electrons in specific orbits around it, and the nucleus is made up of a certain number of neutrons and protons. The number of electrons, neutrons, and protons determines the type of atom. For example, if an atom has only one proton and one electron, it’s hydrogen; if it has two pairs of protons and neutrons, and two electrons in one orbit, it’s helium. In general, atoms have a balance of protons and electrons, with the protons in the nucleus carrying a positive charge (hence the name) and the electrons carrying a negative charge (hence the name). When the number of protons and electrons in an atom match, they are in balance and the substance is said to be “electrically neutral”. However, when this balance is disturbed, the atom becomes unstable, and the energy or particles that are released are called radiation. The process by which energy or particles are emitted from atoms that are not electrically neutral, but rather from atoms that are unstable from the time they are created by applying energy to their nuclei from the outside, is called radiation. Substances that emit such radiation are called radioactive materials, and the ability of radioactive materials to emit radiation is called radioactivity. Radioactivity is measured in physical units, usually in Curies (Ci) or Becquerels (Bq).
The radiation emitted by radioactive materials can be broadly categorized into ionizing radiation (ionizing radiation) and non-ionizing radiation (non-ionizing radiation). The first is ionizing radiation, which is generally speaking radiation that can ionize molecules, such as alpha rays, beta rays, gamma rays, neutrons, and X-rays. These ionizing radiations come from the direct decay of the nuclei of the unstable atoms described earlier. Alpha rays are made up of helium nuclei, beta rays are fast-moving electrons or positrons, gamma rays come in the form of electromagnetic waves, and X-rays are often used in medical diagnostics because of their continuous nature. These radiations can have a very large impact on living things due to their high energy, and prolonged exposure to radiation can cause DNA damage, cancer, and even death.
Next, non-ionizing radiation is ionizing, or non-ionizing, radiation that does not affect molecular structure. When we categorize white light by wavelength, we’re usually talking about ultraviolet, visible, infrared, far infrared, microwaves, and radio waves. Non-ionizing radiation is not caused by the decay of atomic nuclei, but rather by the instability of the atomic nucleus, which causes electrons to be energized and travel in an unstable orbit rather than a specific orbit. At this time, the electrons try to return to a stable orbit, and the energy they lose as they move from an unstable orbit to a stable orbit is emitted in the form of electromagnetic waves. Although this type of non-ionizing radiation is considered relatively safe, its effects on the human body cannot be completely ruled out with prolonged exposure.
Now, let’s look at why radiation is harmful to living things. As we mentioned earlier, the atoms of matter are composed of a nucleus and electrons orbiting around it. In general, if there are fewer electrons (-charge) than protons (+charge) in the nucleus, the substance is said to be positively charged and cationized, and conversely, if there are more electrons than protons, the substance is said to be negatively charged and anionized. Matter is basically a combination of positive and negative charges, and tries to be electrically neutral. However, when ionizing radiation collides with an atom, it separates the electrons orbiting the atom. As the atoms return to neutrality, the previously separated atoms are reunited, causing all sorts of problems. The atoms that make up our cells and DNA are no exception to this process, meaning that some of the ionizing radiation mentioned above penetrates the skin and affects the atoms in our body by forcing them to become positive or negative ions. For example, suppose that some of our DNA, which contains our biometric information, is ionized by ionizing radiation and then neutralized again, creating new bonds. Can we really say that the biometric information in this DNA is intact? Of course, we are exposed to small amounts of natural radiation all the time, and DNA is able to repair some of the damage through self-repair when it is altered. However, when chemical changes occur beyond this ability to repair, something goes wrong in the body and the symptoms of radiation exposure as we know it occur.
Symptoms of radiation exposure vary widely and depend on the type and intensity of the radiation exposed and the duration of exposure. In acute cases, symptoms can include skin burns, vomiting, and hair loss, and in more severe cases, bone marrow damage and internal organ side effects can occur. Chronic exposure increases the risk of cancer, especially certain cancers such as leukemia and thyroid cancer. For this reason, proper protection and prevention against radiation is essential. The dangers of radiation should not be underestimated, as the damage caused by radiation exposure can sometimes lead to cell death, and it can also cause cell mutations that can lead to cancer.
Is radiation this dangerous in our daily lives? The answer to this question is no. We naturally ingest radioactive substances, we are exposed to them every day, and there are even traces of them in the air. You can be exposed to radiation from ordinary everyday activities, such as eating a banana, using a microwave, flying on an airplane, watching TV, or using a smartphone. For example, radon is one of the most common substances we encounter in our daily lives. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust and can leak from the floors or walls of buildings and become concentrated in indoor air. It’s recognized as one of the leading causes of lung cancer, so it’s important to regularly check indoor radon levels and manage them through ventilation.
However, in most cases, the amount of radiation we encounter in our daily lives is not harmful. Exposure from everyday activities is considered part of natural radiation, and under normal conditions, the effects on health are minimal. On the contrary, radiation is useful in a variety of fields, including medical diagnostics, cancer treatment, and food preservation. For example, radiation therapy is effective in destroying cancer cells, and x-rays are essential for diagnosing diseases. As you can see, radiation is both dangerous and useful, and when managed and used correctly, it can contribute to human well-being.
In conclusion, radiation exists in many forms, from natural phenomena to man-made uses, and its effects depend on the type, intensity, and duration of exposure. It is important to recognize the hazards of radiation and to manage and use it appropriately. This will allow us to minimize the potential risks of radiation while maximizing its usefulness.
