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Yes, but there seems to be a misunderstanding here.

Radiation is the emanation that comes from radioactive material. Take that radioactive material away, and the radiation goes away. With the exception of neutron radiation, which is not ionizing radiation, once that radiation goes away, there is no radioactivity left in the object that received the radiation.

So, what we are really talking about is radioactive material which produces ionizing radiation, such as Cesium-137, Iodine-131, Cobalt-60, etc.

In the medical arena, you can receive ionizing radiation from sources that are inside or outside the body. For instance, in cancer treatment, you might receive a dose of gamma radiation from Cobalt-60. This can either be done with a machine that holds and collimates the gamma radiation, or you could have Cobalt-60 pins surgically implanted into a tumor for localized longer term treatment. You could receive X-Rays. You could receive a small dose from a bone scan or a heart scan.

In the non medical field, and I'm talking about nuclear accidents such as Fukushima Daiichi, the same principles apply. There is direct radiation from sources outside the body, but that is a very localized situation, applicable directly within the facility. Certainly, there is fuel damage, and parts of the facility are highly radioactive, preventing access for repairs. Externally, from the public's perspective, this has little impact.

However, there is some leakage of low level mixed fission byproducts, such as Cesium-137, Strontium-90, and Iodine-131, and they are getting into the water and air, and contaminating (at a low level) things such as vegetables and milk. The problem is not so much the direct radiation from these sources, but the unknown hazard due to ingestion of them. The problem is that even low levels of these sources, when lodged in the body, can (and I emphasize can, not will) have impact to sensitive body tissues. (It depends on magnitude.) The issue is that we don't really know what the long term effects of low levels of radioactivity does to people. Certainly, we know what high levels do, to a great degree of certainty, but not so for low levels.

So, the guiding principle to to be As Low As Reasonably Achievable, otherwise known as the ALARA principle. Yes, Fukushima Daiichi exceeded limits for release of radioactive materials, but we are not talking about a monstrous level here.

I realize that this answer deviated quite a bit from the intent, on the surface, of the original question, but I was reading into the implied subtext, because it seems that Fukushima Daiichi is on everyone's mind these days. We need to maintain calm, and not listen to the hype.

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Laurence Aufderhar

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Q: Can Ionizing radiation can be given internally or externally?
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What radiation is given off by a nuclear bomb?

prompt (at time of explosion) - neutron, gamma, x-ray, UV, visible, thermal (IR), some radio.delayed (fallout) - beta, gamma, some alpha.Types of radiation called "ionizing radiation" - alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, neutron.


Why is radioactivity referred to as ionizing radiation?

Radioactivity occurs with the breakdown r decay of certain unstable atomic nuclei. This nuclear radiation is dangerous because it has a lot of energy-on the order of millions of electron volts per emitted particle. Because chemical bonds take about 3-4 electron volts to break, this energy is enough to break apart ordinarily stable molecules into smaller, highly reactive fragments-most of which are ions. Thus, nuclear radiation gets the name ionizing radiation.


Three main type of ionizing radiation emitted from radioactive atoms?

Alpha radiation: this consists of fast moving helium nuclei - i.e. two neutrons and two protons. Beta radiation: this is composed of single electrons. Gamma radiation: very high frequency, high energy electromagnetic radiation.


Ionizing radiation can be given internally or externally?

Yes, but there seems to be a misunderstanding here.Radiation is the emanation that comes from radioactive material. Take that radioactive material away, and the radiation goes away. With the exception of neutron radiation, which is not ionizing radiation, once that radiation goes away, there is no radioactivity left in the object that received the radiation.So, what we are really talking about is radioactive material which produces ionizing radiation, such as Cesium-137, Iodine-131, Cobalt-60, etc.In the medical arena, you can receive ionizing radiation from sources that are inside or outside the body. For instance, in cancer treatment, you might receive a dose of gamma radiation from Cobalt-60. This can either be done with a machine that holds and collimates the gamma radiation, or you could have Cobalt-60 pins surgically implanted into a tumor for localized longer term treatment. You could receive X-Rays. You could receive a small dose from a bone scan or a heart scan.In the non medical field, and I'm talking about nuclear accidents such as Fukushima Daiichi, the same principles apply. There is direct radiation from sources outside the body, but that is a very localized situation, applicable directly within the facility. Certainly, there is fuel damage, and parts of the facility are highly radioactive, preventing access for repairs. Externally, from the public's perspective, this has little impact.However, there is some leakage of low level mixed fission byproducts, such as Cesium-137, Strontium-90, and Iodine-131, and they are getting into the water and air, and contaminating (at a low level) things such as vegetables and milk. The problem is not so much the direct radiation from these sources, but the unknown hazard due to ingestion of them. The problem is that even low levels of these sources, when lodged in the body, can (and I emphasize can, not will) have impact to sensitive body tissues. (It depends on magnitude.) The issue is that we don't really know what the long term effects of low levels of radioactivity does to people. Certainly, we know what high levels do, to a great degree of certainty, but not so for low levels.So, the guiding principle to to be As Low As Reasonably Achievable, otherwise known as the ALARA principle. Yes, Fukushima Daiichi exceeded limits for release of radioactive materials, but we are not talking about a monstrous level here.I realize that this answer deviated quite a bit from the intent, on the surface, of the original question, but I was reading into the implied subtext, because it seems that Fukushima Daiichi is on everyone's mind these days. We need to maintain calm, and not listen to the hype.


What type of radiation is given off by humans?

thermal radiation = heat

Related questions

What does Ionizing radiation consists of?

The second number given with a hazard class is referred to as?


What radiation is given off by a nuclear bomb?

prompt (at time of explosion) - neutron, gamma, x-ray, UV, visible, thermal (IR), some radio.delayed (fallout) - beta, gamma, some alpha.Types of radiation called "ionizing radiation" - alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, neutron.


Why is radioactivity referred to as ionizing radiation?

Radioactivity occurs with the breakdown r decay of certain unstable atomic nuclei. This nuclear radiation is dangerous because it has a lot of energy-on the order of millions of electron volts per emitted particle. Because chemical bonds take about 3-4 electron volts to break, this energy is enough to break apart ordinarily stable molecules into smaller, highly reactive fragments-most of which are ions. Thus, nuclear radiation gets the name ionizing radiation.


What about radiation make it able to cause cancer and able to cure it?

Ionizing radiation can break chemical bonds.If the bonds broken are in nucleic DNA then genes may be corrupted, disabled, or enabled. These changes can sometimes turn a cell cancerous or more commonly kill it. Cancer cells reproduce much more rapidly than ordinary cells in the body. Cells that are reproducing actively are much more likely to die from a given ionizing radiation dose than quiescent cells. Thus an established growing cancer is often killed by ionizing radiation, curing it. The immune system usually still has to clean up afterwards, killing the last of the cancer cells for a complete cure.


Ionizing radiation can be given internally or externally?

Yes, but there seems to be a misunderstanding here.Radiation is the emanation that comes from radioactive material. Take that radioactive material away, and the radiation goes away. With the exception of neutron radiation, which is not ionizing radiation, once that radiation goes away, there is no radioactivity left in the object that received the radiation.So, what we are really talking about is radioactive material which produces ionizing radiation, such as Cesium-137, Iodine-131, Cobalt-60, etc.In the medical arena, you can receive ionizing radiation from sources that are inside or outside the body. For instance, in cancer treatment, you might receive a dose of gamma radiation from Cobalt-60. This can either be done with a machine that holds and collimates the gamma radiation, or you could have Cobalt-60 pins surgically implanted into a tumor for localized longer term treatment. You could receive X-Rays. You could receive a small dose from a bone scan or a heart scan.In the non medical field, and I'm talking about nuclear accidents such as Fukushima Daiichi, the same principles apply. There is direct radiation from sources outside the body, but that is a very localized situation, applicable directly within the facility. Certainly, there is fuel damage, and parts of the facility are highly radioactive, preventing access for repairs. Externally, from the public's perspective, this has little impact.However, there is some leakage of low level mixed fission byproducts, such as Cesium-137, Strontium-90, and Iodine-131, and they are getting into the water and air, and contaminating (at a low level) things such as vegetables and milk. The problem is not so much the direct radiation from these sources, but the unknown hazard due to ingestion of them. The problem is that even low levels of these sources, when lodged in the body, can (and I emphasize can, not will) have impact to sensitive body tissues. (It depends on magnitude.) The issue is that we don't really know what the long term effects of low levels of radioactivity does to people. Certainly, we know what high levels do, to a great degree of certainty, but not so for low levels.So, the guiding principle to to be As Low As Reasonably Achievable, otherwise known as the ALARA principle. Yes, Fukushima Daiichi exceeded limits for release of radioactive materials, but we are not talking about a monstrous level here.I realize that this answer deviated quite a bit from the intent, on the surface, of the original question, but I was reading into the implied subtext, because it seems that Fukushima Daiichi is on everyone's mind these days. We need to maintain calm, and not listen to the hype.


Three main type of ionizing radiation emitted from radioactive atoms?

Alpha radiation: this consists of fast moving helium nuclei - i.e. two neutrons and two protons. Beta radiation: this is composed of single electrons. Gamma radiation: very high frequency, high energy electromagnetic radiation.


What is long wavelength radiation given out by stars?

Infrared radiation is long wavelength radiation given out by stars.


What is the fraction of the total radiation?

If you are given the "the total radiation" (e.g. 100 rads of radiation) and you are given another radiation level (e.g. 75 rads of radiation) and then you are asked: 'What is "the fraction of the total radiation?"', then you would answer "75/100".


How much radiation is deadly?

Lethal radiation dose varies, depending on physical condition and care given after receipt of dose. There is a grey area (no pun intended) between 6 and 8 Grays (a unit of ionizing radiation), equivalent to about 600 to 800 rads (in the old nomenclature), where 95% to 100% of those untreated will die, and 50% to 100% of those treated will die. Above 8 Grays, 800 rads, 100% will die. For gamma radiation, one Gray is approximately equal to one Sievert, which is a unit of dose equivalent for biological tissue, so these numbers are comparable, i.e. 8 Sieverts or 800 rem.


What type of radiation is given off by humans?

thermal radiation = heat


What is given off by radioactive elements such as radium and Plutonium?

From these isotopes decay products are obtained and also ionizing radiations.


What type of radiation is given off by strontium 90?

It emits Beta radiation.