0
There is some debate on that topic...
While there is no question that large acute exposure to ionizing radiation is dangerous and potentially lethal, the "jury is still out" on the question of long term exposure to low levels. The issue is that we don't yet have sufficient statistical proof one way or the other.
In fact, the average non-occupational dosage in the US is approximately 200 millirem per year, half from medical sources, and half from natural sources.
Some people even think that some long term exposure is necessary, as part of the driving forces that keep us healthy by forcing our cells to repair themselves.
Since the question remains open, and a hot (:-)>) topic, the nuclear industry has adopted the principle of ALARA, which means As Low As Reasonably Achiveable, so we essentially minimize dosage, both to radiation workers, and to the general public.
Keep in mind that the medical community semi-routinely doses us, such as in a nuclear stress test, with several REM, while the radiation worker community would be horrified if that happened to someone in a short period of time.
Its all a matter of degree, and the body's ability to repair itself.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoYes, ionizing radiation is classified as high energy photons capable of damaging chemical bonds, i.e. human cells and tissue. Exposure to ionizing radiation leads to what is known as radiation sickness, which in effect is the result of excessive damage to cells and the DNA contained within
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIt can make our environment destroyed and the human living things died...
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoradiation can cause living things to mutate.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoHarm or damage them
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
How are cells affected by radiation?
The alpha particles have an ionising effect changing the polarity of parts of the cells in your body. this then causes your genetic information to become mixed up, causing mutation or death of the cells, the first causing cancerous growths, the latter causing burns.
Why is radiation from radioactive elements is destructive to living cells?
Because it breaks chemical bonds in the cells. Good luck on UTexas! :)
Which kind of radiation can penetrate clothing and skin to damage cells deep within a living body?
gamma
How can ionisation damage living cells?
ionising radiation can break molecules into ions. these ions take part in other chemical reactions in the body cells. for example these ionization can break the bonds in the DNA bases and cause mutations. or can interrupt with the processes like respiration that provides cell with energy. ionisation can also produce radicals that take part in other chemical reactions in the body like electric impulses from the brain and can damage the nervous system. hope that helps !)
What happens to the distribution of chloroplasts during plasmolysis?
The chloroplasts have clumped into the middle. This demonstrates the effect on a hypertonic solution on living cells. :)
Why is ionisation dangerous to your cells?
Body cells are made of atoms and if ionising radiation occurs, your cells would lose electrons and this could cause mutations etc
What ultravio let light is harmful to humans?
It is a type of ionising electromagnetic radiation. Ionising radiation is radiation composed of particles that individually have sufficient energy (or can liberate sufficient energy) to remove an electron from an atom or molecule, i.e., in this situation humans. It damages the cells of your skin essentially by smashiing into it.
What has the author Ian D Logan written?
Ian D. Logan has written: 'The effect of low intensity laser irradiation and low level, low LET ionising radiation on DNAwithin mammalian cells'
How are cells affected by radiation?
The alpha particles have an ionising effect changing the polarity of parts of the cells in your body. this then causes your genetic information to become mixed up, causing mutation or death of the cells, the first causing cancerous growths, the latter causing burns.
Can radiation kill pancreatic cancer?
When ionising radiation interacts with living cells is usually kills these cells. Thus yes, radiation can kill pancreatic cells that are cancerous. However the radiation will also destroy healthy cells (and destroy the pancreas) so the amount of radiation given has to be low and well targeted. This is difficult to achieve and if any cancerous cells remain alive they will regrow the cancer.
Explain why blood treated with ionising radiation does not expose the patient with ionising radiation?
This is not a routine practice, but it is desirable when transfusing animmunocompromised patient, as the T-lymphocytes in the transfused blood may otherwise provoke a graft-versus-host reaction. Low-dose ionising radiation inactivates the T-lymphocytes without harming the other blood components. Radiation has also been proposed as a method of sterilising the blood units, but much higher doses, which are not necessarily well tolerated by the blood cells, are needed for this purpose.
How does the heating effect of absorbed radiation damage living cells?
well i was on here to find an answer but i found nothing, so they probably damage them by ionizing them causing cancerous cells or they can develop radiation sickness, this means the cells can have an abnormal cell, so when this divides it carrys on the chain.
What has the author David Sumner written?
David Sumner has written: 'Radiation risks' -- subject(s): Physiological effect, Effect of radiation on, Cells, Radiation
How is radioactivity materials harmful?
When a living body absorbs radiation, the radiation can cause shemical changes in the body. Some of these Might effect the DNA and cause a rapid, out of control growth of cells...CANCER.
How can uv light cause more than one type of effect?
UV light is a type of radiation that generally has negative consequences on living cells.
What has the author Frederick Gordon Spear written?
Frederick Gordon Spear has written: 'Radiations and living cells' -- subject(s): Physiological effect, Radiation
What is the ionizing power of alpha particle?
A beta particle is equivalent to an electron. The difference is that beta particles originate in the nucleus before they are ejected while electrons originate outside the nucleus.
