A Small Dose of Radiation (10/21/05)

PowerPoint Presentation (also available in Acrobat format)
References / Additional Information

RADIATION DOSSIER (Nonionizing, Ionizing)

Name: Nonionizing Radiation
Use: power transmission, communication, illumination, heating, cooking, vision, photosynthesis (sun light), etc.
Source: Ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared radiation, microwaves, radio & TV, power transmission
Recommended exposure: different depending on source, i.e. sun light can damage skin
Absorption: depends on source
Sensitive individuals: variable, i.e. fair skinned children (sunburn)
Toxicity/symptoms: Depends on source. Solar radiation: sun burn, cataracts, cancer; microwave radiation: warming of skin or internal organs, controversy exists around exposure to low frequency energy such as AC power lines.
Regulatory facts: government regulates exposure
General facts: long history of use
Environmental: Our dependency on energy results in a range of consequences for example drilling for oil and mining coal to run power plants to generate electricity, in turn mercury is released in the atmosphere from burning coal
Recommendations: depending on individual sensitivity; limit exposure to solar radiation (ultraviolet radiation); reduce energy consumption

Name: Ionizing Radiation
Use: nuclear power, medical x-rays, medical diagnostics, scientific research, cancer treatment, cathode ray tube displays
Source: Radon, x-rays, radioactive material produce alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, cosmic rays from the sun and space
Recommended daily intake: none (not essential)
Absorption: interaction with atoms of tissue
Sensitive individuals: children, developing organisms
Toxicity/symptoms: damages DNA leading to cancer
Regulatory facts: heavily regulated
General facts: long history of exposure to low levels
Environmental: many cleanup sites form radioactive waste
Recommendations: limit exposure

REFERENCES / ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

European, Asian, and International Agencies

• Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  COMPARE is "responsible for assessing and advising agencies on the health effects of natural and man-made radiation in the environment".
  (ARPANSA) is "charged with responsibility for protecting the health and safety of people, and the environment, from the harmful effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation".
• England - Department of Health - Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMPARE). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  COMPARE is "responsible for assessing and advising agencies on the health effects of natural and man-made radiation in the environment".
• World Health Organization (WHO). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Site contains information on the global efforts to reduce UV radiation exposure.
  

North American Agencies

• Health Canada - Radiation Protection. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Health Canada provides information on the health effects radiation for consumer and clinical radiation protection.
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  This site contains information on health effects and emergency response to radiation exposure.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  This site has a tremendous amount of information on ionizing and nonionizing radiation and environmental contamination.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) What Is Your Annual Radiation Dose?.(accessed: 9 April 2003).
  This site shows you how to examine your current exposure to radiation.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Center for Devices and Radiological Health. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  This site contains information on the health effects and regulation of radiation emitting devices and products. "Protecting the public health by providing reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of medical devices and by eliminating unnecessary human exposure to radiation emitted from electronic products."
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Cell Phone Facts. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Site contains general and regulatory information on cell phones and related technology.
• U.S. Federal Communications commission - Office of Engineering and Technology - Radio Frequency Safety. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
• U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  The OSHA site contains information on microwave and radiofrequency devices.
• U.S. New Jersey - Nonionizing Radiation Section. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  New Jersey has an excellent with a wide range of information on radiation.
• U.S. Agency for Toxic Substance Disease Registry (ATSDR). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  See fact sheets and case studies in environmental
• U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Air Resources Laboratory. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Site contains UV radiation monitoring information for the U.S.
• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  "The NRC regulates U.S. commercial nuclear power plants and the civilian use of nuclear materials."
  

Non-Government Organizations

• Pyscians for Social Responsibility - Depleted Uranium PSR publicatoinsa and related links. (Accessed: 21 October 2005).
• National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  "The NCRP seeks to formulate and widely disseminate information, guidance and recommendations on radiation protection and measurements which represent the consensus of leading scientific thinking."
• Health Physics Society. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Site has extensive information about the health physics and radiation protection.
• University of Michigan - Radiation & Health Physics. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Site contains information "written for three distinct groups: the General Public, Students and the Health Physics community at large."
  

References

Radium Girls: Women and Industrial Health Reform, 1910-1935
by Claudia Clark, Publisher: University of North Carolina Pr; ISBN: 0807823317; (June 1997). 384 pages.