Hazardous Effects of Ionizing Radiation - Research Paper Example

Hazardous Effects of Ionizing Radiation Radiation technology is one of the major technological breakthroughs with applications in different field and areas in the society. Though this is the case, there are different controversies surrounding the effects of the use of such technology specifically the ionizing radiation. The main objective of the paper is to be able to critically present and analyse the views regarding the use of ionizing ration specifically in relation to the layman or public perspective as well as the scientific perspective. Hazardous Effects of Ionizing Radiation Ionizing radiation is a technical term which is often heard in relation to science. For most people, it can be related to different forms of technology. Due to the widespread use of different forms of gadgets and appliances, technical terms are often translated to the layman in both the positive and the negative aspect. Ionizing radiation which is often heard or generalized by the public as radiation became known due to the possible hazardous effects to human health in relation to excessive exposure. For that matter, the paper is focused on presenting the concepts and issues related to the hazardous effects of ionizing radiation by exploring the information available to the public and the information that can be gathered from academic and scientific resources. The Public View on Ionizing Radiation In relation to the issue on the view of the public on the effects of ionizing radiation, there are different forms of information sources that can be accessed which include books, television, internet and local health facilities and institutions. Health facilities are mainly based on scientific and academic data. On the other hand, the different forms of media can be considered as the more influential and accessible form of data and information sources are focused on the hazardous effects of ionizing radiation. There are different evidences that can be related to this observation. In a simple search for the effects of ionizing radiation online, for example, majority of the articles that can be accessed are focused on issues such as hazards of radiation exposure or radiation poisoning. In the Medical News Today article published on the site entitled “What Are the Effects of Radiation on Humans? What is Radiation Poisoning?” the main example given is the Fukushima nuclear facility in Japan. Radiation had been defined was the process of decay of unstable atom which leads to the release of ionizing particles. These particles can react to organic materials such as human tissue which can ultimately lead to burns, cancer and even death (Medical News Today, 2011). The said article also presented the different levels of exposure and their observable symptoms to humans. Included in the initial symptoms are loss of white blood cells, nausea, vomiting and headache. These effects become worse as the amount of radiation increases (Medical News Today, 2011). According to the American Cancer Society, there is a link between radiation exposure and cancer. There are different types of radiation based on the amount of energy. Ionizing radiation is dangerous due to the fact that it is on the high-energy end of the radiation spectrum. At this level, radiation can cause damage or mutation to the DNA. Included in the types of ionizing radiations are “gamma rays, x-rays, some high-energy UV rays and some sub-atomic particles and protons” (American Cancer Society, 2013). Based on the same article, the evidences on the carcinogenic effects of ionizing agents can be confirmed by the different events risks related to radiation exposure which includes “atomic bomb survivors in Japan, people exposed during the Chernobyl nuclear accident, people treated with high doses of radiation for cancer and other conditions, and people exposed to high levels of radiation at work, such as uranium miners” (American Cancer Society, 2013). In the search of online data readily available to the public, the main link that can be observed is Wikipedia. In the social networking side Facebook for example, when the phrase ionizing radiation is typed, a page which is liked to Wikipedia can be found. Although Wikipedia covers topics extensively, it is not recognized as an academic resource or reference (Facebook Website, 2013). Regardless of this fact, most people are inclined to believe in materials can easily be accessed in the different forms for mass media. Although the public can only access the information readily available through different forms of social media, it does not mean that all the information are false. The information technology can be considered as a double edged sword that can bring both positive and negative effects. On the positive note, not all information gathered on TV or on the internet are false but most of the time, the influx of information is extremely confusing. The Scientific View on Ionizing Radiation Due to the advancement of technology, even the scientific and the academic grade information can easily be presented to the public. Most of the universities, research facilities and government organizations have virtual addresses where information based on scientific investigations are presented. With regards to the issue on the hazardous effects of ionizing radiation to human health, the scientific view presents both the sides of the story. Scientific research results present the importance and the risk of radiation. One study presented in the WONUC Conference on the Effects of Low and Very Low Doses of Ionizing Radiation on Health captured the confusion of the public due to the political, social and economic issues factoring in the concept of ionizing radiation. The said experiment was able to tackle the effects of radiation on a positive note. According to the author, there are 14 universities and 2 research institutes that explored the benefits of low-dose radiation in a process referred to as radiation hormesis. In the study he presented the different dangerous explorations of radiation that gravely affected human health then concluded it through the presentation of the promising results of radiation hormesis experimentations. He quoted a study by Luckey which initiated the concept of radiation hormesis which means that low dose of any form of stressor, which in this case high-level radiation can result to stimulation and invigoration instead of promotion of cancer. This was also supported by Japanese researchers by stating that it can “rejuvenate cells, lessen stress through enzyme production, suppression of diabetes and hypertension and even cancer through improvement in the immune system processes” (Cuttler, 1999). Upon studying the results presented by Cuttler though, it can be observed that the data did not dispute the fact that ionizing radiation has hazardous effects to human health. Another study explored the effects of radiation on a specific human structure which is the human vasculature. Based on the study, ionizing radiation due to nuclear accidents and cancer radiotherapy can result to pathologies in the vascular structure (Grabham & Sharma, 2013). Upon stating this, it can be surmised that it is a fact that ionizing radiation is dangerous to human health. Although this is the case, the same paper presented the notion of an ionizing radiation of charged ion particles which are stripped of electrons, thus, can give the opposite effects to the human body. This phenomenon can only be found in space or in particle collider facilities on earth. Aside from the observation that the ionizing radiation on the said particle can give opposite effects, it had stirred the interest of researchers due to the positive help in cancer radiotherapy (Grabham & Sharma, 2013). Based on this study then, a question of whether to consider such particles to be included in the focus of the paper on the hazardous effects of ionizing radiation surfaced. On a personal view, due to such existence it is important to consider all possible aspects of the issue. With regards to the authorities in human health in the different countries of the world, the information dissemination related to the risks of ionizing radiation to health can also be observed. Included in the said groups are the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the USA Environmental Protection Agency. The website of the WHO presents a more layman-friendly perspective which discusses less of the technical process of how ionizing radiation affects health but more of the WHO’s program to help the public (World Health Organization, 2013). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the other hand, presents a more technical but detailed information on acute radiation syndrome (ARS). It can also be considered an easy read since the information are in bullets. In one look, the ARS diseases are known which include bone marrow syndrome (or hematopoietic syndrome), gastrointestinal (GI) syndrome, and cardiovascular (CV)/ Central Nervous System (CNS) syndrome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006). The USA EPA also presents a very detailed health risk page related to radiation protection (2012). Conclusion Based on the gathered scientific and academic information on the effects of ionizing radiation it can be considered that there is very less confusion on the view of the public that radiation is very hazardous to human health. There may be differences in terms of technical information regarding the process of ionizing radiation and the specific details of the effects of exposure but the whole picture of the degrading effects of radiation on human health is clear. In cases wherein science disputes the public and the different social, political and economic issues that cloud the layman’s perspective regarding the positive effects, for example in cancer treatment, the presented evidences are considered exceptions to the rule. For example the particles ionizing radiation that can only be found in space with positive effects on human tissue is not naturally occurring on earth to be considered beneficial. References American Cancer Society (2013). Radiation exposure and cancer. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/medicaltreatments/radiation-exposure-and-cancer Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2006). Acute Radiation Syndrome: A Fact Sheet for Clinicians. Retrieved from http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/arsphysicianfactsheet.asp Cuttler, J.M. (1999). Resolving the controversy over beneficial effects of ionizing radiation. WONUC Conference on the Effects of Low and Very Low Doses of Ionizing Radiation on Health Organized by the Council of Nuclear Workers in Versailles France. Retrieved from http://library.whnlive.com/RadiationHormesis/ResearchFolder/CutlerIonizingRadiation.pdf Facebook Website (2013). Ionizing radiation. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ionizing-radiation/114378025238967# Grabham, P. and Sharma, P. (2013). The effects of radiation on angiogenesis. Vasc Cell5 (1), 19. Medical News Today (2011, March 19). What are the effects of radiation on humans? What is radiation poisoning? Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219615.php USA EPA (2012). Radiation protection: Health effect. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/radiation/understand/health_effects.html World Health Organization (2013). Ionizing radiation. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/about/what_is_ir/en/index.html Read More