Non-Ionizing Radiation and Ionizing Radiation - Essay Example

The ionizing radiations are rays that cannot be smelled, viewed, heard, or even felt. According to a view shared by Liou (2002), the major source of ionizing radiation is radioactive materials that emit beta, alpha, and gamma radiation. Therefore, the commonly known ionizing radiation consists of beta particles, alpha particles, x-rays, and gamma rays.

Up until the late 18th century, ionizing radiation aimed unexplored due to its invisibility, tactlessness, or odourlessness among others. However, numerous ordinary materials emitted small quantities of radiation. Studies have demonstrated that radiation has various effects on the living effects impacting cells that build living things. Radiation randomly affects the cell. This implies that a similar amount, as well as the type of radiation, can hit the same cell numerous times, but resulting in dissimilar effects, for instance, every time it strikes there is no effect.

On the contrary, it is generally presumed that the more the radiation hits a cell, the higher the odds of an impact from happening. The resulting effect is theism may die if most cells are affected. Contrarily, Haffty and Wilson (2012) note that exposure to penetrating radiation is known as irradiation and it usually occurs when the body is rendered available in part or whole from an unshielded source. An individual is not made radioactive from external radiation. In summary, exposure to natural radiation by people occurs daily.

Natural radiation originates from various sources, such as over 60 radioactive materials that occur in nature including air, soil, and water. As an example, Radon is a naturally-existing gas that comes from soil and rock. It is the major source of natural radiation. Daily, humaDailynuclides from water, food, and air. Furthermore, especially at high altitudes, persons are often exposed to the natural radiation from cosmic rays. Averagely, about 80 percent of the yearly dose an individual receives of background radiation is a result of natural cosmic along with terrestrial sources of radiation.

As a result of geological variations, the background levels of radiation are different. Exposure to particular areas may be more than 200 times more than the universal norm. Proceeding further, exposure to radiation by humans also originates from sources that are human-made including power generation and utilization of radiation for medicinal purposes, for instance, for treatment, diagnosis, and research. Currently, x-ray machines in addition to other medical gadgets are the most common sources of ionizing radiation. X-rays pass through soft tissues but are usually stopped by dense materials like bones.