Particle Radiation Includes High-Energy

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Particle Radiation Includes High-Energy AccessScience from McGraw-Hill Education Page 1 of 4 www.accessscience.com Radiation Contributed by: McAllister H. Hull, Jr. Publication year: 2019 Key Concepts • Radiation is the emission and propagation of energy, and may also refer to the emitted energy itself. • The major types of radiation are electromagnetic, particle, acoustic, and gravitational. • Electromagnetic radiation consists only of photons, whereas particle radiation includes high-energy photons as well as other rapidly moving subatomic particles and atomic nuclei. • Ionizing radiation can be harmful to living tissue, although it is widely used in medicine. • Acoustic, or sound, radiation, is classified by frequency. Sonic radiation is audible to the human ear. Infrasonic sound is below the range of human hearing, and ultrasonic is above that range. • Gravitational radiation consists of waves that propagate through spacetime at the speed of light and are generated by the acceleration of mass. The emission and propagation of energy; also, the emitted energy itself. Radiation is a ubiquitous phenomenon that transfers energy and matter from one place to another. The major types of radiation are electromagnetic (Fig. 1), particle, acoustic, and gravitational. Within these major divisions there are many subdivisions. See also: ENERGY ; MATTER (PHYSICS) . Electromagnetic radiation Massless, elementary particles called photons carry the electromagnetic force, one of nature’s four fundamental interactions along with gravitation and the strong and weak nuclear interactions. Electromagnetic radiation is most familiar to us as visible light, which is a small range of possible energies (and associated wavelengths) that photons may possess. The energy of a photon is inversely proportional to the wavelength. In order of decreasing wavelength (and thus increasing energy) along the electromagnetic spectrum, electromagnetic radiation is subdivided into radio, microwave, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, and gamma ray. In the last three subdivisions, and frequently in the visible, the behavior of the radiation is more particlelike than wavelike. See also: ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION ; FUNDAMENTAL INTERACTIONS ; GAMMA RAYS ; GRAVITATION ; LIGHT ; PHOTON ; STRONG NUCLEAR INTERACTIONS ; WEAK NUCLEAR INTERACTIONS ; X-RAYS . AccessScience from McGraw-Hill Education Page 2 of 4 www.accessscience.com CrepuscularFig. 1 Crepuscular rays from rays, the which Sun are shafts of air illuminated by electromagnetic radiation (light) radiating from the Sun. [Credit: Danny Chapman ∕ Flickr ∕ Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic ( CC BY-SA 2.0 )] Particle radiation Particle radiation consists of rapidly moving subatomic particles as well as atomic nuclei. High-energy photons, and in particular gamma rays, are by convention categorized as particle radiation. A classic example of particle radiation is the alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons bound as a doubly ionized helium nucleus (meaning the helium atom is stripped of its two electrons). Another classic example of particle radiation is the beta particle, which consists of either an electron or its antimatter counterpart, a positron. Another kind of particle radiation is the cosmic ray, generated in a range of energies by astrophysical phenomena. Most cosmic rays are a lone proton (hydrogen nucleus), but others are heavier ionized nuclei. See also: ALPHA PARTICLES ; ANTIMATTER ; ATOMIC NUCLEUS ; BETA PARTICLES ; COSMIC RAY ; ELECTRON ; ELEMENTARY PARTICLE ; HELIUM ; HYDROGEN ; PROTON . Ionizing versus non-ionizing radiation In terms of damage to living tissue, an important categorization across electromagnetic and particle radiation is ionizing versus non-ionizing. Ionizing radiation includes highly energetic electromagnetic radiation (light), such as gamma rays, and particles that remove electrons from atoms, potentially breaking chemical bonds. Non-ionizing radiation involves less energetic radiation, for instance infrared radiation. Non-ionizing radiation exposure can cause heating in biological tissue, which can also of course be harmful, but in general, non-ionizing radiation is of considerably less concern than ionizing radiation. See also: INTERACTION OF PHOTONS WITH IONIZED MATTER ; IONIZATION ; RADIATION INJURY (BIOLOGY) . AccessScience from McGraw-Hill Education Page 3 of 4 www.accessscience.com gravitationalFig. 2 Illustration waves of gravitationalmoving through radiation space generated by the impending merger of two neutron stars. (Credit: R. Hurt ∕ Caltech-JPL) Both categories of electromagnetic and particle radiation are widely used in medicine. Radiology uses the tissue-penetrating power of radio waves, for instance, as well as x-rays, which are absorbed by bones, for diagnostic and imaging purposes. Nuclear medicine more broadly utilizes ionizing radiation generated by materials ingested or implanted in the body for diagnostic, research, and therapeutic purposes. Radiation therapy uses targeted doses of ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells. See also: MAMMOGRAPHY ; MEDICAL IMAGING ; NUCLEAR MEDICINE ; NUCLEAR RADIATION (BIOLOGY) ; RADIATION THERAPY ; RADIOGRAPHY ; RADIOISOTOPE (BIOLOGY) ; RADIOLOGY . Acoustic radiation Acoustic or sound radiation may be classified by frequency as infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic in order of increasing frequency. Infrasonic is "below" and ultrasonic is "above" the range of human hearing because of its frequency band being lower and higher, respectively, than the human auditory system can detect. Sonic radiation—in the range of hearing—spans between about 16 and 20,000 Hz. Infrasonic sound can result from explosions or other sources so loud that exceptional waves are set up because the large amplitudes of the source vibrations exceed the elastic limit of the transmitting medium. Ultrasonic sound can be produced by means of crystals which vibrate rapidly in response to alternating electric voltages applied to them. Ultrasound is widely used in medical imaging, with some examples of its applications including imaging a gestating fetus or a beating adult heart. See also: BIOMEDICAL ULTRASONICS ; ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY ; HEART (VERTEBRATE) ; INFRASOUND ; SOUND . Gravitational radiation Gravitational radiation consists of waves that travel through spacetime at the speed of light and are generated by the acceleration of mass (Fig. 2). German-born U.S. theoretical physicist Albert Einstein first proposed the existence of gravitational waves in his general theory of relativity in 1916. The waves proved too small to directly AccessScience from McGraw-Hill Education Page 4 of 4 www.accessscience.com detect until 2015, when an experiment called the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) 22 registered waves passing through Earth. LIGO is sensitive to a strain of one part in 10, , or on the order of one ten-thousandth the diameter of a proton. The gravitational waves were theoretically generated by the collision of black holes more than a billion light-years distant. LIGO has since made numerous detections from similar events, as well as neutron star mergers. See also: BLACK HOLE ; GRAVITATIONAL RADIATION ; LIGO (LASER INTERFEROMETER GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE OBSERVATORY) ; MASS ; NEUTRON STAR ; RELATIVITY ; SPACETIME . McAllister H. Hull, Jr. Keywords Radiation; electromagnetic radiation; acoustic radiation; sound; particle radiation; gravitational radiation; gravitational waves; light; medical imaging; radiation injury; nuclear reactions; nuclear radiation; gamma radiation Test Your Understanding 1. Define radiation. 2. What are the four major types of radiation? 3. Critical Thinking: Describe at least three factors that should be considered when using radiation in medicine. Support your conclusions with reasoning and relevant examples. 4. Critical Thinking: Identify three natural sources of radiation experienced on Earth and explain some ways in which those sources may affect humans. 5. Critical Thinking: What category of radiation could have more energy than microwave radiation and a longer wavelength than ultraviolet radiation? Explain your answer. Additional Readings P. Andreo, D. T. Burns, A. E. Nahum, and J. Seuntjens, Fundamentals of Ionizing Radiation Dosimetry: Textbook and Solutions , Wiley, 2017 A. Bettini, A Course in Classical Physics 3 — Electromagnetism , Springer, 2016 F. Fahy and D. Thompson, Fundamentals of Sound and Vibration , 2nd ed. CRC Press, 2015 D. Reitze, P. Saulson, and H. Grote, Advanced Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Detectors (In 2 Volumes) , World Scientific, 2019 .
Recommended publications
  • Glossary Derived From: Human Research Program Integrated Research Plan, Revision A, (January 2009)
    Glossary derived from: Human Research Program Integrated Research Plan, Revision A, (January 2009). National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058, pages 232-280. Report No. 153: Information Needed to Make Radiation Protection Recommendations for Space Missions Beyond Low-Earth Orbit (2006). National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, pages 309-318. Reprinted with permission of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, http://NCRPonline.org . Managing Space Radiation Risk in the New Era of Space Exploration (2008). Committee on the Evaluation of Radiation Shielding for Space Exploration, National Research Council. National Academies Press, pages 111-118. -A- AAPM: American Association of Physicists in Medicine. absolute risk: Expression of excess risk due to exposure as the arithmetic difference between the risk among those exposed and that obtaining in the absence of exposure. absorbed dose (D): Average amount of energy imparted by ionizing particles to a unit mass of irradiated material in a volume sufficiently small to disregard variations in the radiation field but sufficiently large to average over statistical fluctuations in energy deposition, and where energy imparted is the difference between energy entering the volume and energy leaving the volume. The same dose has different consequences depending on the type of radiation delivered. Unit: gray (Gy), equivalent to 1 J/kg. ACE: Advanced Composition Explorer Mission, launched in 1997 and orbiting the L1 libration point to sample energetic particles arriving from the Sun and interstellar and galactic sources. It also provides continuous coverage of solar wind parameters and solar energetic particle intensities (space weather). When reporting space weather, it can provide an advance warning (about one hour) of geomagnetic storms that can overload power grids, disrupt communications on Earth, and present a hazard to astronauts.
    [Show full text]
  • Cherenkov Radiation
    TheThe CherenkovCherenkov effecteffect A charged particle traveling in a dielectric medium with n>1 radiates Cherenkov radiation B Wave front if its velocity is larger than the C phase velocity of light v>c/n or > 1/n (threshold) A β Charged particle The emission is due to an asymmetric polarization of the medium in front and at the rear of the particle, giving rise to a varying electric dipole momentum. dN Some of the particle energy is convertedγ = 491into light. A coherent wave front is dx generated moving at velocity v at an angle Θc If the media is transparent the Cherenkov light can be detected. If the particle is ultra-relativistic β~1 Θc = const and has max value c t AB n 1 cosθc = = = In water Θc = 43˚, in ice 41AC˚ βct βn 37 TheThe CherenkovCherenkov effecteffect The intensity of the Cherenkov radiation (number of photons per unit length of particle path and per unit of wave length) 2 2 2 2 2 Number of photons/L and radiation d N 4π z e 1 2πz 2 = 2 1 − 2 2 = 2 α sin ΘC Wavelength depends on charge dxdλ hcλ n β λ and velocity of particle 2πe2 α = Since the intensity is proportional to hc 1/λ2 short wavelengths dominate dN Using light detectors (photomultipliers)γ = sensitive491 in 400-700 nm for an ideally 100% efficient detector in the visibledx € 2 dNγ λ2 d Nγ 2 2 λ2 dλ 2 2 11 1 22 2 d 2 z sin 2 z sin 490393 zz sinsinΘc photons / cm = ∫ λ = π α ΘC ∫ 2 = π α ΘC 2 −− 2 = α ΘC λ1 λ1 dx dxdλ λ λλ1 λ2 d 2 N d 2 N dλ λ2 d 2 N = = dxdE dxdλ dE 2πhc dxdλ Energy loss is about 104 less hc 2πhc than 2 MeV/cm in water from €
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Glossary
    NUCLEAR GLOSSARY A ABSORBED DOSE The amount of energy deposited in a unit weight of biological tissue. The units of absorbed dose are rad and gray. ALPHA DECAY Type of radioactive decay in which an alpha ( α) particle (two protons and two neutrons) is emitted from the nucleus of an atom. ALPHA (ααα) PARTICLE. Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium nucleus. They are a highly ionizing form of particle radiation, and have low penetration. Alpha particles are emitted by radioactive nuclei such as uranium or radium in a process known as alpha decay. Owing to their charge and large mass, alpha particles are easily absorbed by materials and can travel only a few centimetres in air. They can be absorbed by tissue paper or the outer layers of human skin (about 40 µm, equivalent to a few cells deep) and so are not generally dangerous to life unless the source is ingested or inhaled. Because of this high mass and strong absorption, however, if alpha radiation does enter the body through inhalation or ingestion, it is the most destructive form of ionizing radiation, and with large enough dosage, can cause all of the symptoms of radiation poisoning. It is estimated that chromosome damage from α particles is 100 times greater than that caused by an equivalent amount of other radiation. ANNUAL LIMIT ON The intake in to the body by inhalation, ingestion or through the skin of a INTAKE (ALI) given radionuclide in a year that would result in a committed dose equal to the relevant dose limit .
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Fusion Enhances Cancer Cell Killing Efficacy in a Protontherapy Model
    Nuclear fusion enhances cancer cell killing efficacy in a protontherapy model GAP Cirrone*, L Manti, D Margarone, L Giuffrida, A. Picciotto, G. Cuttone, G. Korn, V. Marchese, G. Milluzzo, G. Petringa, F. Perozziello, F. Romano, V. Scuderi * Corresponding author Abstract Protontherapy is hadrontherapy’s fastest-growing modality and a pillar in the battle against cancer. Hadrontherapy’s superiority lies in its inverted depth-dose profile, hence tumour-confined irradiation. Protons, however, lack distinct radiobiological advantages over photons or electrons. Higher LET (Linear Energy Transfer) 12C-ions can overcome cancer radioresistance: DNA lesion complexity increases with LET, resulting in efficient cell killing, i.e. higher Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE). However, economic and radiobiological issues hamper 12C-ion clinical amenability. Thus, enhancing proton RBE is desirable. To this end, we exploited the p + 11Bà3a reaction to generate high-LET alpha particles with a clinical proton beam. To maximize the reaction rate, we used sodium borocaptate (BSH) with natural boron content. Boron-Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) uses 10B-enriched BSH for neutron irradiation-triggered alpha-particles. We recorded significantly increased cellular lethality and chromosome aberration complexity. A strategy combining protontherapy’s ballistic precision with the higher RBE promised by BNCT and 12C-ion therapy is thus demonstrated. 1 The urgent need for radical radiotherapy research to achieve improved tumour control in the context of reducing the risk of normal tissue toxicity and late-occurring sequelae, has driven the fast- growing development of cancer treatment by accelerated beams of charged particles (hadrontherapy) in recent decades (1). This appears to be particularly true for protontherapy, which has emerged as the most-rapidly expanding hadrontherapy approach, totalling over 100,000 patients treated thus far worldwide (2).
    [Show full text]
  • Exposure Data
    X-RADIATION AND γ-RADIATION 1. Exposure data 1.1 Occurrence 1.1.1 X-radiation X-rays are electromagnetic waves in the spectral range between the shortest ultraviolet (down to a few tens of electron volts) and γ-radiation (up to a few tens of mega electron volts) (see Figure 2, Overall introduction). The term γ-radiation is usually restricted to radiation originating from the atomic nucleus and from particle annihilation, while the term X-radiation covers photon emissions from electron shells. X-rays are emitted when charged particles are accelerated or decelerated, during transitions of electrons from the outer regions of the atomic shell to regions closer to the nucleus, and as bremsstrahlung, i.e. radiation produced when an electron collides with, or is deflected by, a positively charged nucleus. The resulting line spectra are characteristic for the corresponding element, whereas bremsstrahlung shows a conti- nuous spectrum with a steep border at the shortest wavelengths. Interaction of X-rays with matter is described by the Compton scattering and photoelectric effect and their resulting ionizing potentials, which lead to significant chemical and biological effects. Ions and radicals are produced in tissues from single photons and cause degradation and changes in covalent binding in macromolecules such as DNA. In other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, below the spectra of ultraviolet and visible light, the single photon energies are too low to cause genotoxic × –μ⋅d effects. The intensity (I) of X-rays inside matter decreases according to I = I0 10 , where d is the depth and μ a coefficient specific to the interacting material and the corresponding wavelength.
    [Show full text]
  • Office of Radiation Protection
    How is Dose Measured? July 2002 Fact Sheet 320-058 Division of Environmental Health Office of Radiation Protection RADIATION DOSE When radioactive material decays and the transformation of the atom occurs there is characteristic energy that is released. This energy is released in the form of what we call radiation. There are different types of radiation, but they all serve the same general purpose, ridding the atom of excess energy after it transforms. These radiations travel until, by losing energy, they “stop”. Radiation loses its energy by interacting with atoms in its pathway and transferring energy to the atom during these interactions. When an interaction with radiation removes an electron from the atom it is called ionization. Other types of interactions include the excitation of an atom, the breaking of molecular bonds, and the heating of an atom or molecule. Ionization, excitation, and molecular bond breaking can cause biological damage; heat transfer does not necessarily cause biological damage. The purely physical event of energy deposited by a radiation in a given volume of material, i.e. tissue, is called the absorbed dose. The unit of absorbed dose is called the Rad, the international unit is the Gray (gy). The absorbed dose quantifies the amount of energy transferred to a volume of material, but it does not reflect the biological damage that potentially occurred. Because of the physics of radiation, the biological effect of the same amount of absorbed energy may vary according to the type of the radiation. A quality factor, Q was developed, to be able to compare absorbed doses from different radiation types.
    [Show full text]
  • 1. the Three Types of Nuclear Radiation Are Protons, Electrons, Neutrons
    Page 1 of 8 This chapter has 53 questions. Scroll down to see and select individual questions or 0 questions at random and keep in order narrow the list using the checkboxes below. Multiple Choice Questions - (45) Topic: Nuclear reactions and nuclear fission - (4) Fill In The Blank Questions - (8) Topic: Nuclear reactors - (11) Odd Numbered - (27) Topic: Nuclear weapons and nuclear fusion - (9) Even Numbered - (26) Topic: Radioactive decay - (19) Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation - (45) Topic: The structure of the nucleus - (10) Difficulty: Easy - (46) Type: Conceptual - (50) Difficulty: Hard - (1) Type: Definition - (10) Difficulty: Medium - (6) Type: Numerical - (3) 1. The three types of nuclear radiation are protons, electrons, neutrons. electrical, strong nuclear, weak nuclear. radiation, convection, conduction. → gamma, beta, alpha. Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation Difficulty: Easy Topic: Radioactive decay Multiple Choice Question Type: Conceptual MC The three types of nuclear radiation are Type: Definition 2. The word "radioactive" means an atomic nucleus absorbs neutrons. there is significant interference between atomic radiation and radio reception. → there are nuclei present which will spontaneously emit nuclear radiation. an atom spontaneously captures an electron from a neighboring atom. Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation Difficulty: Easy Multiple Choice Question Topic: Radioactive decay MC The word radioactive means Type: Conceptual 3. The discovery of the neutron helped people understand → how two atoms of the same element can have different atomic masses. why the nucleus has a positive charge. how electrons are attracted to the nucleus. why the nucleus is much more massive than the electrons in an atom. Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation Difficulty: Easy Multiple Choice Question Topic: The structure of the nucleus MC The discovery of the neutron helped people u..
    [Show full text]
  • The Potential Detrimental Impact of Galactic Cosmic Radiation on Central Nervous System and Hematopoietic Stem Cells
    THE POTENTIAL DETRIMENTAL IMPACT OF GALACTIC COSMIC RADIATION ON CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS By RUTULKUMAR UPENDRABHAI PATEL Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Scott M. Welford, Ph.D Department of Pharmacology CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY January, 2019 CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES We hereby approve the thesis/dissertation of Rutulkumar Upendrabhai Patel Candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree *. (signed) Derek Taylor (Committee Chair) Scott M. Welford (Dissertation Advisor) Stanton L. Gerson (Committee Member) Marvin Nieman (Committee Member) Jennifer Yu (Committee Member) (date) December 3rd, 2018 *We also certify that written approval has been obtained for any proprietary material contained therein. ii Dedication I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my parents, Upendrabhai and Ujvalakumari Patel, who supported my wishes and ambitions despite being lived most of their lives in a lower-middle class family income. They sacrificed a lot to make sure a better life for their children. I would also like to dedicate this to my two sisters, Ekta and Vanita, for their support and encouragement over the years. iii Table of Contents Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………….. iv List of Figures ………………………………………………………………….. viii Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………. xii Abstract ……………………………………………………………….…………. 1 Chapter 1: Introduction and Background ………………………………….. 3 1.1 Radiation, DNA Damage, and Carcinogenesis …………………………... 3 1.1.1 Space Radiation Environment and Induction of DNA Damage …………………………………………………………… 8 1.1.2 Radiation Induced Carcinogenesis ……………….................... 10 1.2 Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche and Functions …………………………… 12 1.2.1 Low-LET Irradiation and HSC Injuries …………………………. 16 1.2.2 High-LET Irradiation Impact on HSCs ………………………….
    [Show full text]
  • What Is Ionizing Radiation Fact Sheet
    What is Ionizing Radiation? January 2003 Fact Sheet #3 Division of Environmental Health Office of Radiation Protection IONIZING RADIATION Ionizing radiation is radiation that has sufficient energy to remove orbital electrons from atoms, leading to the formation of ions. In this document, ionizing radiation will be referred to simply as radiation. One source of radiation is the nuclei of unstable atoms. For these radioactive atoms (also referred to as radionuclides or radioisotopes) to become more stable, the nuclei eject or emit subatomic particles and high-energy photons (gamma rays). This process is called radioactive decay. Unstable isotopes of radium, radon, uranium, and thorium, for example, exist naturally. Others are continually being made naturally or by human activities, such as the splitting of atoms in a nuclear reactor. Either way, they release ionizing radiation. Types of Ionizing Radiation ¨ Alpha Particle Radiation ¨ Beta Particle Radiation ¨ Gamma Ray Radiation ¨ X-Ray Radiation Alpha Particle Radiation An alpha particle consists of two neutrons and two protons ejected from the nucleus of an atom. The alpha particle is identical to the nucleus of a helium atom. Examples of alpha emitters are radium, radon, thorium, and uranium. Because alpha particles are charged and relatively heavy, they interact intensely with atoms in materials they encounter, giving up their energy over a very short range. In air, their travel distances are limited to approximately an inch. Alpha articles are easily shielded against and can be stopped by a single sheet of paper. Since alpha particles cannot penetrate the dead layer of the skin, they do not present a hazard from exposure external to the body.
    [Show full text]
  • Radiation Properties Page 1 of 17
    Radiation Properties Page 1 of 17 Radiation Properties The Atom The Bohr Model of the atom consists of a central nucleus composed of neutrons and protons surrounded by a number of orbital electrons equal to the number of protons. Protons are positively charged, while neutrons have no charge. Each has a mass of about 1 atomic mass unit or amu. Electrons are negatively charged and have mass of 0.00055 amu. The number of protons in a nucleus determines the element of the atom. For example, the number of protons in uranium is 92 while the number in neon is 10. The proton number is often referred to as Z. An element may have several isotopes. An isotope of an element is comprised of atoms containing the same number of protons as all other isotopes of that element, but each isotope has a different number of neutrons than other isotopes of that element. Isotopes may be expressed using the nomenclature Neon-20 or 2ONe10, where 20 represents the combined number of neutrons and protons in the atom (often referred to as the mass number A), and 10 represents the number of protons (the atomic number Z). While many isotopes are stable, others are not. Unstable isotopes normally release energy by undergoing nuclear transformations (also called decay) through one of several radioactive processes described later in this module. Elements are arranged in the periodic table with increasing Z. Radioisotopes are arranged by A and Z in the chart of the nuclides. Radiation Properties Page 2 of 17 Radiation Radiation is energy transmitted through space in the form of electromagnetic waves or energetic particles.
    [Show full text]
  • Risk of Acute Radiation Syndromes Due to Solar Particle Events
    Evidence Report: Risk of Acute Radiation Syndromes due to Solar Particle Events Human Research Program Space Radiation Program Element Approved for Public Release: April 6, 2016 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas CURRENT CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: Lisa Carnell, PhD NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA Steve Blattnig, PhD NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA Shaowen Hu, PhD Wyle Science Technology & Engineering, Houston, TX Janice Huff, PhD Universities Space Research Association, Houston, TX Myung-Hee Kim, PhD Wyle Science Technology & Engineering, Houston, TX Ryan Norman, PhD NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA Zarana Patel, PhD Wyle Science Technology & Engineering, Houston, TX Lisa Simonsen, PhD NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA Honglu Wu, PhD NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX PREVIOUS CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS: Honglu Wu NASA Johnson Space Center Janice L. Huff Universities Space Research Association Rachel Casey Universities Space Research Association Myung-Hee Kim Universities Space Research Association Francis A. Cucinotta NASA Johnson Space Center Reference for original report: Human Health and Performance Risks of Space Exploration Missions, (Jancy C. McPhee and John B. Charles, editors), NASA SP-2009- 3405, 2009. 1 Table of Contents I. PRD RISK TITLE: RISK OF ACUTE RADIATION SYNDROMES DUE TO SOLAR PARTICLE EVENTS ........................................................................................... 4 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Internalized Β-Particle Emitting Radionuclides
    INTERNALIZED β-PARTICLE EMITTING RADIONUCLIDES Internalized radionuclides that emit β-particles were considered by a previous IARC Working Group in 2000 (IARC, 2001). Since that time, new data have become available, these have been incorporated into the Monograph, and taken into consideration in the present evaluation. 1. Exposure Data bias due to measurement error. These require- ments need to be given due consideration when See Section 1 of the Monograph on X-radiation evaluating the evidence on the carcinogenicity of 3 and γ-radiation in this volume. β-particle irradiation arising from H intakes. The current review of the epidemiological literature focuses on studies of workers in the 2. Cancer in Humans nuclear power and weapons industry for whom 3H could have been an important contribution to the dose. While environmental releases of 2.1 Pure β-particle emitters 3H have led to large numbers of people exposed 3 2.1.1 Tritium to low levels of H, there have been few epide- miological studies of these exposures, and none 3H is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that has quantified doses from 3H. This review gives emits low-energy β-particles. 3H is readily taken primary attention to epidemiological analyses in into the body via inhalation, ingestion, and which individuals’ 3H exposures were quantified dermal absorption; once deposited in the body, permitting comparisons between groups with 3H acts as an internal emitter. While ubiqui- different exposure histories. tous, the low magnitude of 3H doses typical of Several studies have considered the risk of environmental and occupational settings makes prostate cancer and occupational exposures epidemiological research on the health effects of to radionuclides, including 3H, among United 3H intakes difficult.
    [Show full text]