scholarly journals Effect of Ionizing Radiation on Human Health

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (03) ◽  
pp. 200-205
Author(s):  
Ashish Chaturvedi ◽  
Vinod Jain

The effects of radiation was first recognized in the use of X-rays for medical diagnosis. The rush in exploiting the medical benefits led fairly to the recognition of the risks and induced harm associated with it. In the early days, the most obvious harm resulting from high doses of radiation, such as radiation burns were observed and protection efforts were focused on their prevention, mainly for practitioners rather than patients. Although the issue was narrow, this lead to the origin of radiation protection as a discipline. Subsequently, it was gradually recognized that there were other, less obvious, harmful radiation effects such as radiation-induced cancer, for which there is a certain risk even at low doses of radiation. This risk cannot be completely prevented but can only be minimized. Therefore, the balancing of benefits from nuclear and radiation practices against radiation risk and efforts to reduce the residual risk has become a major feature of radiation protection. In this paper, we shall be looking at the precautionary measures for protecting life, properties and environment against ionizing radiation.

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
BN Praveen ◽  
AR Shubhasini ◽  
R Bhanushree ◽  
PS Sumsum ◽  
CN Sushma

ABSTRACT Radiation is the transmission of energy through space and matter. There are several forms of radiation, including ionizing and nonionizing. X-rays are the ionizing radiation used extensively in medical and dental practice. Even though they provide useful information and aid in diagnosis, they also have the potential to cause harmful effects. In dentistry, it is mainly used for diagnostic purposes and in a dental set-up usually the practicing dentist exposes, processes and interprets the radiograph. Even though such exposure is less, it is critical to reduce the exposure to the dental personnel and patients in order to prevent the harmful effects of radiation. Several radiation protection measures have been advocated to ameliorate these effects. A survey conducted in the Bengaluru among practicing dentists revealed that radiation protection awareness was very low and the necessary measures taken to reduce the exposure were not adequate. The aim of the article is to review important parameters that must be taken into consideration in the clinical set-up to reduce radiation exposure to patients and dental personnel. How to cite this article Praveen BN, Shubhasini AR, Bhanushree R, Sumsum PS, Sushma CN. Radiation in Dental Practice: Awareness, Protection and Recommendations. J Contemp Dent Pract 2013;14(1):143-148.


Author(s):  
K. Loganovsky ◽  
◽  
P. Fedirko ◽  
K. Kuts ◽  
D. Marazziti ◽  
...  

Background.Exposure to ionizing radiation could affect the brain and eyes leading to cognitive and vision impairment, behavior disorders and performance decrement during professional irradiation at medical radiology, including interventional radiological procedures, long-term space flights, and radiation accidents. Objective. The objective was to analyze the current experimental, epidemiological, and clinical data on the radiation cerebro-ophthalmic effects. Materials and methods. In our analytical review peer-reviewed publications via the bibliographic and scientometric bases PubMed / MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and selected papers from the library catalog of NRCRM – the leading institution in the field of studying the medical effects of ionizing radiation – were used. Results. The probable radiation-induced cerebro-ophthalmic effects in human adults comprise radiation cataracts, radiation glaucoma, radiation-induced optic neuropathy, retinopathies, angiopathies as well as specific neurocognitive deficit in the various neuropsychiatric pathology including cerebrovascular pathology and neurodegenerative diseases. Specific attention is paid to the likely stochastic nature of many of those effects. Those prenatally and in childhood exposed are a particular target group with a higher risk for possible radiation effects and neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusions. The experimental, clinical, epidemiological, anatomical and pathophysiological rationale for visual system and central nervous system (CNS) radiosensitivity is given. The necessity for further international studies with adequate dosimetric support and the follow-up medical and biophysical monitoring of high radiation risk cohorts is justified. The first part of the study currently being published presents the results of the study of the effects of irradiation in the participants of emergency works at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP). Key words: ionizing radiation, cerebroophthalmic effects, neurocognitive deficit, radiation accident, radiation cataracts, macular degeneration.


2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-132
Author(s):  
M.M. Ninkovic

Harmful effects of radiation and call for protection against it were recognized practically immidiatly upon the discovery of X-rays and radioactivity. A chronological review of some key events in development of radiation protection is given in this paper. First, the main activities of the ICRP since its establishment to nowadays are presented. Afterwards, a general description of some, according to the author's opinion, important events in the field of radiation protection in the former Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro are given as: Vinca accident; Organization of Radiation Protection Laboratory in Vinca Institute; International Vinca Dosimetry Experiment; First Symposium and organization of the Yugoslav Radiation Protection Association; the French - Yugoslav Colloquium on radiation protection; International intercomparison experiment on nuclear accident dosimetry, and the International Summer Schools and Symposium on Radiation Protection organized in Yugoslavia. Some comments on the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl accidents are given as well. Bioindicators of low dose and dose intensity exposure are cited as one of the main problems that have to be resolved in radiation protection in the near future. Finally, as one of the main problems that, according to the author's opinion, physicists have to resolve in this field in the near future would be development of the operational dosimeter for high energy neutrons.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-103
Author(s):  
Md Hafizur Rahman

The field of Radiology and Nuclear medicine has advanced from era of X-rays to today's modern imaging techniques, most of which use the ionizing radiation. With the benefits of better diagnosis and treatment, it has caused manifold increase in radiation exposure to the patients and the radiology and nuclear medicine personnel. Many studies done till date have clearly documented the harmful effects of ionizing radiation from radiation exposure, especially cancer. This is more important in paediatric population as their tissues are more radiosensitive, and they have more years to live. Diagnostic and therapeutic radiological procedures including nuclear medicine are integral part of modern medical practices, exposing both patients and medical staff to ionizing radiation. Without proper protective measures, this radiation causes many negative health effects. Hence, proper knowledge and awareness regarding the radiation hazards and radiation protection is mandatory for health professionals, especially the nuclear medicine and radiology professionals. International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) has recommended two basic principles of radiation protection, justification of the practice and optimization of protection. Faridpur Med. Coll. J. Jul 2019;14(2): 100-103


2021 ◽  
pp. 20210389
Author(s):  
Charles Brower ◽  
Madan M Rehani

Millions of patients benefit from medical imaging every single day. However, we have entered an unprecedented era in imaging practices wherein 1 out of 125 patients can be exposed to effective dose >50 mSv from a single CT exam and 3 out of 10,000 patients undergoing CT exams could potentially receive cumulative effective doses > 100 mSv in a single day. Recurrent imaging with CT, fluoroscopically guided interventions, and hybrid imaging modalities such as positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is more prevalent today than ever before. Presently, we do not know the cumulative doses that patients may be receiving across all imaging modalities combined. Furthermore, patients with diseases with longer life expectancies are being exposed to high doses of radiation enabling radiation effects to manifest over a longer time period. The emphasis in the past on improving justification of imaging and optimization of technique and practice has proved useful. While that must continue, the current situation requires imaging device manufacturers to urgently develop imaging technologies that are safer for patients as high doses have been observed in patients where imaging has been justified through clinical decision-support and optimized by keeping doses below the national benchmark doses. There is a need to have a critical look at the fundamental principles of radiation protection as cumulative doses are likely to increase in the coming years.


1968 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingolf Lamprecht ◽  
Christa Umlauf ◽  
Werner Stein

The oxidation of ferrous to ferric iron is used as a measure of the effect of ionizing radiation in Fricke dosimeter solution in the presence of glycerine at various concentrations. At low glycerine concentrations the sensitivity of the system to X-rays was found to be increased by the presence of the alcohol while at higher concentrations a radiation-protection effect was observed. The increased sensitivity rose to a maximum at glycerine concentrations of 0.01 to 0.1 Mol, the size of the maximum depending on the duration of the radiation. The peak represents a sensitivity of about twice the normal ion conversion. The falling off at low concentrations is explained on the basis of a model where the presence of alcohol leads directly to increased ferric ion yield, that at high concentrations as being due to increased viscosity of the system. Other alcohols showed similar results.


Author(s):  
Jeannette Kathrin Kraft ◽  
Peter Howells

Ionizing radiation continues to revolutionize the diagnostic process in medicine. However, it comes with risks to patients and staff. The amount of radiation patients receive is rising, mainly due to the use of high-dose examinations such as computed tomography and image-guided interventional procedures. In some countries, the amount of radiation a population receives from medical use is already larger than that from natural background radiation. A basic knowledge of radiation effects on the human body and radiation protection principles enables clinicians to assess potential risks associated with ionizing radiation and guides the choice of investigation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-27
Author(s):  
Julio Abel ◽  
Julio Abel

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to review the genesis and evolution of the concept termed dose and dose rate effectiveness factor or DDREF, to expose critiques on the concept and to suggest some curse of action on its use. Material and methods: Mainly using the UNSCEAR reporting and ICRP recommendations as the main reference material, the paper describes the evolution (since the 70’s) of the conundrum of inferring radiation risk at low dose and dose-rate. People are usually exposed to radiation at much lower doses and dose rates than those for which quantitative evaluations of incidence of radiation effects are available – a situation that tempted experts to search for a factor relating the epidemiological attribution of effects at high doses and dose-rates with the subjective inference of risk at low doses and dose-rates. The formal introduction and mathematical formulation of the concept by UNSCEAR and ICRP (in the 90’s), is recalled. It is then underlined that the latest UNSCEAR radiation risk estimates did not use a DDREF concept, making it de facto unneeded for purposes of radiation risk attribution. The paper also summarizes the continuous use of the concept for radiation protection purposes and related concerns as well as some current public misunderstandings and apprehension on the DDREF (particularly the aftermath of the Fukushima Dai’ichi NPP accident). It finally discusses epistemological weaknesses of the concept itself. Results: It seems that the DDREF has become superseded by scientific developments and its use has turned out to be unneeded for the purposes of radiation risk estimates. The concept also appears to be arguable for radiation protection purposes, visibly controversial and epistemologically questionable Conclusions: It is suggested that: (i) the use of the DDREF can be definitely abandoned for radiation risk estimates; (ii) while recognizing that radiation protection has different purposes than radiation risk estimation, the discontinuation of using a DDREF for radiation protection might also be considered; (iii) for radiation exposure situations for which there are available epidemiological information that can be scientifically tested (namely which is confirmable and verifiable and therefore falsifiable), radiation risks should continue to be attributed in terms of frequentistic probabilities; and, (iv) for radiation exposure situations for which direct scientific evidence of effects is unavailable or unfeasible to obtain, radiation risks may need to be inferred on the basis of indirect evidence, scientific reasoning and professional judgment aimed at estimating their plausibility in terms of subjective probabilities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 5993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Belli ◽  
Maria Antonella Tabocchini

The present system of radiation protection assumes that exposure at low doses and/or low dose-rates leads to health risks linearly related to the dose. They are evaluated by a combination of epidemiological data and radiobiological models. The latter imply that radiation induces deleterious effects via genetic mutation caused by DNA damage with a linear dose-dependence. This picture is challenged by the observation of radiation-induced epigenetic effects (changes in gene expression without altering the DNA sequence) and of non-linear responses, such as non-targeted and adaptive responses, that in turn can be controlled by gene expression networks. Here, we review important aspects of the biological response to ionizing radiation in which epigenetic mechanisms are, or could be, involved, focusing on the possible implications to the low dose issue in radiation protection. We examine in particular radiation-induced cancer, non-cancer diseases and transgenerational (hereditary) effects. We conclude that more realistic models of radiation-induced cancer should include epigenetic contribution, particularly in the initiation and progression phases, while the impact on hereditary risk evaluation is expected to be low. Epigenetic effects are also relevant in the dispute about possible “beneficial” effects at low dose and/or low dose-rate exposures, including those given by the natural background radiation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
S.R. Yahaya ◽  
Mimi H. Hassim

Ionizing radiation has been increasingly applied in medicine and firmly established as an essential tool for diagnosis. There is high possibility for medical radiation workers to receive doses that are considerably higher than recorded by their dosimeters due to lack of knowledge about ionizing radiation, lack of training in radiation protection, and attitude of the workers themselves toward radiation protection. The purpose of this study is to estimate the radiation risk due to occupational exposure to ionizing radiation among medical diagnostic workers at hospitals in Malaysia. Also the objective is to determine the knowledge of occupational radiation exposure and radiation safety among the workers.  The assessment was made based on the collective doses collected from film badge of the workers. The results of risk assessment show the mean annual collective effective dose based on type of X-ray procedure in this study was 5.445mSv, which is much lower compared to the whole body exposure dose limit, set by the ICRP Publication 60. A survey on knowledge of occupational radiation exposure and radiation safety was conducted using questionnaire and it was found that vast majority of respondents were aware of radiation safety with 91.3% answered the specific questions regarding radiation protection at workplace correctly. Unfortunately only 30.4% of the respondents fully understand the hazard they are exposed to. The study reveals that there is a critical need to educate not only medical radiation workers but also medical doctors and nurses to decrease unnecessary occupational exposure to radiation hazard.


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