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Why is radiation dangerous? After it was first discovered, the potential health effects of ionizing radiation became extremely clear. Since then, radiation devices have become extremely common and safe, as long as the right precautions are taken.
Radiation may be invisible, but its effects are very real. But, why is this type of energy so detrimental to your health? Where is it used most commonly? And, what exactly does it do?
In this article, we will tell you what radiation is, why it’s so dangerous, and everything you need to know about protecting against this type of energy.
Why Is Radiation Dangerous? Here’s a Brief Explanation
Radiation is dangerous because it carries enough energy to damage or alter the structure of atoms and cells in your body.
When cells are exposed to ionizing radiation, DNA damage can occur, potentially leading to mutations, tissue burns, or long-term health effects like cancer if protective measures aren’t followed.
Radiation is a form of energy that travels through space as waves or particles. It occurs naturally in the environment and can also be produced artificially for medical or industrial use. While not all radiation is harmful, ionizing radiation has the power to penetrate tissues and disrupt cellular functions.
What Is Radiation Used For?
Radiation has countless applications in modern life, especially in medicine, research science, and industry. It’s used to diagnose and treat diseases, sterilize equipment, inspect materials, and of course to generate electricity.
Despite these benefits, every use must be carefully controlled to minimize unnecessary exposure and keep patients as well as engineers and other professionals safe.
The Health Effects of Direct Exposure to Ionizing Radiation
Exposure to ionizing radiation can lead to serious health issues, depending on the dose and duration. High levels may cause radiation burns, nausea, and acute radiation syndrome that produces severe organ issues.
Long-term or repeated low-dose exposure can increase cancer risks and genetic damage, which highlights the importance of consistent safety practices.
How to Protect Yourself from Radiation
Now that we know why radiation is dangerous, let’s discuss the best ways to protect against it.
Although it’s invisible, direct exposure to ionizing radiation can have a major impact on your health and well-being. As such, you need to provide protection for patients, radiation professionals, and others who may be exposed to unsafe levels of ionizing energy.
Here are 5 steps you should take to help protect from ionizing radiation.
1. Implement the ALARA Principle
ALARA, which stands for “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” is a principle that was developed shortly after the discovery of ionizing radiation. In summary, this is a methodology that focuses on reducing radiation as much as possible and it’s built on 3 main pillars: time, distance, and shielding.
The idea is simple:
- Reduce the amount of time you’re exposed to radiation
- Increase the distance between the source of the radiation to help decrease the intensity of the beam
- Use protective barriers like lead aprons and movable shields to absorb, block, and scatter radiation
2. Follow Regulatory Requirements
Next, you should adhere to regulatory requirements set forth by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and other entities responsible for regulating the use of radiation devices. This includes agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Department of Energy (DOE).
All of these entities provide aligned safety guidelines, so make sure that you adhere to the requirements applicable to your radiation equipment and provide everything your facility staff needs.
3. Provide the Right Type of Safety Equipment
One of the most important components of a radiation safety protocol is the shielding and lead PPE you provide to your team.
The materials, design, fit, and overall quality of the lead aprons, thyroid shields, lead glasses, and other protective equipment all contribute to their performance. As a general rule of thumb, you should always get your radiation PPE from a high-quality manufacturer that has a proven track record.
4. Review Your Radiation Protocol with Your RSO
Your radiation security officer or RSO is the person responsible for establishing and managing the radiation safety programs in our facility. In addition to training fellow staff members, monitoring equipment, and implementing ALARA procedures, your RSO also needs to review your radiation protocol to ensure it constantly complies with regulatory agencies.
By reviewing the radiation protocol with your RSO, you can help ensure that all requirements are being met and develop potential solutions for areas that may need improvement.
5. Provide Ongoing Training and Education
While your RSO is responsible for delivering training and educating your team about radiation, you also need to help organize the lessons, provide the necessary resources, and give your staff time to attend safety training sessions.
This may require you to rotate staff in order to keep your facility running during the training and set up additional sessions to freshen up this knowledge, so make sure to include this as part of your facility’s safety budget.
Get the Best PPE for Your Radiation Team
Radiation technology is present in medical settings, research labs, and industrial facilities, but it’s still necessary to wear protective equipment to prevent direct exposure to ionizing energy.
Direct exposure to gamma rays and X-rays can result in acute radiation syndrome in high doses. Cumulative exposure to low-dose energy can also cause severe health issues, so protecting the radiation professionals and patients in your facility is a must.
Developing a safety protocol for your facility is essential because it will help dictate when and how to wear radiation PPE. Lead is a great shielding material because it can absorb and scatter radiation, so providing protective aprons, thyroid shields, and eyewear that contain this heavy metal can help keep radiation exposure to safe levels.
Barrier Technologies has designed and manufactured high-quality radiation PPE for the last 2 decades. Contact us today to get assistance choosing the right radiation PPE for your facilities and our team of safety experts will be glad to assist.lead aprons
