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Understanding the three types of radiation is essential to creating a safe environment for patients and practitioners in your medical facilities.
The reason for this is that ongoing exposure without using the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) can lead to significant health issues down the road.
In this article, we’ll list the three types of radiation and explain the difference between ionizing vs. non-ionizing beams. We’ll also discuss the effects of radiation on humans and share safety tips to help create a safe environment in your facility.
What Are the Three Types of Radiation?
Before delving any further, let’s go over the most important part: what are the three types of radiation?
The short answer is that the three types of radiation are alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.
Radiation energy moves freely through space, sometimes traveling like a wave and in other instances like a beam of particles moving at a face speed. While they all share the same category, each type of radiation has unique and distinct characteristics.
Let’s take a closer look at each type of radiation.
1. Alpha Radiation
Alpha radiation is heavy and doesn’t travel very far, so it’s considered a short-range particle.
Unlike others you will find on this list, alpha radiation is actually an ejected helium nucleus and in most cases cannot penetrate human skin. That said, materials that emit alpha particles can be harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed.
2. Beta Radiation
Beta radiation is another type of short-range particle that often comes in the form of an electron. Contrary to alpha beams, beta rays are moderately penetrating.
For instance, they can penetrate the top layer of the human epidermis, but they are not strong enough to get past the basal layer where skin cells are created.
While clothing can provide some protection, materials that emit radiation can cause skin injuries if there is prolonged contact between the two.
3. Gamma Radiation and X-Rays
Radiation technology that utilizes gamma particles and X-rays has the potential to save more than 3.5 million lives each year.
Gamma rays and X-rays are pure energy in the form of photons. The only difference is that the former originate from the nucleus of the atom, while the latter are emitted from processes that occur outside of the nucleus.
Both gamma and X-rays are electromagnetic radiation so they can travel long distances. These electromagnetic waves can penetrate most materials including human tissues, so they can have damaging effects on the body.
While clothing provides no protection against this type of radiation, materials like lead, tungsten, and other dense elements can shield against its effects.
Ionizing vs. Non-Ionizing Radiation
The question “what are the three types of radiation?” can’t be answered without discussing ionizing and non-ionizing energy.
Ionizing radiation has enough energy to forcefully remove and dislodge electrons from atoms. When an atom loses an electron, it becomes a negatively charged particle that’s known as an an ion. This requires a huge amount of energy, so this process can damage materials at a molecular level, including of course human skin.
As you can imagine non-ionizing energy doesn’t remove electrons. Now, this doesn’t mean that this type of radiation is harmless as ultraviolet light is technically non-ionizing and may very well produce a sunburn. However, the effects of these particles don’t take place at a molecular level.
The Effects of Radiation on Humans
Though the exposure method may differ, each of the three types of radiation can destroy living tissue and have a negative effect on the body. This type of energy can affect organs like the heart, lungs, and thyroid, producing health issues that can manifest long after the initial exposure.
Let’s take a closer look.
Radiation Poisoning
Radiation poisoning, or acute radiation syndrome, occurs after high-level exposure to ionizing radiation. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, skin burns, and, in severe cases, internal bleeding, organ failure, or even death without proper treatment.
Organ Damage
Prolonged exposure to radiation can severely damage vital organs like the heart, lungs, and kidneys. These damages may take years to manifest and often lead to chronic health conditions that impact daily function and quality of life.
Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome
Radiation fibrosis syndrome develops after long-term radiation exposure, causing tissue scarring and stiffness. This condition can affect muscles, skin, and connective tissues, leading to pain, restricted movement, and severe physical impairment over time.
Elevated Risk of Cancer
Radiation exposure, especially ionizing radiation, is known to increase cancer risk. It damages DNA, creating mutations that lead to cancer development in various organs, including the lungs, skin, thyroid, and bone marrow.
How to Lower the Risks Associated with Radiation Exposure
Radiation exposure can be detrimental without the right protection. The only way to protect your patients and medical team is by providing appropriate PPE gear to everyone who is exposed to radiation.
This is even more important for professionals and other individuals who are constantly exposed to this type of energy.
Fortunately, radiation PPE has never been more effective and comprehensive. Today, you can opt for thyroid shields, lead aprons, movable shields, protective drapes, and other accessories that help you keep your team safe.
If you have questions about the different types of protective gear or need guidance selecting the best accessories for your facility, contact Barrier Technologies.
Protect Your Team with Radiation Shielding Equipment
Radiation is so powerful it can cause changes at a molecular level. That said, not all types of radiation have the same impact, so understanding the difference between the alpha, beta, and gamma rays can help ensure safety across the board.
There is no doubt that radiation technology has many beneficial applications, but it’s necessary to protect patients as well as technicians and medical practitioners from excess exposure. Long-term exposure without proper protection can cause severe health issues, so it’s imperative to safeguard anyone in close proximity.
At Barrier Technologies, we specialize in manufacturing radiation PPE for hospitals, diagnostic clinics, and other facilities. Contact us today to learn more.
