RadiationIs there a Problem, and if so

what’s the Solution?

Diandra Urena

What is Radiation?

• Radiation is in every part of our lives. It occurs naturally in the earth and can reach us through cosmic rays from outer space like sunshine. Radiation may also occur naturally in the water we drink or the soils in our backyard. It even exists in food, building materials, and in our own human bodies.

• Radiation is energy that travels through space. It can be define as energy given off by the nucleus of an atom in the form of particles or rays.

• Radiation is electromagnetic waves that carry energy!

Radiation comes in different forms:

• There are many kinds of radiation.

• But we have two major types; non-ionizing radiation,and ionizing radiation.

• Non-ionizing radition has enough energy to move atoms around, but not enough to change them chemically.

• Ionizing radiation is the most energetic kind of radiation.

• We also have electromagnetic radiation which is energy carried by electromagnetic waves through space.

Ionizing Radiation

• Ionizing radiation is radiation with enough energy so that during an interaction with an atom, it can remove tightly bound electrons from the orbit of an atom, causing the atom to become charged or ionized.

• This type of radiation can cause very serious damage to matter but in specific living tissue, which can be very dangerous if you receive too much of it. therefore is very important to control how much of it we receive.

• Radiation can and is a benefit for us when use for medical issues.

Types of ionization radiation

Is there a problem?

• Yes and the problem lies in a device that some of us may consider extremely important.

• That device which for many has become necessary is the CELL PHONE.

• The cell phone is not the only problem, radiation can also be a danger to pregnant women and babies.

Cell Phones

• About 2 billion people in this world were recorded last year as cell phone subscribers according to the industry researcher Informa Telecoms & Media, a division of Informa and every day this number increases.

• As this number keeps increasing so do concerns about health effects from electromagnetic radiation source held so near the brain.

Well since cell phones have to send out a small amount of electromagnetic radiation in form radio frequency (RF) energy, the problem is whether or not cell phones transfer enough radiation to cause health problems.

- When we use our cell phones they are placed close to or against our head which causes the radiation that the phones transmit to go through tissue in the head.

But where does the cell phone radiation come from?

• While you are speaking on your cell, a transmitter takes the sound of your voice and sends it onto a continuous sine wave.

• Then the transmitter sends the signal to the antenna, which then sends the signal out.

• Once the signal is receive through the antenna by a receiver in the cell phone tower.

• Since these signals are made up of electromagnetic radiation which are waves of electric and magnetic energy moving at the speed of light it is dangerous for a human tissue depending on the frequency of the message.

The reason why scientist believe that cell phones are harmful:

• Radiation can damage human tissue if exposed to high levels of RF radiation.

• This type of radiation can heat human tissue

• It can have long term effects. (Although it may not immediately cause damage to tissue, scientists are still unsure about whether prolonged exposure could create problems. )

Investigations Continue…• To investigate more on this

subject a group of Swedish researchers claim that a single 2 hour exposure to microwaves emitted by some cell phones kills brain cells in rats.

• If this was to be confirm it would be the first results to directly link cell phones radiation to brain damage.

• According to another study conducted by the Dutch government and technological research institute TNO, radio signals for the next generation of mobile phone services can cause headaches and nausea.

Believe it or not…

• Believe it or not there are a couple of illnesses that have links to cell-phone radiation.

• Examples: -cancer -brain tumors -Alzheimer's -Parkinson's -fatigue -headaches

So what's the solution to this problem?

• Even though no study to date has provided an exact evidence that cell phones can cause any of these illnesses, there are ongoing studies that testing this issue more closely.

Here are a few ways to reduce your risk:

• Use a hands-free headset.

• Use a phone that places the antenna as far away from you as possible.

• Extend the antenna during use.

• Limit calls inside buildings.

• Use the phone in open spaces as often as possible.

• Limit use by children.

Radiation a risk to pregnant women:

• Radiation exposure before birth can increase a person's risk of getting cancer later in life.

• Radiation can occur when the mother's stomach is exposed to radiation from outside her body.

• Also, a pregnant woman who accidentally swallows or breathes in radioactive materials may absorb that substance into her bloodstream.

• From the mother's blood, radioactive materials may pass through the umbilical cord to the baby or concentrate in areas of the mother's body near the womb (such as the urinary bladder) and expose the unborn baby to radiation.

Consequences:

• The health consequences can be severe, even at radiation doses too low to make the mother sick.

• For example some consequences can be:• stunted growth • deformities • abnormal brain function• cancer that may develop sometime later in life • When an unborn baby is exposed to large doses of

radiation (above the dose received from 500 chest x-rays) during the more sensitive stages of development (especially between weeks 8 and 15 of pregnancy), the health consequences can be severe, especially to the brain.

For you to know…• Traveling during your pregnancy may be dangerous and is

something which we are not inform of often. • When you travel you are being expose to an extreme amount of

radiation. • You must make sure that oxygen levels are ok for you and your

baby • Be aware that small private planes are not well pressurized so you

should avoid it. • Sitting still for long periods of time increases your risk of developing

blood clots in your legs, both due to pooling of blood in the leg veins and because pregnant women have increased clotting factors in their blood.

• Airlines may not always inform you of this ns why they don’t do it most likely “money”

• Be cautious!!!!

Another source of radiation that can be harmful is the microwave oven.

• According to studies microwaves may affect the human body.

• Microwave radiation can heat body tissue the same way it heats food.

• High levels of this radiation can cause painful burns, and even cataract in the eyes since it is very sensitive to intense heat.

• If by accident you are exposed to high levels of microwave energy it can alter or kill sperm, producing temporary sterility.

• But these types of injuries like; burns, cataracts, temporary sterility can only be caused by exposure to large amounts of microwave radiation.

It all depends…

• The amount of damage caused by radiation all depends on

• The amount• The amount rate• type of radiation • the part of the body that is exposed • age and health• Know also that even a small amount of

radiation involves the possibility of risk to human health.

Remember …

• Radiation also has its advantages, large doses of radiation directed specifically at tumors, are use in radiation therapy to kill cancerous cells and some times safe lives. Other large dose are use to kill harmful bacteria in food, and to sterilize bandages and other medical materials.