Radiation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Radiation - Research Paper Example UV radiation comprises only about 5% of total solar radiation but is biologically important, as exposure to this part of the spectrum might lead to damage of cellular DNA and thereby increase the risk for skin cancer. Descriptive epidemiological data strongly indicate a link between solar radiation and malignant melanoma. Studies of have suggested that the risk for melanoma is related to exposure to solar rays at the place of residence in early life. Some 5% of solar radiation is within the ultraviolet spectrum and may cause both malignant melanoma and non-melanocytic skin cancer; the latter is regarded as a benign disease and is accordingly not included in our estimation of avoidable cancers (Edmund Kennet Karuth, 2011). Ionizing radiation is classified as either particulate or electromagnetic. Charged particles such as electrons (beta minus particles), protons, alpha particles (helium nuclei) and heavy ions can ionize directly. Uncharged particles, notably neutrons, interact with the nuclei of the atoms through which they pass and give up their energy to produce recoil protons, alpha particles and heavier nuclear fragments, which go on to produce ionizations. The important characteristic of ionizing radiation is the local release of large amounts of energy, sufficient to break strong chemical bounds that are biologically important. Electromagnetic ionizing radiation consists of X and gamma rays, which give up part or all of their energy to the orbital electrons of the atoms through which they pass, producing fast recoil electrons that have sufficient energy to be ionizing. X and gamma radiation differ only in the way in which they are produced, gamma being produced by the decay of radioactive isoto pes and almost all X rays being made by electrical machines. For radiation initiated or formed, there is a process. To begin with, we classify radiation as either particulate or electromagnetic. Charged particles such as electrons (beta minus particles),