Four Primary Types of Ionizing

Radiation:

Alpha Particles
Alpha Particles: 2 neutrons and 2 protons
They travel short distances, have large mass
Only a hazard when inhaled
Four Primary Types of Ionizing
Radiation:
Beta Particles
Beta Particles: Electrons or positrons having small mass and
variable energy. Electrons form when a neutron transforms into a
proton and an electron or:
 Four Primary Types of Ionizing
Radiation:

Gamma Rays
Gamma Rays (or photons): Result when the nucleus releases

Energy, usually after an alpha, beta or positron transition

 Four Primary Types of Ionizing
Radiation:

X-Rays
X-Rays: Occur whenever an inner shell orbital electron is removed

and rearrangement of the atomic electrons results with the release of

the elements characteristic X-Ray energy

 Four Primary Types of Ionizing
Radiation:

Neutrons
Neutrons: Have the same mass as protons but are uncharged

They behave like bowling balls

Four Primary Types of Ionizing
Radiation
Alpha particles
Beta particles
Gamma rays (or photons)
X-Rays (or photons)
Neutrons
 RADIATION
FUNDAMENTALS
ATOMIC AND NUCLEAR
STRUCTURE

Bureau of Radiation Control

 Radioactivity: Elements &
Atoms
Atoms are composed of smaller particles
referred to as:

Protons

Neutrons

Electrons
 Ionization
Ionizing radiation is produced by unstable
atoms. Unstable atoms differ from stable
atoms because they have an excess of
energy or mass or both.
Unstable atoms are said to be radioactive. In
order to reach stability, these atoms give off,
or emit, the excess energy or mass. These
emissions are called radiation.
Types or Products of Ionizing
Radiation

neutron or X-ray
 Radioactive Atom Ionizing Radiation

alpha particle
X-ray

beta particle

gamma ray
 Radioactive Atom Ionizing Radiation

alpha particle
X-ray

beta particle

gamma ray
 Direct Ionization Caused By:
Protons

Alpha Particles

Beta Particles

Positron Particles
Indirect Ionization Caused By:
Neutrons

Gamma Rays

X-Rays
DNA and Radiation
 Ionizing Radiation at the
Cellular Level
Causes breaks in
one or both DNA
strands or;

Causes Free Radical

formation
 Commonly Transported
Radioisotopes
Americium-241= Diagnose thyroid
disorders, smoke detectors.
Cesium-137= Cancer treatment.
Iodine-125,131= Diagnosis & treatment
liver, kidney,heart, lung and brain.
Technetium-99m=Bone and brain imaging;
thyroid and liver studies; localization of
brain tumors.
 Radiation Measurement
Terminology:
Exposure rate = amount radiation possible to
receive per unit time.

Dose = total amount of radiation received.

Radiation and Radioactivity:
Units and Quantities

Department of Health
Bureau of Radiation Control
 Introduction
Quantities (mass, volume, time, etc.) vs.
Units (grams, gallons, hours)
Units of exposure, radioactivity, and energy
associated with ionizing radioactivity
As hours and minutes are to time ...
 Objectives
Define
ROENTGEN, RAD, REM, CURIE, GRAY,
SIEVERT, BECQUEREL.
SI units vs. Standard English units
Discuss the use and conversion of unit
prefixes
Transform units using unit analysis
 Background
Early risk associated with use of ionizing
radiation
skin erythema dose - 25yrs
1928 - ROENTGEN introduced by ICRP
Roentgen
 Roentgen
Named after Wilhelm C. Roentgen
(thus the abbr... is capital R)
Pronounced rentgen with a hard g
Limitations
only applies to photons
only applies in air
only applies to energies less than 3 MeV
rad
 rad
1 rad = 1 Roentgen
rem
 rem
Roentgen Equivalent Man
The unit of dose equivalent for any type of
ionizing radiation absorbed by body tissue
in terms of estimated biological effect - Unit
of dose equivalent
Dose in health record is in units of rem
1 rem = 1 Roentgen
 Quality Factor (Q)
The specific value that accounts for the
ability of different types of ionizing
radiation to cause varying degrees of
biological damage
X-rays, gamma rays, & beta particles 1
Neutrons & High energy protons 10
Alpha Particles 20
 Curie (Ci)

Named in honor of Pierre Curie

Radiation hazard does not solely depend on
the activity. It also depends on the type of
decay (alpha, beta, photon, etc.)
 SI Radiation Protection Units
Becquerel (Bq) for Curie
1 Ci = 3.7 x 1010 Bq
Gray (Gy) for rad
1 Gy = 100 rad
Sievert (Sv) for rem
1 Sv = 100 rem
 Unit Analysis
BASE UNIT CONVERSION TABLE
Unit Unit Conversion
1 Bq 2.7 x 10-11 Ci
1 Ci 3.7 x 1010 Bq
1 Bq 1 dis/sec
1 dis/sec 2.7 x 10-11 Ci
1 Ci 3.7 x 1010 dis/sec
Unit Analysis (Cont.)
BASE UNIT CONVERSION TABLE
Unit Unit Conversion
1 rem 0.01 Sv
1 Sv 100 rem
1 rad 0.01 Gy
1 Gy 100 rad
1R 2.58 x 10-4 C/kg
1 meter 3.28 ft (39.37in)
 Summary
Radiation Protection unit definitions
(including SI units)
Unit Prefixes
Unit conversions
 Old Terms
Roentgen-Based on the quantity of electrical charges
produced in air by X or Gamma photons 1R=2 billion pr

RAD-Radiation Absorbed Dose is the work energy

resulting from the absorption of one ROENTGEN or 6.24
E5 Mev
 More Old Terms
REM- Roentgen Equivalent Mammal is equal to the
absorbed does in RADS multiplied by a quality factor

Quality Factors
Beta = 1
Gamma & X ray photons = 1
Alpha = 10
Neutrons = 20
 New Terms sort of
International Units have replaced the RAD
and REM

GRAY (Gy) = 100 RAD

SIEVERT (Sv) = 100 REM

Same Quality Factors apply to the Sv

 Units of Radioactivity
Curie (Ci) = 2.22 E12 dpm or 3.7E10 dps
Becquerel (Bq) = 1 dps
Maximum Dose/year = 5 REM or 50 mSv
Maximum Dose/year for Declared Pregnant
Woman & Minors= 0.5 REM or 5 mSv
Half Life Calculation
 Annual Dose Limits
External/Internal Exposure Limits for Occupationally Exposed Individuals

Adult ($18 yrs) Minor (< 18 yrs)

Whole body* 5000 mrem/yr 500 mrem/yr

Lens of eye 15000 mrem/yr 1500 mrem/yr

Extremities 50000 mrem/yr 5000 mrem/yr

Skin 50000 mrem/yr 5000 mrem/yr

Organ 50000 mrem/yr 5000 mrem/yr

Dose Response Relationships
0-150 remNo or minimal symptoms
150-400 remModerate to severe illness
400-800 remSevere illness deaths start
above 500 rem
Above 800 remFatal

***Acute whole body doses

 Your Annual Exposure
Activity Typical Dose
Smoking 280 millirem/year

Radioactive materials use

<10 millirem/year
in a UM lab

10 millirem per x-
Dental x-ray
ray
8 millirem per x-
Chest x-ray
ray
Drinking water 5 millirem/year
Cross country round trip by
5 millirem per trip
air
0.165
Coal Burning power plant
millirem/year
 Estimated Exposure To The
National Population

Between 320 360 mr/yr

Another Look at Sources
 Some Exposure Limits
2 mr/hr Dose rate to public / Federal
500 mr Emergency responder limit / State/BRC
5 r/yr Occupational /Federal
5 r/hr Turn back value / State/BRC
10 r Property / Federal
25 r Life saving / Federal
>25r Volunteers only / Federal
Ref - 10CFR PART 20, EPA 400, FL-SOP
 Security
All Radioactive Materials must be secured
or under direct supervision at all times
There MUST be someone in the room at all
times OR the door must be locked.
 Spill Response
On Skinflush completely
On Clothingremove
If Injuryadminister first aid
Radioactive Gas Releasevacate area,
shut off fans, post warning
Monitor all persons and define the area of
contamination
 ALARA

As Low As Reasonably Achievablemeans making every reasonable

effort to maintain exposures to radiation as far below the dose limits as
is practicable consistent with the purpose for which the licensed
activity is undertaken, taking into account the state of technology, the
economics of improvements in relation to the state of technology, the
economics of improvements in relation to benefits to the public health
and safety, and other societal and socioeconomic considerations, and
in relation to utilization of nuclear energy and licensed materials in the
public interest.
Radiation Protection

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