Radiation Safety

Front 1

What four things does damage from ionizing radiation depend on?

Back 1

1. Type of radiation

2. Dose

3. Tissue and organs exposed

4. Age of the person being exposed

Front 2

What is the best way to control potential damage from ionizing radiation?

Back 2

Limit the amount of radiation people are exposed to by limiting the amount of source material. It is also important to limit the amount of time people are exposed to radiation.

Front 3

What are the 6 ways to control damage from ionizing radiation

Back 3

1. Limit the source of material

2. Limit the exposure time

3. Increase the distance between people and the source

4. Use shielding (air, hydrogen and water)

5. Use barriers (walls and fences)

6. Use liners and protective materials to keep contaminated waste from leaching into groundwater

Front 4

Define dose threshold

Back 4

The minimum dose of a substance needed to produce a measurable effect

Front 5

What types of eye disorders can be caused by infrared radiation (radiation form heating elements)?

Back 5

scotoma, swelling, hemorrhages, lesions, and cataracts

Front 6

What are some occupational sources of high-intensity visible light?

Back 6

welding, carbon arc lamps, some lasers

Front 7

What are 4 ways to prevent or control damage from high-intensity visible light?

Back 7

1. Enclose the source of the light

2. Limit the intensity of the source

3. Use shields, guards, or filters to protect eyes from the light source

4. Workers should wear protective gear

Front 8

What are four ways to prevent or control damage from lasers?

Back 8

1. Enclose the laser source

2. Eliminate reflective surfaces

3. Require protective clothing and eye gear

4. Train users on safe procedures for using lasers

Front 9

What types of equipment are microwaves used in?

Back 9

communications, drying, navigation, cooking

Front 10

What biological systems can be affected by microwaves?

Back 10

Eyes (cataracts)

Central Nervous System

Can interfere with cardiac pacemakers

Front 11

What are some occupational sources of ultraviolet radiation?

Back 11

sun, heliarc welding, mercury and xenon discharge lamps, full spectrum fluorescent lamps

Front 12

What are two ways to control UV hazards?

Back 12

1. Limiting exposure to UV radiation

2. Shielding skin and eyes from exposure through sunglasses, sunscreen and protective clothing

Front 13

Define ionizing radiation

Back 13

Radiation that can produce ions when it interacts with atoms and molecules. This includes: x-rays, alpha particles, beta particles, gamma radiation, and neutrons

Front 14

What are symptoms of radiation sickness?

Back 14

weakness, sleepiness, stupor, tremors, convulsions, an, eventually death

Front 15

Flashburn or welders flash is commonly caused by what type of electromagnetic energy source?

Back 15

Ultraviolet radiation

Front 16

The inverse square law relates what 3 areas of industrial hygiene?

Back 16

illumination

radiation

noise

Front 17

Describe alpha particle radiation

Back 17

Particles (He nuclei) rapidly lose energy when passing through matter; lose energy rapidly in matter and do not penetrate very far. However, they can cause damage over their short path through tissue and aren't completely absorbed by the outer dead layer of the human skin and are not a hazard outside the body. They can be very harmful if ingested or inhaled, but can be stopped completely by a sheet of paper.

Front 18

Describe beta particle radiation

Back 18

Fast moving, positively or negatively charged electrons emitted from the nucleus during radioactive decay. They are more penetrating than alpha particles, but are less damaging over equal distances. They are capable of penetrating the skin and causing radiation damage. They can be stopped or reduced by a layer of clothing or by a few millimeters of a substance such as aluminium.

Front 19

Describe gamma radiation

Back 19

Photons; they aren't charged and are very penetrating. They are produced by the decay from high energy states of atomic nuclei from natural sources. They can easily pass through the human body or be absorbed by tissue. Several feet of concrete or a few inches of lead may be required to stop these rays.

Front 20

Describe x-rays

Back 20

High-energy photons produced by the interaction of charged particles with matter. They are emitted form processes outside of the nucleus. They're generally lower in energy and less penetrating than gamma rays, but are the single largest source of man-made radiation exposure.

Front 21

What are symptoms of somatic radiation exposure

Back 21

mild to moderate nausea, with occasional vomiting beginning 3-6 hours after irradiation. Very severe exposure is followed by the onset of nausea and vomiting in less than 30 minutes followed by dizziness, disorientation and low blood pressure.

Front 22

Define a sievert

Back 22

The current unit of dose equivalent which attempts to reflect the biological effects of radiation.

Front 23

Define a Gray

Back 23

The absorption of one joule of radiation energy by one kilogram of matter.

Front 24

Define a Becquerel

Back 24

Activity of a quantity of radioactive material in which one nucleus decays per second

Front 25

REM

Back 25

A unit of dose equivalent defined as the quantity of radiation that would produce the same biological damage in a human being as would result from absorption of 1 roentgen of X rays or gamma rays.

Front 26

Define radioisotope

Back 26

an unstable nuclei that doesn't have enough binding energy to hold the nucleus together

Front 27

Define a Curie

Back 27

a non-SI unit of radioactivity (decays per second of Ra)

Front 28

Define a Roentgen

Back 28

a Unit of measurement for the exposure of x-rays and gamma rays. It measures the ionization produced in the air.